December 1, 2009 — On a normal school day, the faculty at Roosa Elementary typically wears red, but on one special day last week, there was a “sea of blue” when the faculty decided to dress in the color representative of their Blue Ribbon School status.
The students, faculty, parents and visitors were invited to a special ceremony where the official Blue Ribbon School flag was raised.
Principal Glen Abshere and Media Specialist Jonnie Gayman traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend a ceremony for all Blue Ribbon School winners. They were presented a special plaque and an official flag, which now flies outside the school.
“We are so proud of our faculty, staff and students for achieving this award,” said Abshere.
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools based on one of two criteria: 1) Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state tests, and 2) Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that demonstrate dramatic improvement of student performance to high levels on state or national tests.
In addition, public schools must meet Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, in reading and mathematics.
To involve the students in the experience, Abshere and Gayman took along “Zippy” a stuffed zebra. On their return the students watched a power point presentation showing Zippy at various historical sites in and around Washington, D.C., as well as accepting the National Blue Ribbon Award at a special ceremony.
“The students would not have appreciated a slide show of historical monuments, but showing Zippy on the steps of the capital, in front of the White House, and at the Stuart Roosa gravestone really brought it home to them,” said Abshere.
