Blue Ribbon School
Pinedale Middle School teachers accept the Blue Ribbon School banner at the awards ceremony on November 30th
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Award Ceremony
Pinedale Middle School students attended the award ceremony for Blue Ribbon School honor.
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Pinedale Middle School named 2004 Blue Ribbon School
by Dawn Ballou
December 1, 2004
In late September, the Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Trent Blakenship, announced that two Wyoming schools had been selected for national recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools. Pinedale Middle School, along with Westside Elementary in Powell, were recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the honor. The two schools will celebrated their awards on Tuesday, November 30th, with visits by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Trent Blankenship and local legislators. State Representative Monte Olsen and Senator-Elect Pat Aullman attended the Pinedale award ceremony held in the Pinedale Auditorium.
Pinedale Middle School Principal Mike Vassallo spoke first in front of the auditorium filled with middle school students, staff, local and state dignitaries, school board representatives, community members and the media. "It sure makes me proud standing up here looking at you," Vassallo told the students.
Wyoming State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Trent Blakenship told the audience, "You are what we wish every school could be. You have great students, great teachers, a great school board, great staff and a great principal. We can hold Pinedale Middle School up and say this is what a school should be like. You are one of the best schools in America."
School Board Member Jim Malkowski accepted the award from Dr. Blakenship and then spoke to the students. "Even though they handed this award to me, we all know who earned this. It is an honor to be a part of this school district."
Local State Representative Monte Olsen commented later during the reception at the Middle chool, "Congratulations to the Middle School, the teachers, the staff, and the administration. It is a testament they are doing the right thing. What an honor, of all the schools in Wyoming, to be one of the two."
The program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievements gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. Wyoming was one of 38 states to have public schools chosen as a Blue Ribbon School out of a list of 321 nominations. The program requires that schools met two assessment criteria. It rewards schools that score in the top 10% on state assessments. It also rewards schools that have at least 40% of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds and dramatically improve student performance in accordance with state assessment systems. Both Wyoming schools were awarded because they met the criteria of scoring in the top 10% on WyCAS.
Wyoming has had the distinction of having 14 schools chosen for the Blue Ribbon honor since 1982. This is the second time Pinedale Middle School has been honored with the title. They were previously selected as an outstanding school in 1990-1991. Pinedale Elementary School was also selected as a Blue Ribbon School in 1989-1990. The 2004 No Child Left Behind awards ceremony was held in Washington D.C. on November 4-5.
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