Three La Crescenta Schools Receive Blue Ribbon Award

Three Crescenta Valley schools celebrated being named in the top 10 percent of schools in the nation. Monte Vista, Mountain Avenue and Valley View Elementary schools are all 2005 Blue Ribbon Schools.

“It is a big deal. A very big deal,” said Glendale Unified School District Superintendent Michael Escalante told the students at all the schools. “We are the only district in the states that had three Blue Ribbon awards.”

The federal government’s Blue Ribbon School award has a 20-year history. In 2002 it became the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School award. The Blue Ribbon award is to honor schools that have at least 40 percents of their student population from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance on state tests, or schools with students less than 40 percent disadvantaged that have shown dramatic improvement in test scores. The three honored GUSD elementary schools fall into the latter category and all three are in the top 10 percent of the nation’s schools.

The schools not only have consistent Academic Performance Index test scores -- the guidelines the state uses to analyze a school’s performance -- but they must maintain those high standards that they have set for themselves.

“In California you have really high standards,” said Stephen O’Brien director of recognition program at the U.S. Department of Education. He adds that schools that are high performing, such as the three recognized CV schools, have a tendency to drop in scores, O’Brien said. The fact that these schools are maintaining is to the credit of their principals, staff, students and district.

Schools are nominated by the state for Blue Ribbon consideration.

“We have a lot of schools that qualify for this category,” said Kimberly Edwards, California Department of Education liaison for Blue Ribbon. “These schools at GUSD showed the most growth at that level.”

Principals Susan Hoge, from Monte Vista, Garcella Gibbs, Mountain Avenue, and Carla Walker, Valley View, all traveled to Washington, D.C. in early November to be officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All three principals expressed their pride at being with the other schools in the nation that received the award. They all brought home an impressive plaque to hang on their school’s wall of honor.

Each school had a celebration for the entire student body and their families. Representatives from the offices of Senator Jack Scott, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressman David Dreier and Congressman Adam Schiff paid tribute to the schools and brought certificates of recognition as well as flags that were flown over the capitol. Local officials from the Crescenta Valley Town Council and La Cañada also attended the celebrations. The front row at each school was reserved for the members of GUSD school board and administration. All principals expressed their gratitude to the district for its support.

Escalante said he wanted the students to understand the importance of this award.

“We thank you for your hard work,” he said.

School board President Mary Boger expressed her appreciation to the teachers and staff of the schools, the students and the parents. She admired the teamwork that is a key ingredient to a successful school.

“You are setting such a marvelous example of getting along,” Boger said.

Although dignitaries were on campus the celebration was really about sharing the award with the students. It was there determination and responsibility to their schools that made the award possible. At Valley View second grader Gabriel Torrone read an essay he wrote that voiced his school pride. He also said why the school is so successful.

“At Valley View we have rules but it is still a fun school,” he said.

Students at all three schools celebrated by writing essays. Monte Vista students also participated in a Great American Costume Contest and an All American lunch of hot dogs and hamburgers as well as danced to the music of the Three Blind Mice bluegrass band. They understood that test scores, although they may not be reflected on their report cards, are still important to the school.

Mountain Avenue sixth graders understood the importance of being a Blue Ribbon School.

“I think we show a lot of pride and joy in our school,” said Carrie Drake.

Rebecca Avanesian, who was one of the students who read an essay on what her school means to her, added that the award was achieved because students took responsibility for their school.

“I know that I am being a good person, and we can trust our teachers,” Avanesian said.