Parents and administrators are often at a loss for how to inspire students to attain to academic excellence.

Most junior high students lack the maturity to make the connection between education and future opportunities and long term success.

The staff and faculty at Lake Highlands Junior High have found innovative ways to engage students in learning, and Assistant Principal, Joey Gonzales, has proven that he understands what motivates seventh and eighth graders.

On February 26th, all seventh and eighth graders who passed the recent TAKS simulation test will be rewarded with a school dance, known as the TAKS JAM.

This imaginative solution to academic inertia gives students something they prize - inclusive social time with their friends.

The TAKS JAM is only one of many layers of initiatives implemented at Lake Highlands Junior High. The emphasis is on learning, but the delivery can include fun.

Super Saturday and Get Down Tutoring are two RISD programs that help provide ample opportunities for students to get additional tutoring. Originally started by the district as a way to increase TAKS scores, Super Saturday has evolved into a fun and rewarding experience for the students and has been expanded upon by the faculty and staff at LHJH.

Students are invited to join their teachers for tutoring, food and games on select Saturdays throughout the school year.

"Kids see that their teachers are giving up their Saturdays mornings in order to help them, and the kids appreciate that," says Principal Gonzales. "It gives them an important comfort level."

At the end of every session, students are served pizza or grilled hot dogs, once again providing some social time for the participants.

The staff also gives away prizes, most of which have been donated by the teachers and principals, including gift cards and ipods. There's even a Guitar Hero up on the block for any student in attendance who's able to beat Mr. Gonzales at the game.

No one has beaten him yet!

Get Down Tutoring follows the same template as Super Saturday, but meets after school on select Thursdays. The weekday program was created for students who are unable to attend on Saturdays due to scheduling conflicts, such as athletic events.

And students need not fear missing out on the food, fun and prizes offered on the weekends. All of those incentives are offered to GDT attendees, as well.

It's also important to note, that these two programs are beneficial to all students, regardless of where they find themselves on the academic spectrum.

"Everyone is invited to participate," says Principal Gonzales. "However, we do give a phone call to students who we see could benefit from the programs."

"The kids get to see their friends, which they like, but they understand that learning is the priority."

Clearly, the teachers and administrators of Lake Highlands Junior High are willing to go to great lengths to propel their students to success.

You'll see plenty of examples of those successful students celebrating this Friday night at 6:00 p.m. during the TAKS JAM. For more information about the dance, or other LHJH programs such as Super Saturdays, please call the school at 469.593.1600.