A food initiative to break the anxiety of centralized school exams

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Elementary school students today launched the first day of central exams for the first semester in mathematics, amidst high academic readiness and a qualitative initiative launched by the school administration, which was represented by a healthy lunch table aimed at breaking the psychological fear among students, and enhancing their physical and mental energy to ensure optimal performance inside the exam halls.

The students began their first day of school in the educational harvest season with high morale, as student Qasim Al-Barih confirmed his colleagues’ complete readiness to take the central exams, expressing his hope that the questions would be accessible to everyone and that their academic efforts would be crowned with success.

The context of standardized tests and their educational importance

These tests are part of the Saudi Ministry of Education's efforts to improve learning outcomes. Centralized assessments serve as a standardized measurement tool designed to accurately and uniformly evaluate students' academic achievement. These tests are of paramount importance as they provide a true indicator of students' mastery of fundamental skills in subjects like mathematics, thus assisting policymakers and educators in developing appropriate remedial and enrichment plans. This foundational stage is the cornerstone of a student's academic journey, making attention to their psychological and environmental well-being during the testing period as crucial as academic preparation.

An unconventional, proactive step in Safwan Bin Umayya schools

The administration of Safwan Bin Umayya Schools took an unconventional, proactive step to create a positive psychological atmosphere by preparing a complete and healthy meal to welcome the students, which included a diverse selection of dates, fruits, vegetables, and fresh baked goods.

Fourth-grade student Nayef Al-Harthi described the initiative as the decisive factor in breaking down the usual fear and anxiety surrounding exams, noting that thorough preparation for studying culminated in this encouraging welcome. Student Amjad Al-Qassab explained the details of the spread, which included cucumbers, apples, and strawberries alongside sweets, emphasizing that this variety was not merely food, but a reassuring message that put them at ease before receiving their answer sheets.

The psychological and physiological effects of proper nutrition

From a scientific and educational perspective, experts confirm that providing light, healthy snacks before exams directly contributes to stabilizing blood sugar levels, thus supplying the brain with the glucose necessary for complex cognitive processes such as memory and analysis. Fruits and dates, in particular, help provide quick and sustained energy without causing the lethargy that heavy meals can induce. Furthermore, the psychological aspect of this initiative enhances students' sense of belonging and security within the school environment, reducing the release of stress hormones that can hinder information recall.

For his part, student Ali Al-Qassab pointed to the educational dimension of the initiative, explaining that it taught them practically the importance of healthy food at such times, as it provided them with the energy needed to continue the school day with full activity.

The students and teaching staff agreed that this humanitarian gesture from the school contributed directly to dispelling the tension and transforming the anxiety of the central exams into positive energy and complete psychological and physical readiness, providing a model to be emulated in how to manage exam periods in a modern educational style that takes into account the psychological and health aspects of the learner.