The sun shined kindly on the students and teachers of Iberia Middle School Friday with the conclusion of the LEAP and Iowa testing.

"It's over, it's over," said Charlene Kern, eighth-grade language teacher. "Now we can breathe again."

"I'm feeling a lot of relief. It is not that frightful, but knowing that you have to pass, it is kind of overwhelming," said Theodore Williams, an eighth-grade student.

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Iberia Middle School provided a "free day" for its students with the conclusion of the last test Friday as a reward for their hard work and preparation for the tests. Even though the damp grounds would not allow the student body to amble outside, many students were happy to have the chance to visit with friends.

"We get to talk with all our friends and talk about the test and if they think they passed or not," said Jillian Collins, student.

With the LEAP test behind him, eighth-grade student Kevin Broussard shared advice for those students taking the test next year. "Don't worry about it because it is easy. It is mostly the work we covered in seventh grade.

"I'm very optimistic about it because I'm sure I did very well on the test. I'll be going to ninth grade."

Many students agreed there were a few difficult sections to the LEAP test. Some of the students listed science and history as the worst sections. Despite the constant nail-biting during the week, Kern said the students were better prepared than ever.

"I've been a teacher here for the past four years and this is the year the kids worked hardest," Kern said. "They never stopped."

Principal Michael Bonin said he won't be able to pull the LEAP monkey off his back until the tests have returned with positive scores for his students.

"The test is over, but we don't find out how well they did until the second to last day in May," Bonin said. "It won't take the stress off until everything comes back."

Collins says she is happy the tests are over, but she won't take a permanent vacation just yet.

"I am going to still try my best in school because if you pass the LEAP and fail the year, you fail," she said. "So I will continue to try my best."

For Warren Gachassin, the vacation might only last through the weekend, but it definitely has started.

"Now it's starting to party," he said. "Makes me feel like Michael Jackson. The LEAP test is over and it's just time for me to go back to Never-Never land."