HUGE NEWS: BLA is a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School!

[Emilia Pastor]

Dear Boston Latin Academy Community,

It is with great pleasure that I share the news that we have won the National Blue Ribbon Award! Last school year we worked really hard to submit a strong application that highlighted all the professional development work we conducted to ensure the best education for all students. This included:

• An active Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) that plans professional development for staff
  
• The use of Instructional Rounds with teachers to examine teaching and learning
• Optional professional development opportunities that focused on 21st century learning skills/ active learning
• The addition of a thematic curriculum map to our some of our major courses
  
• The active planning of grade level teams (clusters) that work towards improving 21st century learning in the classroom

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that are either high performing or have improved student achievement to high levels, especially among disadvantaged students. The program is part of a larger Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices.

On Thursday, September 9, 2010, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the nation's Blue Ribbon Schools for 2010 at School Without Walls Senior High School, a 2010 Blue Ribbon School, in Washington, D.C. The schools—254 public and 50 private—will be honored at an awards ceremony on November 15 and 16 in Washington, D.C. In the past 28 years, more than 6, 000 of America's schools have received this coveted award.

Although the honor does not have a monetary award it is a prestigious recognition of the work we do. It further proves that we are not only the best school in the city but one of the best in the nation. I am looking forward to picking up the award in November and celebrating with our school community!

If you are not at school you can view the announcement on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoqwkg8ZU34.

Congratulations to all!

Emilia