SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Students in Batesland, South Dakota, stepped into school this week to begin state testing, but they were met with more than just testing sheets. When students walked through the doors, they entered a new universe.
Specifically, the Disney universe, as faculty spent long hours over the weekend to deck out the school’s hallways and common areas.
This is the third year that Batesland has been decorating for testing. In past years, it had been for the week of NWEA Map testing, but this year it brought the practice to state testing week too. Batesland is part of the Oglala Lakota County School District.
“We were looking at how we approach this time of year as teachers and in our school, and it’s not always the most fun time to be a student,” said LeeVi Story-Big Crow, Batesland Dean of Students. “It’s a long week, it can be stressful — we have a lot of pressure.”
Story-Big Crow says that about three years ago they were looking at how it as a school, can make the process more fun without being super distracting and settled on the idea of themed weeks.
The first year was island-themed, and the decorating was done entirely by Story-Big Crow and school principal Rianna Albers.
Last year more faculty joined in, and this year, even more helped to turn the school into a Disney adventure.
“It takes a lot of planning and preparation and then beginning with ordering materials and deciding what that theme is going to be,” said Albers. “We spend a lot of hours here so that we make sure that it’s exciting for the kids when they walk in the door.”
The decor has an impact on the students, says Lakota Language teacher Dori Pille.
Pille has been teaching at the school for 26 years, and she says she’s noticed an impact in this new practice.
“Our hallway, which is up on the north side, we’re doing the Disney Princess theme,” said Pille. “When students come into the school, it just brightens their face to see all the hard work that the staff has done to make our school look very good.”
While the work takes a while — Pille noted that she stayed until 7 p.m. on Sunday to decorate and that some faculty even stayed until midnight — the sacrificed time is worth it. “Everything turned out more beautiful than I expected,” she said.
Pille also added she’s noticed that attendance has been good this week throughout testing.
This is another benefit of the decorating, said Albers.
“Our attendance during testing week — them wanting to be here and making sure they’re here to be able to do those things — we’re seeing increases in that,” said Albers, “but also the scores in general. Each year our proficiency levels have raised by quite a bit.”
The students themselves appear to appreciate the practice as well.
Batesland is a preschool-8th grade school, and we caught up with a few of the students.
“I thought it was really amazing,” said Isabella, a 7th grader at Batesland. “Especially what they did with our hall,” which was the blue wing.
While state testing is a stressful time for students, Isabella said the decorations help, and her testing has gone well this year. She appreciates the efforts.
“I think it was really nice of them. They’re really dedicated to setting decorations up for the students to help us — to cheer us up,” said Isabella. “It really lightened my mood, honestly.”
3rd grader Gatlin — in his first year at Batesland, agrees.
“It was kind of a surprise,” said Gatlin, adding that he was surprised it all got done over the weekend. Like Isabella, he also has a favorite wing.
“Well, I really like just the plain old grass — the vines,” said Gatlin. “They’re just detailed in a lot of ways.”
While the impact of the decoration is targeted at the students, they’re not the only ones who benefit.
“I would have to say our adults had a really good time and they’ve had a lot of fun this week,” said Story-Big Crow. “I’ve seen probably more adults taking pictures with the props and decorations than I have students.”
