Indiana educators’ guide to a high-impact, low-disruption post-testing celebration (March–April planning)
If you’re an Indiana educator planning for March or April, you know the challenge: how do you celebrate your students without sacrificing classroom time?
The solution more schools are choosing is simple: a 45-minute school assembly that feels like a reward, supports Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and still protects the instructional rhythm of the day. That’s exactly why The Magic Comic — Jamahl Keyes has become a go-to option for schools across the Indianapolis area and beyond.
As one Hamilton County principal put it:
“It’s rare to find a program that kids love and principals approve. Jamahl brings both.”
Why “celebration” matters right after testing
Testing season isn’t just a schedule change — it’s a stress change.
Research on high-stakes testing has found that students’ stress hormones can rise during testing periods (measured via cortisol), which can affect performance and overall wellbeing. And we also know test anxiety is linked to lower performance for many students.
So when the testing window ends, students don’t just need “a fun thing.” They need a reset — something that helps them:
- exhale,
- reconnect socially,
- rebuild confidence,
- and come back to class ready to learn.
That’s where a smart, structured assembly shines.
The Indiana timing: why schools plan celebrations in March and April
When you’re picking dates, it helps to remember what the testing calendar looks like across the state.
Indiana’s 2025–2026 assessment windows show key spring testing timeframes like IREAD (March 2–13, 2026) and ILEARN 3–8 (April 13–May 8, 2026).
That means your best “student effort celebration” windows are often:
- the week right after a building finishes IREAD/ILEARN sessions
- a planned “Test Relief Day”
- a Friday boost heading into the final stretch of the year
(Note: I attempted to use the PDF screenshot tool for the state window documents, but the tool returned an error. I’m using the PDFs’ parsed text from the Indiana DOE sources instead.)
Smart Celebration: what schools actually need
A celebration sounds great… until it costs half the day.
A smart celebration checks three boxes:
🎉 1) It feels like a true reward
Students should feel recognized for effort — not just results. The best celebrations reinforce:
- perseverance
- courage under pressure
- focus and follow-through
- kindness and teamwork during stressful weeks
⏰ 2) It protects instruction time
A 45-minute program can fit into:
- a grade-level block
- a rotating schedule
- a unified “special event” period
- a late-start / early-release style day plan
🎯 3) It supports school goals (not distract from them)
Universal, school-wide SEL programming is consistently linked with improvements in social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes.
And a 2025 meta-analysis reported that students in universal SEL programs showed better academic achievement compared with peers who did not participate.
In other words: when your “fun” has purpose, it’s easier to justify — and easier to get buy-in from leadership.
Before:
Students were disconnected, showing low motivation and little interest in leadership development programs.
After Jamahl’s Visit:
“After Jamahl’s presentation, our students couldn’t stop talking about the ‘Magic of Belief’ activity he shared. We saw a huge difference in confidence and teamwork. Our attendance and class participation both increased!”
— Horizon Math & Science Academy Staff & Students
What makes The Magic Comic a “no-disruption” assembly
Jamahl Keyes’ program is designed around what schools care about most: time, tone, and impact.
Built for school-day logistics
- 45 minutes (tight, predictable, schedule-friendly)
- Works in a gym, cafeteria, or multipurpose room
- Simple setup, school-friendly pacing, and clear start/stop points
(Translation: it doesn’t derail your day.)
Students are actively engaged — not just sitting
This matters more than people think. An assembly becomes memorable when students:
- participate,
- laugh,
- feel seen,
- and leave with “that message” still in their head on the walk back to class.
Why Jamahl has the #1 School Assembly in Indiana
Let’s say it the way schools experience it: Jamahl isn’t just booked because he’s funny — he’s booked because the assembly works.
Here are the benefits that repeatedly make schools treat The Magic Comic as their top choice:
1) It’s high-energy, but still school-appropriate
- 100% clean humor
- age-appropriate language and audience handling
- upbeat without turning into chaos
Principals love it because it’s fun and controlled.
2) The message lands without feeling like a lecture
Jamahl weaves SEL themes into comedy and magic — the kind of learning that sneaks in through laughter:
- growth mindset
- self-control and decision-making
- confidence after pressure
- perseverance and grit
3) It’s turnkey for staff
Schools don’t need extra weeks of planning meetings. The show is built to be:
- easy to host
- easy to schedule
- easy to communicate to families and staff
4) It’s interactive in the right way
Not random participation — guided, inclusive interaction that keeps:
- shy students safe,
- enthusiastic students engaged,
- and the room unified.
5) It can be customized to your school culture
Want teacher shout-outs? A school motto moment? A character theme? A leadership focus?
Jamahl can tailor parts of the show so it feels like it was built for your building, not copied and pasted.
How to celebrate effort (and keep your day running smoothly)
If you want the “reward effect” without losing instruction time, use this planning approach.
Step 1: Choose your objective
Pick one primary outcome:
- “Test Relief Day” stress reset
- end-of-window celebration
- attendance and effort recognition
- behavior / PBIS incentive day
- spring morale boost
Step 2: Schedule it like a class period, not a field trip
A 45-minute assembly works best when:
- you anchor it inside an existing block (specials, enrichment, unified period), or
- you run two grade bands (K–2 then 3–5 / 6–8) with clean transitions.
Step 3: Make the recognition explicit
A quick script for admins before the show:
- “This is for your effort.”
- “You showed perseverance.”
- “Now we’re resetting and finishing strong.”
That framing makes the experience feel earned — which increases buy-in and student pride.
Step 4: End with a re-entry plan
The best assemblies don’t end with “OK back to class.” They end with:
- a calm closing line,
- a quick reflection prompt,
- and a smooth dismissal routine.
Jamahl’s show is built with that kind of ending in mind — so students come back ready, not revved up.
FAQs (for busy school planners)
A: Not at all. A gym, cafeteria, or large multi-purpose space works great.
A: Yes — Jamahl can personalize the show to match your school culture.
A: Absolutely. Students are invited on stage and included throughout, with structured participation that keeps the room positive and focused.
Ready to celebrate effort the smart way?
If your building is planning March or April programming, the best dates go fast — especially the prime “right after testing” windows.
A 45-minute, SEL-driven, interactive school assembly can be the perfect way to celebrate student effort and protect instructional time.
If you’d like, tell me your grade levels (elementary / middle), approximate student count, and your preferred week in Feb–May, and I’ll draft a booking-friendly “event description + schedule plan” you can paste into an email to your principal or office team.
