Schools await honors to be announced
Danette Goulet
NEWPORT-MESA -- Four elementary schools eagerly await today’s
announcement of the California Distinguished School Awards.
Principals were expecting to hear the news Friday, but received a memo
from the state pushing the much anticipated announcement date up to
today.
“We can hardly wait,” said Daryle Palmer, principal of Kaiser Elementary
School, one of four schools in Newport-Mesa nominated for the honor. “We
want to hear and we want it to be done.”
Harbor View, Kaiser, Killybrooke and Victoria elementary schools were
nominated and officials anxiously await the state’s decision.
The California Distinguished School Award is one of the top honors
bestowed on schools in California. It is Part of the School Recognition
Program, which was created in 1985.Being recognized as a distinguished
school is the criteria for becoming a National Blue Ribbon School, the
highest honor bestowed on a school by the federal government.
After the school sites were visited for final evaluation in March, Supt.
Robert Barbot said he heard nothing but rave reviews from state
recognition program representatives.
“We are absolutely elated,” said Karen Kendall, principal of Harbor View.
“No matter when the word comes in we will be thrilled -- we had a very
positive visitation.”
On May 5, all the recipients of the award will attend a banquet at the
Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, where they will receive a flag that will
mark theirs as a distinguished school.
Schools have been invited to submit tapes of school performances, which
will be judged and winners chosen to perform at the ceremonies.
As if students and staff were not already on the edge of their seats,
several have now submitted tapes and will await that answer.
“If we receive the actual recognition, which we are feeling very positive
about, then we submitted a tape of our school,” Palmer said. “So we are
very excited about that.”
While no one feels they are a shoo-in, the school communities are
excited. Harbor View staff and students have been celebrating since the
site visit, Kendall said.
“We just feel very validated because it’s a tremendous feeling that we
represent excellence in education,” Kendall said. “But it will be
exciting to finally hear.”
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