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News

Blue Ribbon schools named

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Macomb Daily staff photo by Craig Gaffield Students at Wiley = Elementary=20 School in Shelby Township painted their faces with blue ribbons in = recognition=20 of their school being named a Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary school. = From left,=20 the students are Marissa Cacataio, Bailey Benoot, Hannah Maze, Adrianna = Andrews,=20 Bryan Balaj, Andy Kirkum and David Nikonowicz.

Saturday, March 21, 2009 6:24 AM EDT

By Frank DeFrank, Macomb Daily Staff Writer

Ten Macomb County elementary schools, including six from the Utica = district,=20 were named exemplary schools this week in the state's Blue Ribbon School = program.

"These schools (meet) some very tough criteria in = delivering=20 quality education to their students," said Kathleen Straus, president of = the=20 State Board of Education.

"All these schools, their teachers, = students,=20 parents and communities should be very proud of their=20 accomplishment."

Macomb County schools recognized as 2008-2009 = Michigan=20 Blue Ribbon winners are:

Collins, Duncan, Ebeling, Morgan, Switzer and Wiley, all from the = Utica=20 Community Schools district;

Robbie Hall Parker, Clintondale = Community=20 Schools;

Atwood, L'Anse Creuse Public Schools;

Hevel, = Romeo=20 Community Schools, and;

Wilkerson, Warren Consolidated=20 Schools.

The Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School program began = in 1982.=20 To earn the designation, schools must complete a rigorous = self-assessment of=20 their buildings and programs.

Schools must have made Adequate = Yearly=20 Process as required by the federal No Child Left Behind law; have a = Michigan=20 Education Yes! grade of "A" or "B"; and not have a Native American = nickname,=20 mascot or logo.

"Michigan Blue Ribbon schools are models of both=20 excellence and equity," Straus said. "To be recognized, a school must=20 demonstrate a

strong commitment to educational excellence for all = students."

Elementary and secondary schools are eligible in = alternate=20 years. For 2008-2009, just 22 Michigan schools made the = grade.

Christine=20 Johns, superintendent of Utica Community Schools, praised the staff and = students=20 of the six schools in her district to earn the honor. Utica now boasts = 28 Blue=20 Ribbon schools.

"I couldn't be more proud of our staff and = students who,=20 with the support of parents, made these Blue Ribbon designations a = reality,"=20 Johns said.

"Selection as a Blue Ribbon School =E2=80=A6 = underscores the climate=20 of academic rigor which is the hallmark of each of our = schools.

"We look=20 at these awards =E2=80=A6 as a standard we have achieved. Now, we will = reach even=20 higher, because we know that the key to student success now and in the = future=20 comes from a strong educational experience."

Diane Pellerin, = L'Anse=20 Creuse superintendent, offered similar praise after Atwood became the = 10th=20 school in her district to earn Blue Ribbon designation.

"Atwood = has=20 clearly demonstrated (its) commitment to quality education, strong = leadership,=20 parental participation and high expectations for all," Pellerin=20 said.

Karen Hessler, principal at Robbie Hall Parker, said: = "Receiving=20 the Blue Ribbon is a true tribute to the hard work of our students, = staff and=20 families. We are looking forward to celebrating with our=20 community."

Individual schools typically schedule ceremonies when = state=20 education officials visit to formally present Blue Ribbon banners to the = schools, their staffs and students.

Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no = way do=20 they represent the view of macombdaily.com.

250 wrote on Mar 21, 2009 6:25 AM:

" Very Good,

I am also proud of = our=20 community, schools, teachers and especially the students.

Thanks=20

Frank DeFrank, Macomb Daily Staff Writer "

Report Abuse

To MD wrote on Mar 21, 2009 7:55 AM:

" Thanks for reporting something on a = positive=20 note. "

Report Abuse

clinton twp resident wrote on = Mar 21, 2009 9:29 AM:

" Interesting to see Robbie Parker in = that=20 list.....hmmmm.... "

Report Abuse

Blue Ribbon doesn wrote on Mar 21, 2009 10:13 AM:

" Blue Ribbon is handed out so much it = has lost=20 its value. NCA used to be the seal of approval. Now that means a school = is no=20 better than open for business.

