Schools
Kelly Lane Intermediate School Receives National Blue Ribbon Award
Granby school is just one of five schools in Connecticut to receive the distinction administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
The Granby public school system received another feather in its cap yesterday when was given a 2011 National Blue Ribbon Award.
Kelly Lane, which serves 330 students in grades 3 through 6, was just one of five schools in Connecticut to receive the distinction, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
The Federal Blue Ribbon Schools Award Program honors both public and private schools that are high-performing or have improved their achievement, according to the U.S. Department of Education's website.
The goal of the program, which has been in existence since 1982, is to identify and spread information regarding "best school leadership" and teaching practices, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
The other schools in Connecticut to receive the Blue Ribbon Award are Helen Keller Middle School in Easton, Brownstone Intermediate School in Portland, Middlebrook School in Wilton and Saint Gabriel School, Windsor.
Kelly Lane Principal Robert Gilbert will travel to Washington, D.C., to receive the award on behalf of the school at a conference on Nov. 15-16.
“As principal of Kelly Lane Intermediate School, I couldn’t be more proud of the students, staff and educational community here at our school,” Gilbert wrote in an email. “This is a mountaintop moment for our school. This Blue Ribbon award validates the phenomenal and high levels of student achievement and student conduct/character and also validates the exemplary teaching and support that is afforded to kids by the faculty, staff, parents and community.”
Superintendent of Schools Alan Addley was equally thrilled upon learning of the news.
“I think it’s wonderful to recognize Mr. Gilbert, the staff, students and parents for their hard work and commitment to do whatever it takes for the kids over a period of years,” Addley said.
It’s the third time in recent years that Granby schools have received prestigious accolades.
was named a Vanguard School in 2006-07, and was named the Connecticut Association of Schools middle school of the year, according to Addley.
Information from this article was derived from a January 2011 piece written by Lindsay Fetzner for the Granbys Patch.
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