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Blue Ribbon for St. Dominic School
The United States Department of Education has just selected St. Dominic School as one of 50 non-public schools across the United States to receive the most prestigious Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award for 2008.
Each year, the U.S. Department of Education invites all public and non-public schools in the United States to apply for the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award (NCLS-BRS program). It is our understanding that there are some 250,000 public and non-public elementary and secondary schools in the United States. All schools may apply if they meet the very stringent requirements of the program. We at St. Dominic School felt very confident last November when we submitted the application that we did meet and exceed all of the criteria.
The first criterium a school must have is that it’s most recent reading and math scores, as measured by a national standardized test such as Terra Nova, must each be in the 90th percentile or better. St. Dominic’s score for math is 94th percentile and reading is the 92nd percentile. In addition, and as part of the application, other criteria are excellent rates of student and staff attendance; low student and staff turnover rates; numerous indicators of academic success; evidence of using student assessment results to better the school; evidence of effective communications with a variety of publics in and outside the school; detailed explanations of the core curriculum and how it meets the needs of every student; strength of the reading program; effective instructional methods; professional development of the staff; evidence of two highly successful subject areas above and beyond the core curriculum; evidence of foreign language incorporated into the curriculum of the junior high students.
In mid-January, 2008, we were notified that our application had been received and would be recommended to the U.S. Department of Education as a fully acceptable and letter perfect application. During the course of the summer, all applications were further reviewed by the Department of Education resulting in this grand announcement this week.
The awards assembly will be held in Washington, D.C. on Monday and Tuesday, October 20 and 21. Two St. Dominic staff members will travel to Washington to receive the award on behalf of all of the students, staff, school parents, and St. Dominic parishioners who give so much of their time, talent, and treasure to make St. Dominic School truly a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. What a wonderful tribute to our school, our parish, the community at large, and to the 75th Anniversary of St. Dominic Parish.
As time goes on, announcements will be made regarding various ceremonies and events being planned for all to be able to join in this wonderful award for St. Dominic School.