Lionville Elementary School wins award

The honor is presented by the Pennsylvania Department of Education

EAST CALN >> The Downingtown area school board meeting Wednesday began with “pride nation.”

A group of Lionville Elementary School teachers, some wearing “pride nation” T-shirts to the meeting, were recognized for receiving the “Title I Distinguished School” in the 2016-2017 school year.

Lionville Elementary School Principal Shelda Perry said they were excited to be honored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

“When the fruits of your labor pay off, it truly takes a village,” Perry said, who thanked the nine-member school board, Downingtown Area School District administrators, teachers and parents for their support.

“Each day we put our game faces on, we greet students and we work as hard as we can to help them to achieve and grow to reach the aspirations that they so choose, (and) to reach their highest potential,” Perry said. “I can’t do it alone.”

She applauded the efforts by the teachers instructing the students and the parents who help their children with their schoolwork. She said everyone works together for the students to grow in their education and take pride in learning.

Perry said the school was nominated for the honor because the students exceeded the state projected amount of learning growth in fourth and fifth grades. The state testing is conducted in third grade.

Pennsylvania Department of

Education, Division of Federal Programs, noted that the distinguished honor is earned based on math and reading PSSA or Keystone scores that also met all Annual Measurable Objectives.

“I congratulate you and your staff on the success

you are experiencing within your school,” the Pennsylvania Department of Education wrote to Lionville.

The staff, along with all 179 distinguished schools, has been invited to the 2017 Title I Improving Schools’ Performance Conference later this month in Pittsburgh to accept their honor and to share their experiences with other educators.

“It is a great opportunity

to learn best practices from schools across Pennsylvania as well as share your successes,” the Pennsylvania Department of Education wrote.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Lionville Elementary School, of the Downingtown Area School District, earned a distinguished award from the state department of education, based on state testing. Teachers pose together at the school board meeting on Wednesday.