At Fitch High School, A Little Warm Up Before The Test

The teachers at Fitch High School knew students were starting the Connecticut Academic Performance Test this month, and they wanted to give them a little boost.

So this year, instead of sending kids straight to testing, Groton’s physical education team split the tenth grade into two groups of 150 students each, sent one group to the gym for morning exercise and the other to the cafeteria for breakfast. Then they switched so everyone would be warmed up and fed.

“The research out there shows exercise helps improve brain function,” said Anne Keefe-Forbotnick, instructional leader for physical education at Fitch. “We’re getting a lot of feedback from the teachers and the students. They love it.”

The Connecticut Academic Performance Test started last Tuesday in Groton and ends on Monday. The test assesses reading, writing, math and science, and is given for the first time in tenth grade.

The exam doesn’t have a passing grade, but has proficiency goals students are expected to meet. Students may retake the test their junior and senior years if they struggle in certain areas.

On Tuesday morning, students gathered in the Fitch gym to try one-minute challenges based on the game show “A Minute To Win It,”  -  challenges like rolling a hard-boiled egg across the floor by fanning it with a clipboard.

It's harder than it looks.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Sean Blais, 15. “It’s hard, though.”

"It starts to build up my energy and get me focused," said Jaryn Bergis, 15.

The kids earn points based on their fastest times, which are then tallied at the end of the day. Students also take part in group activities. The class with the most points when the testing ends gets a pizza party and T-shirts; individual efforts are rewarded with a lollypops.

“They love it. They all want the lollypops,” Keefe-Forbotnick said.

As of this morning, Room 2208 was winning, with Room 2206 a close second.

“It’s fun,” said Alexis Smith, 15. “And it gets your blood flowing."

Fith High School Principal Joseph A. Arcarese said the plan by the physical education teachers made sense and students are enjoying it.

“They go off to testing fed and invigorated,” he said.