Are you ready to rock?

That was the question posed by new Crown Point High School Principal Eric Ban on Wednesday as he directed teen drivers in the parking lot and greeted students in the hallway.

Ban said he awoke at 3:30 a.m. and was on the job an hour later, going through e-mail and checking last-minute arrangements for the student assembly.

"We've got good traffic patterns," he said, talking to school district security director Milan Damjanovic by radio. Two Crown Point police officers also were on hand to help with traffic flow.

Ban turned up the heat on students by offering a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt to a student who demonstrates the values and principles that make up the "Portrait of a Graduate."

The giveaway is being made possible through the cooperation of the high school, Carroll Chevrolet and Art Hill Ford Lincoln Mercury Mazda, which will provide the car to the student who demonstrates the positive values and commitments of the school during the school year.

Students screamed out as they saw the bright red car driven out on the football field by physical education department leader Tom May.

Sophomore Jeff Tompkins, 16, said he thought the car giveaway was a great idea, and will motivate fellow classmates to "higher levels of excellence."

At last count, Ban said there were 2,444 students enrolled at the high school. The district expected to welcome about 7,400 students.

Ban is one of several new principals in Lake and Porter counties.

Other new principals include Patrick Weil, who was on lunchroom duty at East Chicago Central High School; Jay Harker, who is preparing for his first day at Whiting Elementary School on Friday; Colleen McCoy-Cejka at Bishop Noll Institute; Jim Doane at Valparaiso High School; and Mark Lutze at Hebron High School.

Weil seemed comfortable at the home of the Cardinals.

After completing lunchroom duty, he visited classrooms and talked to teachers in the new freshman academy.

East Chicago welcomed about 1,500 students to the school Wednesday, about a third of whom are freshmen housed in the Z-Wing of the building.

Weil and English/language arts teachers Traci Hale and David Lane believe the freshman academy will benefit students and help them to improve ISTEP-Plus scores, which are among the lowest in the state.

Weil said part of the key to improving test scores is multiple exposure to the material, practical experience that mirrors the assessment and making it relevant to students.

Lane also works with Advancement Via Individual Determination, a program under way in 3,500 schools in 45 states and 15 countries to support students and educators as they increase districtwide learning and performance.

Lane said AVID will work hand-in-hand with the freshman academy. As an incentive, Lane offered students $100 per semester if they earn a 4.0 grade point average. Weil made the pot even sweeter by matching that amount.

Freshman Atrayl Cobb, 15, said he likes the idea of the academy being in its own wing.

"I also like the idea of winning money for something that I do anyway," he said, adding he normally earns A's and B's.

Standing in the hallway answering questions, Christine Campos, freshman academy principal, said students are "excited about the day and it got off to a great start."