Bringing Home The Honors

By Tanjua Damon

The Blue Ribbon Award has finally made its way to Newtown High School.

The trip to Washington, DC, last weekend was great and well worth the trip, according to Newtown High School Principal William Manfredonia.

“It was just tremendous,” he said. “Both days were just very dignified.”

Teachers Jeanetta Miller and Allison Zmuda also went to Washington with Mr Manfredonia. The two were instrumental in putting the needed documentation together for the application and site visit before being given the honor.

The trio also had a tour of the Congressional building while they were in Washington, thanks to Jim Maloney.

“Jim Maloney was incredible,” Mr Manfredonia said. “He invited us out and a member of his staff gave us a personal tour of the Congressional building.”

Mr Manfredonia predicted correctly that the President and Vice President would not be giving the awards. But Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley was there to deliver the plaques to the award winning schools.

“It was so dignified,” he said. “It was a great two days. It was such an honor for the whole community of Newtown. That was a good feeling.”

Newtown High School found out in May last year that the Federal Department of Education was naming them a Blue Ribbon School. The process looks at many different aspects throughout a school and its surrounding environment. Material was gathered showcasing the school’s challenging curriculum, how students’ needs are met, leadership, community relationship, indicators of success, standardized tests, active teaching and learning, and professional community. A representative from the federal Department of Education arrived for a three-day visit in April to investigate and see what was included in the report.

Newtown and Bristol Eastern High Schools were the only two Connecticut Schools to be honored this time around.