The hallways of Sward Elementary School shimmered with encouragement this week as students and staff came together to support their peers taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test.
In a heartwarming display of school spirit, the Sward community rolled out a red carpet to honor students in grades 3 through 5 as “VIP Test-Takers.” The younger students, including kindergarten, first, and second graders, added to the excitement by decorating stars with uplifting messages, ensuring their older classmates felt confident and supported.
“Sward is more than a school—it’s a family,” said Mrs. Derus “We want our students to know they are surrounded by encouragement and positivity, especially during testing season.”
The decorated stars, filled with messages like “You got this!” and “Believe in yourself,” lined the hallways, creating an inspiring atmosphere for the test-takers as they walked through on their way to their exams.
Students taking the IAR expressed gratitude for the support, with one fourth-grader saying, “It makes me feel like I can do anything now that I walked on the red carpet."
This initiative is just one example of how Sward Elementary fosters a strong sense of community and encouragement among students. With such a supportive environment, there’s no doubt that the test-takers are ready to shine. Good luck Sward Eagles.
