Elementary Excellence

May 06, 2008 11:56 am

— CRESAPTOWN - Spirits were high at Cresaptown Elementary Monday afternoon during the Blue Ribbon ceremony attended by State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick.
Students and teachers clad in blue shirts, school staff, parents, grandparents, dignitaries and community members gathered to celebrate the school's prestigious distinction. Cresaptown is one of six schools in Maryland to be named a 2008 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
"This is a first for our county, which makes it even more special," said Principal Roxanne Reuse.
"Your accomplishments attract the attention of very important people," Allegany County Superintendent of Schools Bill AuMiller told the students before introducing Grasmick, who was also dressed in blue in honor of the celebration.
"You are an extremely smart group of students doing a great job here," said Grasmick.
The state has 860 elementary schools, so being selected as a Blue Ribbon School is quite an honor, Grasmick told the students.
At Cresaptown Elementary, about 88 percent of fifth-graders scored at or above the reading proficiency level on the Maryland School Assessments, and almost 92 percent of the fifth-graders scored at or above the proficiency level in math.
Other factors that led to the award include being recognized three times in the last four years as a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Exemplar School, attaining a perfect score on the PBIS evaluation in 2007, receiving A-plus ratings for all Professional Development Standards and receiving the Maryland Center for Character Education 2007 School of the Year Award for Allegany County. Students have also been successful at collecting food to donate to the Salvation Army.
Cresaptown Elementary is also the home of three former county teachers of the year: Deborah Pappas, Heather Morgan and Tina Mowery.
Martin's Food donated $14,000 to the school, and M&T Bank donated more than $50,000. Grasmick presented the school with a $2,000 check. More than $700 worth of books from Scholastic and a new white board with more than $6,000 worth of equipment were also part of the prize package. Food Lion and Carl Belt, Inc. have been school partners.
Students will celebrate with a Joe Corbi's pizza party.
Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools will go on to compete in the National Blue Ribbon Awards; winners will be announced by the U.S. Department of Education in September.
"I hope to come back in late September or early October to recognize you as a National Blue Ribbon School," said Grasmick.
Contact Jennifer Raley at jraley@times-news.com.

Photos

State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick hugs Cresaptown Elementary 3rd-grader Natalie Gray during a ceremony at the school Monday. Cresaptown is one of six schools in Maryland to be named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Cumberland Times-News