Santa Claus, alongside writing coach Kezia Parsons, was among the guests encouraging Jefferson Elementary Center students Monday as they prepared to begin academic state testing. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Students in Wood County celebrated Monday as they prepared for the beginning of academic testing season.

Jefferson Elementary students gathered in the school auditorium to celebrate.

Kindergarten through second-grade students have i-Ready benchmark testing while grades three through five have General Summative Assessments in English language arts and math. Grade five is additionally tested in science.

Students were given a “pep talk” by a variety of visitors – the administrative team, Santa Claus, the school mascot Jaguar, the Ghostbusters and Captain GSA.

The State of West Virginia has annual academic testing windows to provide families with updated academic information about their students. The information also provides administrators with a snapshot of where upcoming staff development should be concentrated in the upcoming year, according to Cyndy Oxender, assistant principal, curriculum and instruction at Jefferson Elementary Center.

Jefferson Elementary Center students cheer during an event Monday to kick off state academic testing at the school. (Photo Provided)

At Madison Elementary, students received a visit from Texas Roadhouse’s Andy Armadillo and the Chick-Fil-A cow to kick off testing week.

GSA test will be given throughout Wood County from April 7 – May 23. Schedules will vary for each school.

From left, Jefferson Elementary Center Principal Tina Lowers, Assistant Principal Jeni Hopkins, the school mascot and Cindy Oxender, assistant principal, curriculum and instruction, were among the participants in a Monday afternoon event to encourage students ahead of the start of state testing. (Photo Provided)

Madison Elementary Principal Valissa Porter poses for a picture with Texas Roadhouse’s Andy Armadillo Monday as the school prepared for the beginning of academic testing season.(Photo Provided)

Texas Roadhouse’s Andy Armadillo and Layken Skinner, local store marketer for Texas Roadhouse in Parkersburg, gets the crowd excited at Madison Elementary Monday as the school prepared for the beginning of academic testing season. (Photo Provided)

The Chick-Fil-A cow and Texas Roadhouse’s Andy Armadillo visited Madison Elementary Monday as the school prepared for the beginning of academic testing season. (Photo Provided)