The U.S. Department of Education has named South Grove Elementary a National Blue Ribbon School for academic achievement.
“For more than 40 years, our national Blue Ribbon Schools have shown us what it means to raise the bar for our nation’s students,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
Great Neck’s Lakeville Elementary School was the only other school on Long Island to receive a Blue Ribbon designation.
Recognized schools are the “model for schools across the nation,” Cardona said in an announcement video.
South Grove Elementary principal Mi Jung An said the school achieved this success by focusing on each student’s needs.
“We didn’t work for the blue ribbon,” An said.
The district has enrichment specialists that help staff work with students individually, An said.
“I teach enrichment classes that focus on thinking skills and also work with students in our gifted program,” said enrichment specialist Michele Webb.
“We also do grade level extensions in the curriculum throughout the year, where we work to dig into specific topics at certain grade levels based on student interest,” Webb said.
An said that the staff believes that each student’s passion deserves to be recognized and “help cultivate that and let it blossom.”
“Teachers take ‘interest inventory’ of students and incorporate the interests of the individual students to plan out their small group activities, develop class or individual projects and make suggestions for clubs,” said developmental learning specialist Christina Mancuso.
In addition to enrichment specialists, the district has committees and programming that aim to extend student education and participation.
An said that the school implemented a COMPACT committee composed of PTA members, staff members, and student leaders.
“At these meetings, they brainstorm ideas for schoolwide events and initiatives and work together to make them happen,” she said.
An said that the committee is in a “continuous mode of growth and improvement.”
Webb said that students have the opportunity to get involved in programming. During the Culture Share program during multicultural week, fifth-grade students can create workshops for younger students.
“These students then go into classrooms of their younger peers and run workshops,” Webb said. “This cultivates leadership in an authentic way.”
Webb works with the students for a month before their presentations to develop a presentation and guide their lessons.
“Not only do these fifth graders learn how to prepare a presentation and speak publicly, they also serve as role models to younger students,” Webb said.
Programming like Culture Share is not mandatory, but district officials said that even optional programs have a high participation rate. Around 75-95% of the student body participates in optional activities, such as art enrichment, science fairs, and clubs. The district said that it aims to offer a diverse array of extracurriculars for students to join.
To celebrate its Blue Ribbon, South Grove hosted and assembly on Sept. 23. There, district officials told students about the achievement.
“Students gave us a ‘drum roll’ while we cut a blue ribbon and Grover, our school mascot, also came out to celebrate,” principal An said. “Students and staff alike were thrilled!”
District officials said the Blue Ribbon recognition is a testament to the school’s continuous dedication to its students.
“At South Grove, the engine is in motion all year long to engage our students and create a positive school culture,” Mancuso said. “We have school-wide events on a regular basis that bring everyone together, which creates a real sense of school pride and unity.”