Pretty soon so many schools will = have IB=20 programs that it won't mean much either. "

Report Abuse

huh wrote on Mar 21, 2009 10:19 AM:

" funny that they are not allowed to = have a=20 native american nickname, logo, or mascot.

so no school in the = chippewa=20 district has ever been named a blue ribbon school.

seems sort of = unfair...its not my district, but its unfair they would have to change = the names=20 of every school in their district- to qualify. "

Report Abuse

Really wrote on Mar 21, 2009 11:02 AM:

" Who talked to who? What about the = rest of the=20 state of MI? Seems a little fishy to me. "

Report Abuse

Jeff wrote on Mar 21, 2009 11:03 AM:

" If I'm not mistaken Chippewa Valley = High School=20 is a Blue Ribbon school. They have a Native American logo... "

Report Abuse

Come On. wrote on Mar 21, 2009 11:33 AM:

" Great now lets weed out the = corruption and=20 Kickbacks! "

Report Abuse

wrote on Mar=20 21, 2009 11:39 AM:

" Finally something positve from all = the tax=20 payers money that has been poured into these districts.Now lets reduce = some of=20 the funds paid to Barton Malow Company and use someone cheaper to give = back some=20 of the hundreds of millions of dollars they steal from the students of = these=20 districts every year! "

Report Abuse

What wrote on Mar 21, 2009 12:27 PM:

" Yes, Chippewa Valley High School is a = blue=20 ribbon school, my children's school in the Chippewa Valley district was = also=20 named a blue ribbon school several years ago and it has a native = american name.=20 Something is not right! "

Report Abuse

To Come on wrote on Mar 21, 2009 12:48 PM:

" Lady-
Take your negative school = board=20 campaign to the streets so you can reveal the real you. This nice = article/blog=20 is no place for bashing. If you can't tell people to their face what you = dislike, keep your trash off of here, please. "

Report Abuse

Lady 2 wrote on Mar 21, 2009 1:26 PM:

" Why are the scores so low at = clintondale middle=20 school?
Altered? "

Report Abuse

Christopher wrote on Mar 21, 2009 1:43 PM:

" What is this about NOT having a = native American=20 mascot, logo, or name???? How does that affect a school's performance?=20 "

Report Abuse

Supporter wrote on Mar 21, 2009 3:32 PM:

" Congratulations! What a great = accomplishment=20 for the students, staff, and community of Macomb! "

Report Abuse

Ken wrote on Mar 21, 2009 4:41 PM:

" There are TWO schools that made Blue = Ribbon=20 from Romeo Community Schools.
Hevel elementary AND Hamilton-Parsons=20 Elementary. Hope you can write a correction. I'm proud of our school!=20 "

Report Abuse

Reason Why wrote on Mar 21, 2009 5:20 PM:

" cliton school which are lowerd scores = because=20 they have animals that go to the schools, "

Report Abuse

in the know wrote on Mar 21, 2009 6:46 PM:

" clintondale middle school scores are = low=20 compared to others because of the extremely transient population, = something like=20 50% of middle school students didnt go to a clintondale elementary, and = even=20 less in the high school. "

Report Abuse

patty wrote on Mar 21, 2009 7:35 PM:

" im very proud of my son and his = school he goes=20 to south lake high ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, "

Report Abuse

fuzzball wrote on Mar 22, 2009 12:15 AM:

" my granddaughter goes wilkerson and i = am so=20 amazed at the improvement of her. she came from a school where she was = below the=20 level that she is now doing. it goes to say that their are some very = educated=20 teachers that are in the school districts that believe in teaching and = not=20 messing around "

Report Abuse

wenttoelmira wrote on Mar 22, 2009 12:27 AM:

" You're kidding right? You think your=20 granddaughter is doing better? Better curve maybe. I'm in my forties, = going to=20 college at a private college after completing an Associates at Macomb. = Kids=20 these days don't even know how to read, let alone study. Only show up = for class=20 because Daddy threatens to take their car away. The education standards = in this=20 state are a mess. "

