Five schools in NNPS were recognized with 2008 National Blue Ribbon Awards by the U. S. Department of Education. The schools (members of NNPS for 1 to 10 years) are: Ala Wai Elementary School in Honolulu, HA; Cecil Elementary School in Baltimore, MD; Crespatown Elementary School in Crespatown, MD; Hickory Elementary School in Bel Air, MD; and Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle, IL. A sixth Blue Ribbon awardee, Hagan Elementary School, in Williston, ND, recently joined NNPS.
The schools, located in rural, urban, and suburban locations, serve large numbers of families with low income or sizable groups of minority students. Blue Ribbon Awards recognize schools for closing achievement gaps between diverse groups of students and for high percentages of students at or above proficient levels of achievement in reading and math on state tests.
Partnerships Link to Student Success
As members of NNPS, the schools involved families and the community in many ways. Leaders from two of the schools noted how family and community involvement contributed to the qualities recognized by the Blue Ribbon Awards. Don Perry, Principal of Kennedy Junior High School (a 2008 NNPS Partnership School Award winner, see pp. 5-6), explained that “there are constant communications between the school and home. Almost 100% of our parents use Talk203, Blackboard, and I-Parent to interact with the school.” Involvement activities support the goals in our School Improvement Plan. Lisa Kolick, a parent and co-chair of the SFCP team agreed, “Mr. Perry…understands that parental and community involvement makes for better student outcomes.”
At Cecil Elementary School, Cynthia Long, Chair of the ATP, with support from Principal Roxanne Forr, reflected, “Our Family Learning Nights, where attendance is always great, contribute a lot to our students’ success. Last year we conducted four – Reading, Math, Science, and Family Fun Nights. Parents saw that learning can be fun and how to support their children’s education. A homework workshop with parents also helped more children complete homework. Teachers on our ATP lead committees and solicit support from staff and parents to implement the planned involvement activities.”
All five Blue Ribbon schools, like many others in NNPS, are showing that high student achievement is the result of everyone’s efforts – teachers, parents, administrators, and the students, themselves.
Brenda G. Thomas
bthomas@csos.jhu.edu