Flag’s up at Top of the World Elementary

Top of the World Elementary School students and staff celebrated Monday morning with a special ceremony in which they raised their newest flag, honoring their selection as a California Distinguished School.

The school was selected to be one of 370 campuses out of 5,700 across the state to be honored for its academics and focus on the whole child.

El Morro Elementary, Laguna Beach’s other public elementary school, is holding its own Distinguished School celebration this morning

“This is a very special day, and we’re here for a very special reason,” Principal Ron La Motte told students.

Kids murmured excitedly to each other when La Motte unveiled the new school T-shirt, which has the Distinguished School seal emblazoned on the back.

He thanked the students, teachers, staff, parents, PTA, central office and school board members for their work.

“It’s everybody working together who makes this a special place,” he said.

A few weeks ago, the school discussed what it means to be distinguished, La Motte said.

The definition they gave was to be “famous or well-known because of excellence.”

School and district representatives were honored Friday night at the Disneyland Hotel, where they were told the honor was akin to winning an Academy Award, Supt. Robert Fraisse told students.

He described the campus as a safe, high-achieving, warm and caring place.

Students sang the school’s theme song, the Carpenters’ “Top of the World,” while the new flag was raised.

Each waved their own little Distinguished School flag, which they were given to use as a fan during the hot outdoor assembly.

“Everything I want the world to be is now coming true, especially for me,” they sang.