NHS Named National

Blue Ribbon School

By Jeff White

After the disappointment of 1997, when Newtown High School failed to get beyond the nomination stage for the prestigious Blue Ribbon School Award from the Federal Department of Education, school officials were elated Tuesday by the news that the school had won this year’s award.

And so were its students.

“It really speaks of the quality of students at the high school,” senior Kristen Bandura said Wednesday. “I think people weren’t surprised about the decision, but rather [surprised] that we didn’t get a blue ribbon sooner. The quality of the academics is outstanding.”

The award was presented at an early afternoon ceremony in the school’s main office attended by Connecticut Fifth District Congressional Representative Jim Maloney, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed, high school Principal Bill Manfredonia and Board of Education Chairman Elaine McClure.

Congressman Maloney, whose wife attended Newtown High School, addressed students watching from their classrooms via short circuit television. “[Newtown High School] is indeed one of the best high schools in the country.”

By way of a statement issued after the presentation, Congressman Maloney added, “It is great to see such educational achievement in our local schools. Principal Manfredonia and the teachers, students and parents of Newtown should be extremely proud of this honor.”

The Blue Ribbon School award, which was bestowed on 198 schools nationwide this year, was given this year to only one other Connecticut high school, Bristol Eastern High School. The award was first established in 1982 as a means of recognizing schools across the country as models of excellence and equity.

The overall framework of criteria for the honor centers on four broad themes: the dynamic interaction between students and teachers; elements within schools that are conditions for success; how a school functions as a member of a larger community; and the coherence of a school’s overall assessment system.

Once a school is nominated by its state department of education, it moves on for national consideration. A site visit will hopefully follow, as it did this April when a representative from the Federal Department of Education visited the high school for two and a half days, sitting in on classes and touring facilities. In 1997, despite a nomination for the award by Connecticut’s Department of Education, the high school did not receive a federal site visit.

But Bill Manfredonia said that 1997’s result helped the school to prepare itself this time around. For one thing, Mr Manfredonia explained, the group of parents, teachers and students who got together last summer to apply for the award were able to draft a much more lucid directory of the school’s strengths. Moreover, over the last two years the high school has been able to look at areas of weakness and improve upon them.

“There was no way we would have gotten this award unless our students, faculty and staff pulled together,” Mr Manfredonia told the school Tuesday afternoon. “You earned this award.”

Herb Rosenthal echoed the proud comments of those accepting the award. “It’s a great matter of pride.”

Although the award brings no monetary prize to a winning school, Superintendent Reed said sometimes it is just nice to sit back and enjoy the moment. “We’ve put the resources into this high school. I think it is helpful to have some external validation for what you’re doing,” he said.

Despite the special recognition, life at the high school paused only briefly this week to take in the news. Before too long, students were back at the books, preparing for upcoming exams and last minute class projects. The manic life of a high school student does not permit large amounts of time to be given to contemplation.

Yet the significance of a Blue Ribbon Award was not lost on any of them. Senior Brian Shanahan commented that such an honor helps the school’s reputation when underclassmen begin the long process of applying to college. University admissions offices notice such things.

Freshman Megan Ignatius knows something about a blue ribbon school; she attended two of them in Florida. “I think it is an honor being in a Blue Ribbon School. It’s a big deal.”