Local celebrities, leaders help fuel students before ISTEP

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (WISH ) – Zionsville West Middle School put a big emphasis on breakfast Monday morning before teachers began ISTEP testing.

Local celebrities and community leaders served milk and other breakfast items to students with the help of the American Dairy Association of Indiana. Even Colts punter Pat McAfee gave a pre-test pep talk to the students.

“I think the big thing about any big moment is you just have to relax,” McAfee said. “I think if you over think anything, things are going to happen that you don’t want. So I think a lot of these kids are doing it the right way. They’re having fun. They’re laughing. They’re enjoying their morning and I think they’re ready to take ISTEP on.”

Research shows a nutritious breakfast leads to enhanced performance in the classroom. According to the Indiana Youth Institute, the number of students who pass both the English/Language Arts and Math section of the ISTEP test has continued to increase since 2009. In 2014 more than 70-percent of 8th graders passed both tests.