By Lois Rogers | Features Editor

The 2012 school year got off to an exciting start with news that two diocesan elementary schools were being nationally recognized for academic excellence and a third had won a major federal grant to implement an innovative after-school program.

St. Paul School, Princeton and St. Leo the Great, Lincroft  were two of 269 schools nationwide – only 50 of which were non-public schools – to receive the prestigious No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School award.

 The winners were announced by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Sept. 7 as the new school year began. They will be honored at a formal ceremony in Washington, in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 12-13.

At just about the same time St. Paul and St. Leo the Great, were hearing their good news, administrators and staff of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Asbury Park, learned they’d received a five-year grant for $300,000 from the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program, also an initiative of No Child Left Behind.

JoAnn Tier, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools, applauded the recognition awarded all three schools saying, “The Diocese of Trenton is blessed with exceptional administrators and educators who are continually expanding their craft to create exciting learning experiences for students.

“As a community of learners, we share in the joy experienced by St. Leo the Great School and St. Paul School upon their selection by the United States Department of Education as 2012 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.  Congratulations are extended to the pastors, administrators and faculty for this recognition.” The distinction places the two schools among the top 10 percent in the nation, Tier said.

In regard to Asbury Park, Tier commended St. Joseph Sister Jude Boyce and the administrative staff of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for “always seeking opportunities that will provide for the needs of the students.

“How wonderful that the students of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will benefit from the 21st Century Learning Grant and have the opportunity to engage and expand their talents in after school activities and instruction,” she said.

The Blue Ribbon award recognizes elementary, middle and high schools nationwide that have demonstrated high levels of academic achievement. To be eligible, schools must demonstrate that they have met Adequate Yearly Progress standards under the No Child Left behind Act, and in the case of non-public schools, such as St. Paul and St. Leo the Great, must be within the top 10 percent of the nation in standardized test scores.

Eligible schools must also demonstrate a clear vision and a sense of mission, a challenging and up-to-date curriculum and evidence of family involvement as well as a commitment to helping all students achieve high standards in a safe environment that is conducive to learning.

Ryan Killeen, principal of St. Paul School, attributed the achievement to the “commitment, dedication and stellar work ethic of our students, faculty and staff. To be ranked and selected as a school in the top 10 percent of the nation is a tribute to our belief in the K-8 teaching model, our mission and our values.”

St. Leo the Great School principal Neil Begley sounded a similar note saying: “Our recognition as a Blue Ribbon School is the result of the hard work of the entire community. Our faculty and staff, students and parents should be very proud to know that our efforts toward helping our students reach their maximum potential have contributed to this outstanding achievement.”

Sister Jude said the faculty and staff of Our Lady of Mount Carmel are overjoyed with the prospect of what the five-year grant will mean to the students at the school.

The grant, from the U.S. Department of Education, will be administered by the State of New Jersey. Upwards of 100 children will be able to attend the program which will meet for three hours each day for 150 days of the 180-day school year, she said.

“There will be a homework hour, snack time and enrichment classes in math, science and the arts,” she said. “There are funds within the grant for field trips – with transportation costs included which is a real gift. It even has a summer component.”