By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Edwardsburg Argus
EDWARDSBURG - Only 32 schools received the Blue Ribbon Exemplary award for academics - out of 4,000 schools in the state.
Only one school district in the entire state has achieved Blue Ribbon status in all its buildings. Edwardsburg has that honor.
Friday, Edwardsburg Public Schools received a Blue Ribbon award for its Eagle Lake School of second and third graders.
This was the district's fifth award since its high school achieved the award in 1993-94, and the last school in its district to receive it.
The school's presentation of its first Blue Ribbon Exemplary award for academics was presented by representatives of the Michigan State Board of Education.
David Mills, director of the Blue Ribbon Department of Education, said, "There are more than 4,000 schools in the state. How many got the Blue Ribbon award. Thirty-two schools got it. We are proud of all of them. You did hard work and teamwork."
In order to receive this honor, the selection committee judges a number of factors. These incluce: student focus/support, school organization/culture, challenging standards/curriculum, active teaching/learning, professional community, leadership/educational vitality, school/family/community partnerships and indicators of academic success.
In a collaborative effort, the Eagle Lake educators wrote a 30 page comprehensive response to these topics. The brainstorming, researching and writing began last spring and culminated with a site visit this past fall by a Blue Ribbon Validation team which confirmed that the high score received on the application was truly indicative of the happenings at Eagle Lake.
The staff is pleased to be acknowledged for their efforts as they strive to create an educational environment in which they research, investigate, and implement instructional strategies that facilitate student learning while being mindful of the brain research regarding teaching and learning styles, according to the administration.
Both Rep. Rick Shafer, R-Three Rivers, and Senator Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, paid special tributes and said there was a letter of congratulation signed by them, Rep. Neal Nitz, R-Baroda, and Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
Sam Adams Elementary School in Cassopolis also achieved this honor and its staff was presented the Blue Ribbon Exemplary award for academics on Friday. This was the first school in the Cassopolis district to reach this status.