Special to the American
McKinley Classical Junior Academy Middle School and Metro Academic and Classical High School – both in the St. Louis Public Schools district – were among the seven public schools in Missouri selected last week as 2008 Blue Ribbon Schools. The Missouri schools are among 320 schools across the nation to be honored.
Brenda Smith is principal of McKinley Classical Junior Academy Middle School and Wilfred Moore is principal of Metro Academic and Classical High School.
The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools award distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.
For the past 26 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 5, 800 of America’s most successful schools.
The other Missouri schools honored in 2008 are Ballard High School, Ballard R-II School District, John Siebeneck, principal; Jefferson High School, Jefferson C-123 School District, Conception Junction, Timothy Jermain, principal; Kearney High School, Kearney School District, Randy Wepler, principal; Lincoln College Prep Academy, Kansas City School District, Jamia Dock, principal; and Stanberry High School, Stanberry School District, Gregory Dias, principal.
“These Blue Ribbon Schools are an example of what teachers and students can achieve,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. “Now our challenge is to help other schools follow their lead by continuing to measure progress through No Child Left Behind and, by using the knowledge we’ve gained, to replicate effective strategies and help every student improve.”
No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools are selected based on one of two criteria:
* schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests; and
* schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests or in the case of private schools in the top 10 percent of the nation on nationally-normed tests.
Under No Child Left Behind, schools must make Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, in reading (language arts) and mathematics. Each state sets its own academic standards and benchmark goals.
A total of 413 schools nationwide can be nominated. This number is determined based on the number of K-12 students and the number of schools in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Chief State School Officer (CSSO) nominates public schools, and the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) submits private schools’ nominations. The schools are invited by Secretary Spellings to submit an application for possible recognition as a No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School. This year’s winners will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on October 20-21.
Vatterott scholarship fundraiser
Vatterott College will host the 6th annual Derek Large Memorial Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament on Friday, September 26.
On November 14, 2001, ambitious 20-year-old student Derek Large was leaving class at Vatterott’s Sunset Hills Campus as his car was hit broadside in the intersection in front of the campus and killed. Months later, Lee Rouse and Don Shrum, Director of the IT Department, decided to establish a Scholarship in his name.
To date Vatterott College has awarded nearly $30,000 in scholarships to students that share the ambition to better themselves through education. Vatterott awards five scholarships, through this fund, per year. Each scholarship is for $1000 and is paid directly to the school at the time the student completes the 60 week diploma portion of their program.
This year’s tournament will be held at Sunset Lakes Golf Course, located at 13366 W. Watson Road, with registration and lunch at 11 a.m. and tee times beginning at noon. The event includes 18 holes of golf, lunch and dinner, and many prizes with all proceeds benefiting the Derek Large Memorial Scholarship Fund. Donations are tax deductible.
Checks can be made payable to Derek Large Memorial Scholarship Fund: c/o Donald Shrum, #5 Ozark Lane, Arnold, MO 63010. For more information, contact golf@vatterott-college.edu.
To learn more about Vatterott Education Centers please visit www.vatterott-college.edu.