September 2008

Saint Mary Catholic School in Bethel named a "Blue Ribbon School" by the U.S. Department of Education, placing it in the top 10 percent of all schools in the United States; it is the only elementary school — public or private — in Connecticut to achieve this honor; 13 more schools eligible for next year

CAPTION: BISHOP WILLIAM LORI (center) congratulates Sister Anne McCarthy, S.S.N.D., principal of Saint Mary School in Bethel, on being named a 2008 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School. On hand to celebrate are the priests of Saint Mary Parish in Bethel, Father Corey Piccinino, pastor (right), and Father Cyrus Bartolome, parochial vicar. (Photo by Karen Leffler)

BETHEL, Friday, September 12, 2008 — The U.S. Department of Education has announced that Saint Mary Catholic School in Bethel has been named a 2008 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School. Saint Mary's is one of only three schools in Connecticut to receive the recognition, and is the only elementary school in the State, public or private, to be named. "It's affirming what we believe in," says Sister Anne McCarthy, S.S.N.D., Saint Mary's principal. "We're first and foremost a Catholic school, striving daily for academic excellence. It's a family-oriented school. The parents are extremely supportive; they're always on hand to help. We have a school community that's committed to Catholic education." Sister Anne will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC, next month. Saint Mary's enrolls 221 students in grades pre-K through 8. Top 10 Percent of Schools in the U.S. Schools which qualify for the prestigious No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools recognition perform in the top 10 percent of their state in the case of public schools, or in the top 10 percent of the nation in nationally-normed tests in the case of private and religious schools. The award looks in particular at schools with 40 percent of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance, and schools whose students achieve high national scores in reading and mathematics. This year, 320 schools across the U.S. received the Blue Ribbon honor, including only 50 private or religious schools. The other two Connecticut schools to receive the award, Henry James Memorial School in Simsbury and Middlesex Middle School in Darien, are in high-income, high scoring areas of the state. "When people ask how our Catholic schools compare to public schools, we now have the answer for them," says John Cook, deputy superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Bridgeport. "We're right at the top." "These Blue Ribbon Schools are an example of what teachers and students can achieve," Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said in making the announcement. "Now our challenge is to help other schools follow their lead by continuing to measure progress though No Child Left Behind, and by using the knowledge we've gained to replicate effective strategies and help every student improve."

CAPTION: Principals of Catholic Schools eligible for the No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School recognition join their Pastors, Bishop William Lori, and Catholic School Administrators for a celebration at the Catholic Center in Bridgeport. (Photo by Karen Leffler)

Thirteen Catholic Schools Eligible for Next Year

For the 2008-2009 year, 13 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport, which covers all of Fairfield County, have been nominated for Blue Ribbon recognition, a record. Last year, nine schools were eligible. Saint Mary's cannot receive the award two years in a row.

The 13 schools are:

Having reached this status, these 13 schools will now participate in the final selection process, which takes a full school year. Award winners will be announced in September 2009.

"We're positively thrilled by this extra bit of wonderful news," says Dr. Margaret Dames, Superintendent of Schools. "This is about excellence. Blue Ribbon recognition gives us credit for the hard work by our teachers, administrators, and of course of students that has been going on for years at our Catholic Schools. And, in fact, students in all of our 39 Catholic schools read at or above grade level."

Enduring Renaissance

Bishop William E. Lori agrees.

"Our renaissance of Catholic education in Fairfield County continues," he says. "Catholic education is not just about test scores, important as they are. It's about communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ and helping our young people become the persons God meant them to be from all eternity. We're building new generations of leadership in the Church and society, a corps of people who will know their faith and understand how it transforms the human condition while helping to shape a more humane society."I hope many more parents will consider investing in a Catholic education for their children's future."

(For more information on the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport, click here.)

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