LOCAL SCHOOLS EARN BLUE RIBBON AWARD

Four Chester County schools were named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, which are among the 342 schools nationwide to earn the distinction.

St. Joseph’s School of Downingtown, St. Maximilian Kolbe in West Chester, West Chester East High School and SS. Simon and Jude Parish in West Chester, were was named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Only 50 non-public schools received this honor. School officials held a at a ceremony Thursday in the school with the students, faculty and staff.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.

In addition to the four Chester County schools, other schools in Pennsylvania that were named Blue Ribbon schools were Berwick Area High School, Donald H. Eichhorn Middle School, Falling Spring Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, General George A. McCall Elementary School, Good Hope Middle School, Greenville Junior/Senior High School, Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary, Laurel Jr/Sr High School, Lemont/Houserville

Elementary School, MaST Community Charter School, Saint Teresa of Calcutta School, Shiloh Hills Elementary School, and Sunrise Estates Elementary School.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recognized the schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools, a recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

“National Blue Ribbon Schools are active demonstrations of preparing every child for a bright future,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to the honorees. “You are visionaries, innovators and leaders. You have much to teach us. Some of you personalize student learning, others engage parents and communities in the work and life of your local schools and still others develop strong and forward-thinking leaders from among your teaching staff.”

St. Joseph’s School in Downingtown received the Nation Blue Ribbon award for its first time, and it was the only time the school officials had applied.

“I was proud,” Sister Catherine Irene Masino, IHM Principal of St. Joseph School said about when she heard the news. “I’m proud

of the daily hard work by our staff and our students.”

She said she is thankful for the support from the parish, her teachers, students and parents, as well as the commitment of the students to strive to do their best.

“The parents have great faith in us,” Masino said. “This (award) affirms that we are doing a wonderful job here.”

It’s about using the gifts and talents that God gave them, Masino said, and honoring God by giving those gifts and thanks to Him. She added that it’s a reflection of their message as a Catholic school because it shows how the students develop socially, emotionally and spiritually. Many of the teachers were students at St. Joseph’s and Masino said that is another reflection of their commitment to the school.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. DeVos said this coveted award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.

Now in its 35th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,500 schools. On Nov. 6-7, the Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with these honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

· Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

· Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE).

St. Joseph School will host a school-wide celebration on Friday. St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Home and School will host the official celebration party on Oct. 6 for the entire St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish Community.

“National Blue Ribbon Schools are active demonstrations of preparing every child for a bright future.” — U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos

SUBMITTED PHOTO St. Maximilian Kolbe students celebrate after learning their school was named a Blue Ribbon School.

GINGER RAE DUNBAR - DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Fifth- through eighth-grade students at St. Joseph’s School in Downingtown watched a video on Thursday that included photographs of students at each of the schools that received a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School honor. They cheered when their school...

SUBMITTED PHOTO St. Maximilian Kolbe students celebrate after learning their school was named a Blue Ribbon School.