St. John's Receives Blue Ribbon at D.C. Ceremony

was recently presented with the 2011 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award by Aba Kumi, Director of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. 

St. John the Apostle School was selected as a high academic performance school because their standardized test scores in reading and math were among the highest in the nation. 

The two-day affair consisted of round table discussions about preparing the National Common Core Curriculum Standards, in addition to presentations given by the 2011 National Teacher of the Year and the United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. 

St. John's Principal Sister Donna Marie O’Brien and language arts teacher Sharon Osnato represented the school and were among those presented with this distinguished national recognition. Father Robert McBride, paster of Saint John the Apostle Church, and June Butchko, mathematics teacher, were also in attendance. The school was previously recognized by a visit from Congressman Leonard Lance at a celebration held to commemorate this award.

The application process began in October of last year culminating in a nomination by the CAPE (Council of Advanced Private Education) in January. The official nomination was finalized on September 15.

The school is one of only 14 in the state to win the designation this year. Other local winners include Holy Trinity School in Westfield, Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 in Elizabeth and New Providence High School.