St. John School Celebrates National Blue Ribbon Award

From St. John the Evangelist Catholic School: On Wednesday, November 29, St. John the Evangelist School (SJE) celebrated its recent designation as a National Blue Ribbon School. The school choir kicked-off the event at 10:00 am with a rendition of their new school song, “Learn about the Lord”. Remarks by Principal Christine Blake followed. She welcomed a dozen and a half distinguished guests and then the SJE students about whom she said, “work so hard and are bearers of the light of Christ and are the heart of our school.“ Blake welcomed parents, mentioning the sacrifices they make, and the many board members, parishioners, alumni, past parents, community members and friends present for the celebration. She addressed the school’s faculty and said, “These teachers give lovingly of their time, talent and treasure to provide a strong academic program and formation in Christian values and service. The children are the heart of the school but you are the ones that make it beat.”

Aba Kumi, Director of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program for the U.S. Department of Education, presented the National Blue Ribbon School award plaque to representatives of four of the school’s communities: students, parents, teachers and the community-at-large. These representatives included Grant Tridone, Student Council President, Keri DiCocco, Home and School Association President, Suzanne Thomas, middle school teacher, and James Schmidt, board member and parishioner, respectively. Kumi noted that one of the important aspects of the school’s successful application was the fact that “St. John School is a place where learning styles are recognized and differences are erased and mistakes become opportunities for learning rather than road blocks to confidence.”

The principals and presidents of four prominent area Catholic high schools came to share in the festivities, offer their congratulations and comment on how successful the school’s graduates are at their respective schools. Present were Sr. Karen Kane, Principal of Notre Dame Preparatory in Towson, John Marinacci, Principal of Loyola Blakefield also in Towson and St. John alumnus Steve DiBiagio, President of John Carroll School in Bel Air. Chuck Stembler, Principal of Calvert Hall College, said, “This award validates what many of us in the high school world already knew. That St. John’s is a great school. Some of our best students come from St. John’s. They are McMullen Scholars. They are in our Brother Tom Miller Honors Program. In a recent semester all the students from St. John’s that were at Calvert Hall, were on the Honor Roll. That speaks volumes about the academic commitment (of St. John’s.) But we also know that you build leaders. Last year our student body president was from St. John’s. This year our senior class president is from St. John’s. So we know it’s a great school.”

After the ceremony, the Calvert Hall National Championship band (whose members include four St. John graduates) played upbeat marching songs and accompanied the celebrants from the church to the front of the school building where the school’s new National Blue Ribbon School flag was raised for the first time by eighth graders Laken Heeter and Meredith Weitz. The band’s drummer gave a suspenseful drum roll just as the covering was dropped to reveal the school’s new ten foot high National Blue Ribbon School ribbon. A cake and coffee reception followed for parents, guests and visitors.

To set the tone for the inside ceremony, sixth grader Mimi Davis read from the Book of Deuteronomy about fixing the words of God in one’s heart and mind. Then Eastern Vicar of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Most Reverend Mark Brennan, shared his remarks and noted that public schools can also earn a Blue Ribbon for their work in math and language arts. “But this school does something in addition, something that makes a lifelong difference. Your principal and your teachers remember God’s words and teach them to you so you can take them to heart and learn to love God and to obey him and to enjoy his blessings.”

Symbolic gifts were brought to the retiring Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, Monsignor Richard Cramblitt, at the altar. Fifth grade and Kindergarten prayer partners Olivia DiCocco, Nora Mitchell and Rosie Schmidt gave a framed copy of the school’s mission statement which represented the academic success of the school’s students who thrive with individualized and differentiated instruction. The second gift was presented by sixth grade and preschool prayer partners Sam and and Grace Telljohann. The Catholic purpose statement represented the strong Catholic identity of the school and its faith-based atmosphere. Prayer partners Cameron Pennacchia and Dominic Bahr, eighth grade and first grade, respectively, carried a brown bag lunch that represented service to others and putting faith into action. The final gift was presented by prayer partners Samantha Suehle and Mary Elizabeth Thompson of seventh and third grade, respectively. They held a basket of names of deceased loved ones who represent the community of faith.

Seventh grader Angelina DiCocco read several prayer intentions for blessings on many, from St. John School students, faculty and families, to leaders of the Church and leaders in government. Eighth grader Michael Montero read a litany of saints asking the patron saints of students, teachers, mothers and fathers to pray for those gathered there.

