WESTMINSTER : School Celebrates Its National Award

Students and teachers at Westminster High School were celebrating Friday after winning the National Exemplary School award, the highest national honor a high school can receive, officials said.

While Principal Bonnie Maspero was in Washington to receive the award from President Clinton, students and teachers at the school celebrated the event at the football stadium with Vietnamese dragon dances, Mexican folklorico dances, varsity cheers and congratulations from community leaders.

“This shows that a school with ethnic diversity can be top-notch,” said Thuy Guyen, 16, student body vice president and a cheerleader. “Now everybody will know how good this school is.”

Heather Siegel, 17, a member of the student council, said the best thing about the school is the people and the different cultures. “I wouldn’t dare go to any other school,” she said.

Thirty-eight percent of the students are Asian, 25% white and 25% Hispanic.

County schools Supt. John F. Dean said the national honor “fulfills a good old American dream. If you work hard, you can be a winner.”

Westminster High was officially notified in the spring that it had received the National Exemplary School honor. Only 260 secondary schools nationwide received the award, which is given every other year.

In addition, Westminster was one of only three secondary schools in the country to receive a special commendation for its science program, which integrates physical and biological science courses and is on the leading edge of science education in the state, according to school officials.

Westminster was selected for the award by the U.S. Department of Education for its “strong leadership, clear vision and sense of mission, high-quality teaching, up-to-date curriculum, policies and practices that ensure a safe environment conducive to learning, strong parental interest and involvement and evidence that the school helps all students achieve, regardless of their abilities,” school officials said.

Vice Principal Anji Clemens said the school was also honored because it has restructured and integrated curriculum to fit student needs and to prepare them for careers. The school also puts an emphasis on classroom technology and computers, helping foreign-born students overcome language problems, she said.

Westminster Mayor Charles V. Smith told students and faculty members gathered at the football stadium that the city has never been so proud of the school for its achievements.

“You exemplify the true meaning of caring and education,” he said.