NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

On Sept. 9, 2008, our school was recognized for its achievements as an “academically superior school”. Bishop Leibold is one of seventeen elementary or high schools in the state, one of four Archdiocese of Cincinnati Schools, and the only Miami Valley elementary school to be so honored this year. There are typically 50 private schools from across the nation awarded this distinction each year. Congratulations to our students and staff for their hard work, and our thanks to our families and parish communities for their support of the school. Below is an explanation of the “High Performing Schools” qualifications for this award.

From The U.S. Department of Education: Program Overview
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. Since 1982, the U. S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools Program has honored many of America’s most successful schools. A Blue Ribbon School flag waving overhead has become a trademark of excellence, a symbol of quality recognized by everyone from parents to policy-makers in thousands of communities.The program recognizes and presents as models elementary and secondary schools that meet either of two assessment criteria:

High performing schools: Schools, regardless of their demographics, that are in the top 10 percent of schools in their states as measured by state tests in both reading and mathematics or that score in the top 10 percent on assessments referenced against national norms in at least the highest grade tested in the last year tested.

Dramatically improved schools: Schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds and have dramatically improved student performance to high levels in reading and mathematics on state assessments or assessments referenced against national norms in at least the highest grade tested in the last year tested.

These Blue Ribbon Schools are honored at a Washington, DC ceremony. In addition, the winning applications are posted on the Department website. Summaries from a small group of Blue Ribbons Schools visited each year identify educational practices that have been successful in closing the achievement gap.

GOVERNOR'S THOMAS EDISON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN STEM EDUCATION

The Ohio Academy of Science selected Bishop Leibold School, and four of its teachers, Beth Allaire, Melissa Cox, Joyce Kerschner and Roseanne Place to receive The Governor's Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education in the 2010-2011 school year. The Ohio Academy of Science selected 48 Ohio schools for this award. Five Ohio schools achieved the highest ranking score of 10; Bishop Leibold scored a 9, and was the only Dayton-area grade school to do so.

To receive the award, schools had (1) to conduct a local science fair with 20 or more students, (2) qualify one or more of these students for one of the Academy's 15 district science days, (3) have students participate in at least one more youth science opportunity beyond the classroom such as State Science Day, visits to museums, mentorship programs and extended field trips and (4) convince external reviewers from business and industry, government and academia how and to what extent the school’s program met the Academy’s definition of STEM education. Included in the science activities in which Bishop Leibold School regularly participates are a partnership with COSI, the Columbus-based science museum; ScienceF.E.S.T., the annual free evening of experimentation and exploration; and QUEST, the afterschool Math and Science Enrichment Program for grades 4-8. The school also sponsors a Summer Science Camp for area students in grades 1-3, and a Robotics Camp for students in grades 4-6.

"Receiving a Governor's Thomas Edison Award for Excellence sends a clear signal that these schools and teachers value student-originated, inquiry-based science and technology education as envisioned for the Next-Generation Science Education Standards being developed nationally," said Dr. Lynn E. Elfner, the Academy's CEO. "Whole new worlds of opportunities open up to students when they complete research or technological design projects," he continued.

The Ohio Academy of Science initiated this educational partnership program in cooperation with The Office of The Governor and The Technology Division of The Ohio Department of Development to recognize schools and teachers who stimulate student scientific and technological research and extend STEM education opportunities beyond traditional classroom activities. The Technology Division of The Ohio Department of Development has supported this program since 1985 by grants to The Ohio Academy of Science.
      Thirty nine professionals—broadly representing STEM employers from business and industry, government and academia—evaluated the applications in a blind review process: AEP, Air Force Research Laboratory, Akron Rubber Development Laboratory Inc., Aptalis Pharma, Ashland University, Battelle Memorial Institute, Blue Chip Consulting Group, Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Cintas Corp, DeVry University, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, eTech Ohio Commission, General Electric, Ohio Bureau of Criminal ID & Investigation, Ohio Northern University, The Ohio State University, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Ohio University, Procter & Gamble Co., Prudential Financial, Riverside Hospital, Speedway LLC, State of Ohio, University of Findlay, US Air Force, US Department of Energy, Yale University and Youngstown State University.

Governor’s Award for Excellence in Youth Science Ohio Academy of Science

Bishop Leibold School has been honored with multiple Governor's Awards for Excellence in Youth Science. Following is the announcement from our most recent award from the fall of 2010:

Bishop Leibold School Garners Another Governor's Award for Science
The Ohio Academy of Science selected Bishop Leibold School, and two of its teachers, Roseanne Place and Beth Allaire, to receive Governor's Awards for Excellence in Youth Science Opportunities for the 2009-10 school year. Mrs. Place is the school’s 7th and 8th grade science teacher, and Mrs. Allaire is the Math and Science Enrichment Instructor, and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Coordinator.

This year, The Academy and the Ohio Department of Education recognized 115 Ohio schools and 418 teachers who stimulate student scientific research and extend educational opportunities beyond traditional classroom activities.

To qualify for the Governor's Award, each school conducted a local science fair with 20 or more students, sent one or more of these students to one of the academy's16 science district days, and involved students in one or more youth science opportunities beyond the classroom. Included in the science activities in which Bishop Leibold School regularly participates are a partnership with COSI, the Columbus-based science museum; ScienceF.E.S.T., the annual free evening of experimentation and exploration; and QUEST, the afterschool Math and Science Enrichment Program for grades 4-8. The school also sponsors a Summer Science Camp for area students in grades 1-3, and a Robotics Camp for students in grades 4-6.

"Receiving the Governors Award for Science affirms our commitment to providing the best elementary science program in the area," said Principal Paul Beyerle. "With the teaching staff receiving over 400 hours in STEM professional development, the school being awarded a $14,000 STEM HUB Grant, and STEM curriculum being taught grades K-8, BLS students are being exposed to scientific problems that force them to work in a collaborative manner in order to be problem solvers and solution makers."