Report Abuse

Manda wrote on Mar 22, 2009 2:22 AM:

" If you only knew what was swept under = the rugs!=20 "

Report Abuse

Clueless wrote on Mar 22, 2009 9:07 AM:

" Congratulations to the schools that = received=20 this honor! If the parents and community only knew what was involved in=20 preparing for this accredidation you would have more respect. Teachers,=20 Administrators and staff members work hours preparing the documentation=20 necessary to receive this accreditation. We had a team of teachers and=20 administrators working during the summer months (un paid) preparing = years of=20 documentation and showing procedures implemented to help struggling = students. WE=20 did not receive the Blue Ribbon Accreditation.
Give credit = expecially to the=20 schools that do not have the extra money to pay for reading specialists = and=20 instructionals assistants. Many of these teachers are working in = classrooms of=20 30 + students with special education students mainstreamed into their=20 classrooms. "

Report Abuse

also in the know wrote on Mar 22, 2009 10:55 AM:

" The board invited the out of county, = transient=20 population and ran away the students who score higher. The community is = gone.=20 "

Report Abuse

proof enough wrote on Mar 22, 2009 11:17 AM:

" Some of these comments are prrof = enough that 4=20 out of 5 members of the general public are complete idiots. Some of your = comments are proof enough that you learned close to mothing during your = years of=20 schooling. Great schools have committed staffmembers and a genuine = concern and=20 care for EVERY student in the building. Blue Ribbon status confirms = that. I'm a=20 teacher, and all of you who want to dog the schools are probably the = same people=20 who couldn't parent to save their lives. Your stipidity prooves what we = have to=20 deal with on a dily basis, educating parents and children. You should = feel=20 embarassed ripping on education provided in this county... why don't you = go to=20 Detroit Public Schools... I mean you, the parents, re enroll and try to = put some=20 purpose in your life. Morons. "

Report Abuse

To Proof wrote on Mar 22, 2009 12:28 PM:

" Right on! Well stated. One of the = hateful=20 bloggers on here appears on every blog related to public schools and = spews her=20 poison. Now she is running for school board. Yet, people associated with = the=20 schools tell me she NEVER attends her kids conferences or is involved = with the=20 schools in a positive way.

Very sad. "

Report Abuse

wenttoelmira wrote on Mar 22, 2009 12:48 PM:

" To PROOF ENOUGH

I hope you = teach math or=20 science classes because you have no grasp of the English language. "Your = stipidity prooves what we have to deal with on a dily basis, educating = parents=20 and children."

And we are the morons? "

Report Abuse

What about the Parents wrote on = Mar 22, 2009 1:47 PM:

" show me a underperforming Student and = I will=20 show you the Parents who do not give a damn for their childs educational = develoment. "

Report Abuse

Save some cash wrote on Mar 23, 2009 9:45 AM:

" Congratulations to the schools that = made the=20 list. Please do the taxpayers a favor, instead of using money to put = signs up=20 all over the place, save it for the kids. Those signs only show that = you're=20 patting yourself on the back for getting the award. The state should = give awards=20 to school districts, city and county governments that show no increase = in=20 spending in a fiscal year and a larger award if they reduce their = spending by 1%=20 or more. "

Report Abuse

proof enough is calling who = stipid wrote=20 on Mar 23, 2009 9:56 AM:

" proof enough wrote on Mar 22, 2009 = 11:17=20 AM:
"...Great schools have committed and a genuine concern and care = for EVERY=20 student in the building. Blue Ribbon status confirms that. I'm a = teacher, and=20 all of you who want to dog the schools are probably the same people who = couldn't=20 parent to save their lives." "...I hope you teach math or science = classes=20 because you have no grasp of the English language. Your what we have to = deal=20 with on a basis, educating parents and children."

And we are the = morons?=20 "

--->>> And that my friends is supposedly from a person = who=20 educates your children. That explains it all. I wish I knew at what = school this=20 teacher taught at, definitely not a Blue Ribbon School. Proof... to = answer your=20 last question... "YES". "

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