Baldwin Schools

Surprise pep rally for test-stressed BMS

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Baldwin Middle School students in grades 6, 7 and 8 got a pleasant surprise last Friday when rap star Busta Rhymes — the father of BMS students T’khi and Trilian Wood-Smith — and “The Voice’s” Melanie Martinez, whose brother attends the school, popped by to provide some entertainment.

The kids in the auditorium that day were understandably stressed. The high-stakes state testing season is about to begin, and the impromptu assembly provided some much-needed tension release. Educators in attendance shared testing tips, including the recommendation that youngsters eat a healthy breakfast and get a lot of sleep prior to the test.

Then the theater and step clubs performed. A rock band made up of teachers played a few tunes, then gave way to the headliners. Rhymes, introduced by his sons, offered encouraging words about success in life and on tests. Then Martinez, introduced by her brother, an eighth grader, performed three songs to close the show.