Schools

St. John's Wins Prestigious Blue Ribbon School Award

School is one of 14 in the state to win 2011 designation.

St. John the Apostle School in Clark has been named a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School for academic excellence by the U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The Department will honor the school for this prestigious award at a ceremony held for National Blue Ribbon Schools on November 14-15 in Washington, DC.

St. John the Apostle School was selected as a high academic performance school because their standardized test scores in reading and math were among the highest in the nation. The National Blue Ribbon School award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve at high levels, as well as where the achievement gap is narrowing.

St. John's is one of only 14 schools in the state to win the designation this year. Other local winners include Holy Trinity School in Westfield, Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 in Elizabeth and New Providence High School.

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The official nomination was finalized on September 15.

“This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our faculty," said Sister Donna Marie O’Brien, O.P., principal of St. John the Apostle School for more than 25 years.

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“At St. John the Apostle School, we are constantly striving to ensure that the academic program we deliver meets the needs of our students, while encouraging them to do their best," said O'Brien. "Many hands and minds were put to work as a team united toward a common goal: achieving the Blue Ribbon nomination. The application had us answering questions about our curriculum, assessment, staff development, and history."

“As I think back at this entire process, I realize that St. John the Apostle School was already a Blue Ribbon School," said O'Brien. "We have a dedicated staff that truly puts children first in all they do. We have active parents who want the best for their children, and we have a pastor and parish that strongly support its parish school.”

A list of the 2011 National Blue Ribbon Schools is available at ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2011/index.html.


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