All Saints Catholic School in Manassas was recently selected as a 2009 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
The school will be honored by the U.S. Department of Education at a formal ceremony in Washington on Nov. 2 and 3.
The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School Program honors public and private K-12 schools for their academic excellence and ability to help students achieve at very high levels.
All Saints announced the news to students in a surprise assembly last week attended by Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Manassas, and Manassas City Councilman Jonathan Way.
All Saints met and exceeded the Blue Ribbon eligibility guidelines in part because its students have continued to score in the top 10 percent of the United States on national Terra Nova standardized testing.
Principal David E. Conroy Jr. congratulated the students and staff of the school.
“I am tremendously proud of our school community for achieving this national distinction. I am particularly grateful to the faculty and staff, a remarkably talented and dedicated group of professionals,” Conroy said. “With the support of the parents and parish community, they have created a world-class environment of faith and learning.”
Founded in 1957, All Saints enjoys a reputation of more than 50 years of excellence in Catholic education grounded in a curriculum that fosters spiritual growth, intellectual challenge, physical development, and service to the community.
Emphasis is placed on character development as students are encouraged on a daily basis to develop habits of respect, kindness, reverence, self-discipline and compassion.
“I rejoice today that the academic achievements of our students have been recognized with the Blue Ribbon Award. The most significant reason for this success is that our principal and teachers enforce high standards and challenge our students to be their best,” said All Saints Pastor, the Rev. Robert C. Cilinski. “Thank you faculty and staff, parents and parishioners for the important partnership you share in forming our children in faith and learning.”
All Saints is the first school in Manassas and the third elementary school in Prince William County to receive the award. All Saints is part of the Diocese of Arlington Catholic Schools, which won four of the 50 blue ribbon awards given to private schools nationwide this year.
Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.
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