MATER DEI NAMED BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL FOR 2018
Catholic school one of 19 in state to earn honor
LANSDALE >> A local school has earned a high honor, and can count itself among the best in the country.
Mater Dei Catholic School was named last week as a winner of the National Blue Ribbon award from the federal Department of Education.
“The Blue Ribbon Award is the most prestigious national honor available to public and private K-12 schools across the country for their commitment to excellence in education,” said Mater Dei Principal Diane McCaughan.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be part of such a strong and loving community,” she said.
The Blue Ribbon award is given to schools that place in the top 15 percent nationwide as measured by standardized testing in reading and math. Schools are nominated for two categories, exemplary high performing or achievement gap closing, and Mater Dei was awarded under the high performance category. Details of the school’s student scores can be found in their application for the award.
All 521 Mater Dei students watched the announcement of the award live-streamed from Washington, D.C., on Monday, and Mater Dei’s Director of Advancement Grace Samanns said it was a moment students will never forget.
“It was a very exciting time in the history of Mater Dei, that’s for sure. We had a 521-balloon drop, and put it up on the screen when they announced our name. It was a lot of fun, and the kids were very excited,” Samanns said.
Each student received a blue shirt commemorating the award, and the school can now use the blue ribbon logo, and will receive a formal award at a cere-
mony in Washington in November. Students will also have a chance to show off the recognition during a Blue Ribbon Party following Lansdale’s Mardi Gras parade on Nov. 17, which will feature games, food, a horse cart offering rides, and a ceremonial mass, Samanns said.
“The nice thing about being a Blue Ribbon school, for our parents and for our students, is that in order to receive that award again, you have to maintain what you made the application with, the academics and scores,” she said.
“You can never be off of your game,” she said.
A total of 19 schools in Pennsylvania were recognized with the award for 2018, and the program has recognized over 8,800 schools over the past 36 years, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Education. Other area schools to earn the Blue Ribbon designation include Saint Jude Catholic School in Chalfont, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Doylestown, Saint Joseph/Saint Robert School in Warrington and Albert M. Greenfield Elementery School and the William M. Meredith School in Philadelphia.
“We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a statement.
“Congratulations on your students’ accomplishments and for your extraordinary commitment to meeting their unique needs,” she said.
Mater Dei Catholic School is located at 493 E. Main St. in Lansdale. For more information visit www.MaterDeiCatholicES. com, search for “Mater Dei Catholic School” on Facebook or follow @Mater_ Dei_CS on Twitter.