Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 9/18/03)

BRISTOW — Linton Hall School in Bristow, owned and operated by the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia, has been named a Blue Ribbon School for 2003, according to a Sept. 16 announcement by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige.

The "No Child Left Behind — Blue Ribbon Schools Program" honors public and private K-12 schools nationwide that are academically superior in their respective states and demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

Linton Hall is the fourth school in the Arlington Diocese to receive the Blue Ribbon honor. Previously, Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, St. Timothy School in Chantilly and St. James School in Falls Church were recognized.

"In keeping with the principles of the No Child Left Behind Act, we award schools based on student achievement, not process," Paige said. "Schools chosen for the Blue Ribbon are schools which meet our mission to ensure every child learns, and no child is left behind. Blue Ribbon recipients are national models of excellence that others can learn from."

"This is a tremendous honor for Linton Hall School," said Principal Robert Manning. "It reflects the hard work and dedication of our teachers and school administrators, as well as the active involvement of our parents in the lives of their students."

Manning said it was only natural Linton Hall submit an application. The No Child Left Behind program reflects Linton Hall’s philosophy and mission to ensure that each child achieve his or her full academic potential. "Part of the assessment for the award," Manning said, "is that student performance meet the criteria set up in accordance with national assessment systems and score in the top ten percent of those assessments."

"The mission of Linton Hall is to provide educational experiences wherein students master basic learning skills, develop a sense of self-worth and integrity, and learn to live effectively with others. The development of the student is based on Christian beliefs and values, a reverence for God, self and others."

Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Dr. Timothy McNiff, said that, "The recent recognition from the Department of Education is well deserved and truly reflects the outstanding work of the Linton Hall faculty and staff. The Diocese of Arlington is pleased to be affiliated with such a wonderful school."

Sister Cecilia Dwyer, O.S.B., prioress of the Benedictine Monastery, when notified of the honor, said, "Since 1894, we sisters have been committed to academic excellence and Catholic education at Linton Hall. We are very grateful for this honor and we are so proud of the administration and faculty, past and present, and all who have built this very fine program over the years. I think the high level of involvement of the parents and the ‘community feeling’ of the school are key factors in its success."

Created by the U.S. Secretary of Education in 1982, the purpose of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is to identify and honor America’s outstanding public and private schools, while encouraging other schools and communities to look to them for ideas and inspiration. Following the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Paige established the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Program to honor those elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. that make significant progress n closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. The program recognizes and presents as models elementary and secondary schools that meet either of two assessment criteria. First, it recognizes schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on standardized national or state assessments. Second, it recognizes schools that, regardless of the background of the students in the school, are in the top 10 percent of schools in the nation as measured by standardized national assessments.

During its 21-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has honored over 3,700 schools.

"This experience was invaluable as it provided us with the opportunity to reflect and recognize the exemplary programs we offer and the immeasurable impact these programs have on the lives of our students," Manning said.