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Students at Tommie Barfield Elementary can now put down their number-two pencils and take a deep sigh of relief. Standardized testing ended for most students on Wednesday.

Students in the third, fourth and fifth grades have been taking the tests since March 11.

Some students have experienced as many as seven days of testing. Fortunately, students were rewarded with a long Easter weekend with no classes on Friday.

Two standardized tests were administered to students this month: the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test or FCAT and the Norm Reference Test (NRT); the latter is a national test.

Teachers prepare their students all year for the tests, which measure students’ proficiency in science, reading and math.

Third grade teacher Jackie Hogan and fifth grade teacher Alana Smith sent e-mail responses to the Eagle regarding questions about testing.

“To prepare students for standardized tests, teachers carefully align and structure the entire curriculum to ensure all concepts are adequately covered,” wrote Hogan.

Smith wrote that the preparation for the tests is actually harder than the tests themselves.

Still, the tests take their toll on students and teachers.

Results from testing determine whether a child goes to the next grade or is retained, said Jory Westberry, principal of Tommie Barfield Elementary.

“Testing for students can be extremely stressful,” wrote Smith. “My students in particular are concerned with how their test results affect their future in middle school.”

To fight student anxiety, the school faculty worked with students on relaxation techniques, including sending a school counselor to classes.

“We try to make it non-stressful for the children,” said Westberry.

The phrase this year for test-taking students was, “tame the CAT.”

To emphasize the slogan, Westberry dressed up her black lab like a cat and brought her to school for test-taking students to enjoy. The stunt was a funny way to help students relieve their worries.

But it’s not just the students who face test-related anxiety. Teachers also have a lot riding on student performance.

The tests will be examined by state and national education agencies to assess the school’s performance.

“I’d be lying if I said that there was no pressure,” said Westberry of administration and faculty stress. “But we try to minimize that.”

Once the tests have started, teachers can do little but trust that their instruction has prepared their students to meet the tests’ requirements.

“As a teacher, I am confident in each and every one of my students knowing they will use the skills taught in class for test taking,” wrote Smith.

But now that testing is over for all but those with make-up tests, teachers and students can enjoy their three-day weekend with the knowledge that the tests are over.

“Once testing is complete there is a huge burden lifted off the students’ shoulders. They feel relieved, yet proud of their accomplishment,” wrote Smith.

Hogan wrote, “Are the tests helping to ensure students across Florida are well educated? In my opinion, yes. Are teachers and students happy when they are over? Definitely!”