December 27, 2011

ARCHDIOCESE — From donuts with blue icing to T-shirts reading “It’s Not Easy Being Blue,” students, teachers, staff, parents and parishioners at All Saints in Kenwood and St. Columban in Loveland have been celebrating their designation as National Blue Ribbon Schools in a big way.

The award, bestowed by the U.S Department of Education, honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve at high levels or where the achievement gap has narrowed. In 2011, 305 schools received the honor. All Saints and St. Columban join a large list of other archdiocesan schools that have won this award.
“The parish and school community have been very pleased to win an award that reflects the commitment that parents, parishioners and teachers have towards the school,” said Daniel Stringer, principal of All Saints. “The students reacted to news of the award with excitement and great pleasure.”

“We feel very privileged and grateful to receive the award,” said Jo Rhoten, St. Columban principal. “The parishioners have been very supportive and have embraced the award with as much excitement as the school community. We believe we’ve been given a great gift from God with this award.”

Representatives from both schools attended the National Blue Ribbon School awards ceremony Nov. 14-15 in Washington, D.C.