Hamilton School Named a Gold Ribbon School!

The California Department of Education named Hamilton School in the Novato Unified School District a 2016 California Gold Ribbon School.

The California Gold Ribbon Schools Award was created to honor schools in place of the California Distinguished Schools Program, which is on hiatus while California creates new assessment and accountability systems. Nearly 6,000 elementary schools were eligible to apply this year. Hamilton School is 1 of the 772 elementary schools being honored under the Gold Ribbon Schools Awards Program.

Steve Hospodar, Hamilton School Principal, is thrilled and honored that Hamilton was selected as a Gold Ribbon School. He commented, "The scope of education and student needs has significantly broadened over the past few years as our schools become more diverse. We no longer just teach grade level content, we teach to the whole child. At Hamilton we recognized long-ago that in order to achieve this goal we needed to develop a formula that allows teachers to be creative and take risks and remove obstacles that stand in the way of a child from accessing their education. As a result, all students at Hamilton K-8 are succeeding beyond the perceived expectations. We are thrilled to be recognized for our academic excellence."

“Hamilton continues to do amazing things and is a true community school. They have embraced their community by supporting students and their families in many ways from hosting a weekly Hamilton family market and an open closet to parent education nights and a weekly Hamilton Moms Group,” commented Jim Hogeboom, Superintendent for Novato Unified School District.

Schools applied for the award based on a model program or practice their school has adopted that includes standards-based activities, projects, strategies, and practices that can be replicated by other local educational agencies. The award recognized middle and high schools last year.

The Gold Ribbon Awards recognize California schools that have made gains in implementing the academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education. These include the California Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, California English Language Development Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards.

"These schools shine as bright beacons for others, putting forth an exemplary effort to ensure that every student is ready for 21st century college and careers," Torlakson said. "California teachers are developing an education model for the nation, training the students of today to be the problem-solvers, inventors, and pioneers of tomorrow."

The 2016 Elementary Gold Ribbon Schools as well as the 2016 Exemplary Program recipients, Title I Academic Achieving Schools, 2016 Green Ribbon Schools, 2016 Civic Learning Award Schools, and the National Blue Ribbon Schools from 2015, will be honored in May/June during regional ceremonies held in Santa Clara, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Visalia, and Sacramento.