With schools all over Indiana gearing up for ISTEP, Tarkington Traditional Center in South Bend held its third annual pep rally to help students prepare the for test.

The state-wide test starts Monday and many schools have begun to participate in an eight-step program to help prepare students for the upcoming assessment.

The program is a three-week testing process to assure students are progressing information enough to be ready for the test.

"We are ready,” said Tarkington Traditional Center Principal Melinda Ehmer, “That's our message. We are ready. We have been practicing hard, we've implemented a new eight-step process this year, our students have been working in small groups on particular standards and teachers have changed instruction to work with students and work on standards."

Teachers remind parents to make sure students get a full night's rest and to serve a nutritious breakfast during testing.