6
QUEENS WEEKLY,OCTOBER 13, 2019
U.S. Secretary of Education recognizes Forest Hills’ P.S.
101Q with coveted title of National Blue Ribbon School
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Forest Hills’ P.S. 101Q
has earned the coveted title
of a National Blue Ribbon
School for 2019 by U.S. Secretary
of Education Betsy
DeVos on Sept. 26.
The recognition is based
on a school’s overall academic
performance or progress
in closing achievement
gaps among student subgroups.
“We recognize and honor
your important work in
preparing students for successful
careers and meaningful
lives,” DeVos said in
a video message to the honorees.
“As a National Blue
Ribbon School, your school
demonstrates what is possible
when committed educators
hold all students and
staff to high standards and
create vibrant, innovative
cultures of teaching and
learning.”
The coveted National
Blue Ribbon Schools award
affirms the hard work of
educators, families and
communities in creating
safe and welcoming schools
where students master
challenging and engaging
content.
P.S. 101Q, known as The
School in the Gardens, located
at 2 Russell Pl., was
recognized among 19 honorees
for the prestigious
award. The school’s mission
is to nurture its students
in a well-rounded,
intellectually stimulating
atmosphere, while fostering
a love of learning.
Their most impressive
accomplishments have
been centered on the social
emotional climate of the
school. Although the school
was somewhat high performing,
it was in the bottom
third of schools within
similar demographics.
“As we have partnered
with Yale University’s Center
for Emotional Intelligence,
we have seen more
of our students engaged
in their own growth and
potential. The backbone of
our work is built on the social
emotional components
of our curricula,” according
to its National Blue Ribbons
Schools profile. “We
focused on child-centered,
progressive education as
we partnered with Columbia
University’s Teachers’
College. We narrowed our
achievement gap because of
the fundamental belief that
all students can reach their
potential. Another strength
of the community is the collaboration
between all constituents.”
In her summer 2019 message
to the students, Principal
Monique Lopez-Paniagua
said, “I’m so thankful
for our teachers; they’re so
dedicated and hardworking
and they really give 100
percent to our kids and are
here for the right reasons.
Teachers, thank you. And
for the rest of our staff —
our paraprofessionals, office
staff, our kitchen staff,
our custodians — again, we
are a great school because
we are a community.”
Now in its 37th year,
the National Blue Ribbon
Schools Program has bestowed
recognition on more
than 9,000 schools. On Nov.
14 and 15, the Secretary and
Department of Education
will celebrate with 312 public
and 50 non-public school
honorees at an awards ceremony
in Washington, D.C.
The Department recognizes
all schools in one of
two performance categories,
based on all student
scores, student subgroup
scores and graduation
rates:
Exemplary High Performing
Schools are
among their state’s highest
performing schools as measured
by state assessments
or nationally normed tests.
Exemplary Achievement
Gap Closing Schools
are among their state’s
highest performing schools
in closing achievement gaps
between a school’s student
groups and all students.
Up to 420 schools may
be nominated each year.
The Department invites National
Blue Ribbon School
nominations from the top
education official in all
states: the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, the Department
of Defense Education
Activity and the Bureau of
Indian Education. Private
schools are nominated by
The Council for American
Private Education (CAPE).
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–
4526.
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