St. John the Evangelist Catholic School became the first elementary school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the first private/parochial school in Anne Arundel to receive the prestigious Blue Ribbon award for academic achievement.
“Private schools that receive the award have a tougher time,” said Sister Linda Larsen, the school’s principal since 1988.
“And especially for us, since we have more [grade levels] to meet the requirements.”
The federal No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes academically superior schools or ones that have made huge academic gains.
The 458-student Severna Park school that teaches kindergarten through eighth grade joins several public schools in the Baltimore region that have earned this honor, including Broadneck Elementary School in Arnold, Cecil Elementary School in Baltimore City and Hickory Elementary School in Bel Air.
Across the country, 329 schools received the award, including 50 private schools.
Striving for excellence
To qualify for the recognition, private schools first must submit an application to the Council for American Private Education, which determines if they are eligible for consideration by the U.S. Department of Education.
Larsen explained the lengthy 14-page application school officials were required to submit.
The school was awarded the honor since students scored in the top 10 percent of the nation in reading and math assessments.
Unlike public schools, which are required to take the Maryland School Assessment in math and reading, private schools take comparable assessments.
Students at St. John the Evangelist and other parochial schools take tests that follow the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The reading tests focus on skills such as vocabulary and reading comprehension, while the math tests concentrate on problem solving and procedures.
St. John the Evangelist records around 99 percent daily student attendance and 90 percent parent participation and around 70 percent of faculty has a master’s degree, according to school officials.
The co-educational school also qualified, because if offers Spanish as a major subject in middle school, Larsen said.
Time to celebrate
Students, parents, faculty and staff members celebrated the school’s achievement during an official recognition ceremony Friday at the school.
“Our school, your school, has won the gold medal of awards, the Blue Ribbon award,” said Monsignor Richard Woy, pastor at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. “You are making history with your presence here today.”
“I’m very proud to get the Blue Ribbon; it’s very special for the school,” said eighth-grader Leah Henry, 13. “The teachers are very helpful, and always answer your questions.”
Fifth-grader John Huebler, 10, said he liked the teachers — and the food in the cafeteria especially the corndogs, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate milk.
“I love math and I love my school,” he said.
Media specialist Debra Sauls said the school, which was founded in 1959, is open and friendly, and the staff members are willing to help anyone, from those with learning disabilities to gifted students.
Del. Ron George, R-District 30, where many of the school’s community live, said the school is a mixture of excellence.
“They have a perfect combination of dedicated nuns, dedicated teachers and parental involvement,” he said. “The children seem confident and that’s part of the character education that goes along with academics.”
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