Congratulations to Pickering Valley Elementary School, one of our nation's 2016 Blue Ribbon Schools!
The United States Department of Education
created the Blue Ribbon Schools program in
1982 to recognize public and private schools
that achieve high levels of academic excellence
and make substantial progress toward closing
the achievement gap for all students attending
the school. Several hundred schools receive the award annually with more than 8,000 recipients across the country since the program began.
On Wednesday, US Education Secretary John
KingJr. announced that DASD's own Pickering Valley Elementary School was selected as a
2016 award winner. Downingtown's first
National Blue Ribbon School!
National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as
outstanding models of excellence for their respective states. Pickering Valley was one
of only thirteen schools nominated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for this award. In March, PDE invited Pickering Valley
to submit an application for possible acceptance
as a National Blue Ribbon School. A team of
PV teachers and staff led by Principal Joe Fernandes worked together to complete the comprehensive application by the March dead
-line. Wednesday, we learned that Pickering
Valley had been selected.
The award earned by Pickering Valley is just
one indication that the strong foundational skills
we teach to all students in our district, skills that
are aligned with the rigorous Downingtown Area
School District curriculum, are helping our
students succeed. The award's plaque the
school will receive on November 8th in
Washington affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students
master challenging content. The award's flag
to be flown over the school building in perpetuity
is a nationally recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.
Like Pickering Valley, all of our DASD schools
strive to nurture students to embrace high expectations and make positive contributions in
the future. Students at PV and throughout our district participate in a number of yearly service projects such as food drives, clothing collections, and community gardens.
Through all of our Home and School Associa
-tions, our great parents cultivate a sense of community through fund-raising efforts, family events and by partnering with teachers to deliver programs which support our students' education.
