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Four diocesan schools celebrate their achievements at a D.C. awards ceremony.
Four diocesan schools were honored last week at the 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The ceremony, held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, was attended by representatives from schools throughout the United States.
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program was started in 1982 by the U.S. Department of Education. The award recognizes public and private schools from around the country that are either academically superior or that have made dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels.
Out of more than 132,000 public and private schools in the United States, 321 received the award this year.
Diocesan schools honored included All Saints in Manassas, Corpus Christi in Falls Church, St. Agnes in Arlington and St. Mary in Alexandria. Trinity School at Meadowview, a private Christian school in Falls Church, also was honored.
During the ceremony, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan thanked the school principals and teachers for their hard work.
"What you guys are doing - not just for your students, but for your country - is phenomenal," Duncan said. "The benefits to our country for years to come will be extraordinary."
For the local principals and teachers in attendance, the ceremony gave recognition for years of hard work.
"Corpus Christi is being recognized for solid academics, which we always provide within the context of faith formation," said Corpus Christi Principal Laura Zybrick. "It's been affirming to the faculty and staff. We always knew we were doing the right things, but now other people will know too."
"We've created a beautiful legacy and tradition at All Saints, and to have that validated at this level feels great," All Saints Principal David Conroy said. "Everybody feels really wonderful about it. People stand a little taller and look a little higher knowing we've been recognized for this."
For St. Mary Principal Janet Cantwell, the Blue Ribbon designation was not only an honor but also a call to arms.
"It's an honor to be recognized among all these schools and it challenges us to continue the work we've been doing," she said. "Now we see what we can improve while keeping our mission in mind to help raise children in the Faith."
St. Agnes Principal Kris Carr agreed, saying that receiving an award for academic excellence was exciting but that it wouldn't take away from the school's emphasis on spiritual formation.
"We're proud of the academic excellence, but we're remembering to keep our mission of Catholic education in mind," Carr said.
Click for the original story in the Catholic Herald.
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