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St. Thomas More School was recently recognized as a Blue Ribbon School for 2006 by the U.S. Department of Education. Last week, students, faculty and volunteers gathered in the school gym for the presentation of the Blue Ribbon flag and a special plaque from the U.S. Secretary of Education. Principal Paul Mott presided over the ceremony, which included special guests Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., and Thoy Smith, who was principal when the school opened in 1994.
In order for a school to even submit its name for consideration, there are many requirements that must be fulfilled, including standardized test scores in the top 10 percent of all schools in the country and a foreign language program that is the same as any core subject such as math or science. The process of applying can take months and competition is keen.
There are approximately 190,000 schools in the United States. This year 250 of those schools were recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools. Fifty of them were private schools and of that number, 43 were Catholic schools. St. Thomas More School was the only school recognized from Colorado. It is the first school of the Denver Archdiocese to be so named. Father Andrew Kemberling, V.F., pastor at St. Thomas More, was proud of the award and the efforts of those who made it possible.
“This is big,” he told the Denver Catholic Register. “Few schools in the country get this and to be the first Catholic school in the archdiocese is an honor.”
Father Kemberling added that it was his hope that many Catholic schools in the state would apply so as to be recognized by the Department of Education in the near future.
During the ceremony, Archbishop Chaput added his congratulations on the award.
“All of you should be proud of your school and the wonderful job you have all done,” he said.
And as far as this announcement coming in the Year of the Catholic School, Archbishop Chaput told the Register: “It’s great timing. It’s the Lord’s timing. We are very grateful to the faculty and the parents who got together to promote this.”
Earlier this year, students were assigned to write an essay on the importance of attending a Catholic school, especially one that had been nationally recognized. At the ceremony, the names of two dozen winners were announced and several students read their essays to the crowd. One of them was seventh-grader Michael Courtois, who later told the Register how important it was for him to be part of the family at St. Thomas More.
“It feels great to be here,” Courtois said. “I’m getting a good education; you can discuss how you feel about God. Everyone is so loving here because we watch out for each other.”
Smith, who was principal when the school opened in 1994, said she was delighted that the school and those who are a part of it had been so honored.
“When I think of all the work of the parish community and the children, I’m not surprised,” she said. “Consider the energy and dedication; we were all part of an exciting experience.”
Mott said he was delighted at the award but doesn’t consider it an end, rather, just the opposite.
“This takes us another step forward,” he said. “It’s exciting as it documents what our community has done over the years. But it tells us we have a lot of things to do as well. This is just the beginning.”