Joyce Leviton and Bart Kennedy brought special Senatorial citations from Senator Ben Cardin’s and Senator Chris Van Hollen’s offices, respectively. Orrester Shaw brought a citation from Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and St. John School Board Chair, Deborah Jenkins, read a special proclamation from Governor Hogan.

Dr. Barbara Edmondson, Chief Leadership and Program Officer at the National Catholic Education Association, shared her congratulations and was followed by Maureen Dowling, Director of Non-Public Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Dowling started her remarks by saying, “I knew you students were smart because you got the Blue Ribbon award. That tells me you have a strong academic program….what I learned today by coming is that yes, you are a Blue Ribbon school and your parents and your teachers and everyone in this community want you to be good writers, mathematicians, historians, artists, singers, and composers but what they want even more, is for you to be the light of Christ so they can count on you to share your blessings with the poor. That’s the part of this award that makes you special.”

This Blue Ribbon award is based on the school’s overall academic performance. The Long Green Valley school was one of four Archdiocese of Baltimore schools, one of 13 Maryland schools and one of 342 schools, public and private, nationwide named as National Blue Ribbon Schools.

“To even be permitted to submit an application, schools must rank in the top 15 percent in the nation in English language arts and mathematics as measured by a nationally normed test,” explained Principal Christine Blake. “Additionally schools must demonstrate excellence in multiple other areas including instructional methods, school culture, engaging community, professional development and/or school leadership.”

“I’m honored that we have been recognized because our philosophy is that all children should have an opportunity to have a Catholic education,” Principal Blake said. She noted that the process took three years to complete. Blake credited St. John School’s differentiated instruction, i.e. modifying content, process and product, as a major reason for the award. She further explained that the school’s small size (one homeroom per grade) and country setting give the school a close, safe, family-like feeling and means students receive much personal attention.

On Nov. 6-7, the Secretary of Education Betsy Devos and the Department of Education celebrated with all 2017 Blue Ribbon honorees, including St. John the Evangelist School representatives, at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

To learn more about St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, visit its here and its Facebook page here.

Photos courtesy of St. John the Evangelist Catholic School:

(Image 1) Presentation of National Blue Ribbon School Plaque

• Frances Hopkins, Program Manager, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, US Dep’t of Education
• Grant Tridone, St. John the Evangelist School, Student Council President
• Aba Kumi, Director, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, US Dep’t of Education
• Suzanne Thomas, St. John the Evangelist School, Middle School Coordinator and Teacher
• Jim Schmidt, St. John the Evangelist School, School Board Facilities Chairperson
• Keri DiCocco, St. John the Evangelist School, Home and School Association President

(Image 2) Presentation of Gifts

• St. John the Evangelist Students, (L to R) Matthew Strobel, Grace and Sam Telljohann and St. John the Evangelist Parish Pastor Monsignor Richard Cramblitt.

(Image 3) Governmental Citations and Proclamations

• Bart Kennedy from Senator Chris Van Hollen’s office
• Joyce Leviton from Senator Ben Cardin’s office,
• Deborah Jenkins, St. John the Evangelist School Board Chair
• Orrester Shaw from County Executive Kevin Kamenetz’s office
• Jim Schmidt, St. John the Evangelist School, School Board Facilities Chairperson
• Suzanne Thomas, St. John the Evangelist School, Middle School Coordinator and Teacher
• Keri DiCocco, St. John the Evangelist School, Home and School Association President
• Grant Tridone, St. John the Evangelist School, Student Council President

(Image 4) Maureen Dowlling, Director, Office of Non-Public Education, US Dep’t of Education, talking with students decked out in their St. John the Evangelist School shirts sponsored by SJE past parents and alumnus, Doctors Paul and Matt Feilds

(Image 5) Chuck Stembler, Principal of Calvert Hall College, speaks to the guests.

(Image 6) Students responding to Maureen Dowling’s directive to give each other a high five!

(Image 7) Monsignor and guests blessing each other

(Image 8) the Calvert Hall National Championship Band leading the procession from the church to the school

(Image 9) 8th Grade Students Meredith Weitz and Laken Heeter holding the school’s new National Blue Ribbon flag for the first time.

(Image 10) The new 10’ high blue ribbon revealed to the assembled crowd of students, parents, teachers and community members.

(Image 11) The Eagle mascot poses for a quick snap with the second grade class.