Countywide : 2 Local Schools Win Nationwide Award

The U.S. Department of Education has designated two Orange County campuses as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 1993-94. The honorees are Bryant Ranch Elementary in Yorba Linda and Fred Newhart Elementary in Mission Viejo.

“These schools exemplify some of the most successful programs in the California educational system,” said William D. Dawson, acting state superintendent of public instruction.

Nationwide, 276 public and private elementary schools achieved the distinction. Since the program began in 1982, more than 2,500 U.S. schools have been honored. In California, 26 public and four private schools are being recognized this year.

Factors considered in the selection process include student achievement, teaching environment, parental and community support, curriculum and student and teacher attendance. Members of a federal review team visit finalists.

In October, representatives from the winning schools will attend an awards ceremony in Washington, which is expected to include a meeting with President Clinton at the White House.

Bryant Ranch Principal Bonnie Drolet said strong teamwork among parents, students and staff members was instrumental in gaining the Blue Ribbon distinction.

“We have a very clear vision of where we want to go,” Drolet said. “We encourage parents to be in the classroom, we encourage students to help one another. We try to have an environment of risk taking. Kids know that it’s OK to try things.”

The Parent-Teacher Assn. held fund-raisers for computers and various hands-on learning experiences for the children, Drolet said. There is now at least one computer in every classroom, and children can access an on-line encyclopedia and other resources for their assignments.

Drolet said that the site visitor from the federal review team was “very impressed with how happy the kids were” at Bryant Ranch and took note of the low absentee rate--less than 1%--among the 1,000 students.

Newhart Principal Jean Trygstad said her school’s Kids and Seniors Together program played a role in winning the Blue Ribbon award. The program encourages the 1,600 youngsters from kindergarten through eighth grade to become friends with members of the nearby Norman Murray Senior Center.

“We coordinate activities with seniors,” Trygstad said. “Some kids do Meals on Wheels, they have senior buddies, they talk about careers together, we attend their hobby fair, we have a lot of senior volunteers in our classrooms.”