YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – PSSA testing starts this week and testing often triggers anxiety in students.

So, each year, Red Mill Elementary School picks a theme during the PSSA testing to help make testing less stressful.

“Beginning of the school year, I actually have students walk into the building and they say, Mrs. Cibulka, when are we doing state testing,” said reading specialist Angela Cibulka.

While teachers have to cover a lot of decorations in classrooms before state testing, the halls of Red Mill Elementary are fair game and they are decked out with this year’s theme, Mario Games.

“When I figured out what it was, I was really excited because Mario, I’ve like played my whole life and it’s a big part of my childhood,” said 4^th grader Mazie Pyfer.

“We come in on our weekends and we put this together,” said 3^rd grade teacher Renee Healy.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

WHTM Daily Digest

PSSA testing often triggers anxiety in students. But teachers say having a different theme every year helps lower stress.

“When I first came to Red Mill, I was a little nervous for the PSSAs, but the theme really helps me calm down a little,” Pyfer said.

The school also held an assembly with a video and a ‘live’ Mario cart game with staff dressed up in Mario game characters to get students excited about testing tomorrow.

“It gets us really, you know, hyped up so that we can do our best on the testing,” said 4^th grader Eli Erwood.

All this work is not just about improving student’s moods, teachers have noticed an increase in testing scores.

“I think with my job, I get to see all students in the grade level. So, I usually get to work with the same students every year and to see the growth that the students make,” Cibulka said.

Last years theme was Top Gun.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.