United States
On Tuesday, November 16, Mrs. Monique Letendre, assistant-principal of Ste Jeanne d’Arc School in Lowell, in the company of Mrs. Ann Dunham, long-time teacher, were in Washington, D.C. to represent their colleagues and to receive from the hands of Mr. Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary for Education, the honour of having been chosen as a “Blue Ribbon School”. This prestigious designation was awarded to 314 school nationwide, of which only 50 were private or religious schools. In the State of Massachusetts, 8 schools received this honour, of which only Ste Jeanne d’Arc was not a public school.
What is the meaning of this honour? To be thus recognized, a school must be academically superior and be in the top 10% in national standardized tests. In presenting the award, the Secretary, Mr. Arne Duncan, stated:“These Blue Ribbon Schools have shown that all children can learn with appropriate supports. They are producing outstanding results for their students. They are places where improved teaching and learning benefit every student, and where students are challenged to meet high expectations with the active support of teachers, parents, and community.”
On Friday, November 19, the entire school population gathered to celebrate. A dark blue T-shirt bearing the official logo had been given to each person. Numbering 479, they formed an immense blue ribbon for the circumstance. The official flag was presented to the principal, Sr. Préscille Malo. One representative from each of the 18 classes, from pre-kindergarten to Grade 8, came forward to read a text composed by the class to express their pride for having been thus selected.
