Seven area schools get National Blue Ribbon recognition
Seven area schools have been recognized for excellence by the U.S. Department of Education as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made the announcement Tuesday.
Seven area schools have been recognized for excellence by the U.S. Department of Education as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made the announcement Tuesday.
In Philadelphia, Our Mother of Consolation in Chestnut Hill received the distinction. No Philadelphia public schools made the list.
In the Pennsylvania suburbs, Holicong Middle School in Doylestown took the honor, as did Radnor Middle School, St. Norbert Elementary School in Paoli, and St. Agnes Elementary in West Chester.
In New Jersey, Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School in Haddonfield and Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Moorestown earned the honor.
"This honor recognizes your students' accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that went into their success," Duncan said in a video message to the awardees.
Representatives from the schools will travel to Washington in November to receive their honors.
Schools are recognized either for strong learning standards or making remarkable strides on closing achievement gaps.
The award is given annually to schools around the country. In total, 420 schools can be nominated - public schools by the state education secretary, and private schools by the Council for American Private Education. This year, 335 schools, 285 public schools, and 50 private schools won the award.
The news drew jubilation at the schools that won the honor.
Our Mother of Consolation is the first city archdiocesan elementary school to win a blue ribbon, officials said.
"Being the first archdiocesan elementary school in the city of Philadelphia to receive Blue Ribbon distinction is truly an honor and it supports our long history of educating the whole child - academically, spiritually, and socially," the Rev. Robert Bazzoli, pastor of Our Mother of Consolation Church, said in a statement. "This recognition is directly attributed to the strong dedication of our school community and the outstanding leadership of our principal, Bruce Hagy."
At Our Lady of Good Counsel, principal Frank X. McAneny said he believed the school's academic achievements, strong technology, student participation in charity outreach, and its program that pairs students with children in Jamaica helped it stand out.
"Being a Catholic school, we were praying every day that it was the right thing," said McAneny, who has been principal of the 421-student school for three years.
Faith, McAneny said, likely aided the school.
"Holy water and prayer is much more helpful than people realize," McAneny said.
At tiny St. Norbert's School, there are just 212 students and 20 teachers. But the enthusiasm was enormous Tuesday.
"We're very excited," principal Mary Kay Hennessy of St. Norbert's said. "We've been so humbled to be recognized as a Blue Ribbon school."
The 57-year-old school has a new science lab, and all students have their own iPads. The school teaches Spanish and recently added Latin in seventh and eighth grades.
"That's been very well-received by the parents and the children," Hennessy said.
The federal designation is "a great honor and a testament to the dedication of our whole school community, the faculty, staff, students, and parents," she said.
Elizabeth Haddon principal Gerry Bissinger called the selection "an award for all of us."
"The teachers were just thrilled and really excited," Bissinger said. "I just really feel honored."
Bissinger said a pep rally was being planned for the entire school to celebrate. School officials are also considering purchasing "Blue Ribbon" shirts, he said.
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Inquirer staff writers Melanie Burney, Kathy Boccella, and Barbara Boyer contributed to this article.