Grayson County Middle School students went through their own March Madness in preparation for the CATS testing. Every Tuesday and Thursday throughout March was used to help refresh and strengthen students on areas tested by the state.

According to Marsha Downs, assistant principal, the program has been phenominally successful this year with around 350 to 400 students staying after school. That amounts to about one third of the entire student body.

Teachers volunteer to stay after and work with students. Parents have been very supportive of the program as well.

Since no buses were used to transport students, parents picked up children that stayed late. GCMS resource officer Brandon Sims helped with traffic management at Hwy. 62.

One benefit of the study sessions is that students have the chance to learn the same material in different ways from different teachers.

Seventh-grade students worked on core content subjects such as science, reading and writing.

Eighth grade students studied social studies, math, practical living/vocation and arts & humanities.

Sixth grade students, who do not take CATS but do take the CTBS test, studied core subjects with open-response questions to prepare them for future testing.

This is the second year for the program and it has grown stronger every year. Principal Bill Embry visited classes with t-shirts and ball caps as prizes this year.

Although the results of the program won't be evident until the CATS tests are evaluated, Downs was pleased that so many students took the opoportunity to gain extra instruction to raise their grades.