VIDEO: Alexandria Teachers Get Students Pumped Up for SOLs with Rap Video

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The teachers at one Alexandria elementary school are getting down and funky to get their students pumped up about taking the SOLs (Standards of Learning tests).

The teachers at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School released a music video recently to the tune of Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk," changing the lyrics to "DM get pumped up, our school will turn up!"

Students in grades 3-8 take tests that cover the general content areas of Reading, Mathematics, History/Social Science and Science. The assessments provide schools, parents and students with valuable information; however, they are but a single measure, the school's PTA points out. As a learning organization, ACPS values the full range of competencies and academic growth displayed by students daily.

The SOLs are serious business, but staff at Douglas MacArthur helped to lighten things up for their students with this music video (watch it below). After recently airing the video to students (the day before testing began), the students couldn’t stop talking about their “famous” teachers, the PTA said.

Bus stops were buzzing with excitement while students danced and sang, “DM (Douglas MacArthur) get pumped up, our school will turn up!” The video saw loads of traffic on YouTube and Facebook thanks to MacArthur parents. The PTA says they applaud the staff for getting creative and encouraging their students to “ROCK the SOL.”

PHOTO and VIDEO courtesy of Douglas MacArthur Elementary PTA

Watch the video here: