“M-m-m…free popcorn, pizza, and Eegee’s!”

This is what students said when they arrived to the movies and bowling alley instead of sitting in class taking the reading and writing AIMS exams that they already passed.

Students who passed last year’s AIMS exams had the privilege of attending a trip to the Grand Cinema to enjoy the movie, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Boby, while eating freshly popped popcorn.

“It was really fun!” said Senior Briseyda Luquez.

AIMS passers also went to the Santa Cruz Bowling Alley and dropped some pins while eating hot, bubbling pizza and drinking ice, cold soda.

“I’m having lots of fun bowling especially because a lot of my friends are here,” said Senior Jesus Minjarez.

On the third day of earned privileges, students walked to Desert Shadows Park and played sports and basked in the November sun.

“It was fun and relaxing," said Senior Elisa Gomez.

According to Alvarez, the school spent about $900 to take an average of 110 students out-and-about per day.

Will rewarding the students give the rest of the student body an incentive to pass AIMS?

“Probably because I would like to go on the trips with my friends,” said Andrea Fierros, freshman.

The administration believes there is an even more important incentive overall.

“Any incentive helps, but the largest one is that they proved their capabilities in passing the test,” said Liz Gonzales, assistant principal. “The ultimate incentive is being able to graduate.”