Assumption School Receives Blue Ribbon Award

​Assumption School receives coveted National Blue Ribbon School designation By MICHAEL WOJCIK

MORRISTOWN The halls of Assumption School here last Friday swelled with excitement and pride as its students, staff, faculty and parents celebrated a milestone achievement for a school, which is already well known for its excellence in education and spiritual formation: being designated a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School.

On the morning of Oct. 3, Father Przemyslaw Nowak, parochial vicar at Assumption Parish, celebrated first Friday Mass in the gym with the parish school’s 470 students, staff; and parents. After, students and teachers proceeded to the playground in back of the school for photographs as they formed a large “A” for Assumption. Then, those students, who were holding blue balloons, let them go, as the enthusiastic crowd cheered, watching them float up into the sky.

Sharing her excitement, Sister of Charity Merris Larkin, Assumption’s principal, told the students, staff, faculty and parents after the first Friday Mass that the U.S. Department of Education’s recent Blue Ribbon designation had been the result of a group effort of the school and parish communities. The Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth and certified lay faculty have staffed the school, which was established in 1850 and is the second oldest Catholic school in the Paterson Diocese, behind St. Vincent Martyr School, Madison, the principal said.

“You all make Assumption what it is. We don’t need a Blue Ribbon to know that we are good,” Sister Merris told the school community after first Friday Mass. “This [designation] means that we must continue to be leaders in the nation in education. We must keep working hard, being kind to each other and doing the things that got us here today,” she said.

On that Friday morning, Assumption announced receiving the coveted designation by erecting a sign on the front lawn, creating a bulletin board in the lobby and placing a cluster of blue balloons at the entrance. On Sept. 30, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan named Assumption as one of 337 schools that the U.S. Department of Education identified as Blue Ribbon Schools for this year.



The department selects schools for the Blue Ribbon based on their standardized test scores in reading and math that placed them among the top-performing schools in the nation or state or because they made notable improvements in closing achievement gap. Assumption has placed in the top 10 or 15 percent nationally on the Terra Nova test over the past five years, Sister Merris said.

To select Blue Ribbon Schools, the Department of Education requests nominations from public education officials in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council of American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. All winning schools will be honored during an award ceremony from Nov. 10 to 11 in Washington, D.C.
“These great schools are fulfilling the promise of American education: that all students, no matter their name or zip code, can flourish, when schools provide safe, creative and challenging learning environments,” Duncan said. “National Blue Ribbons Schools are models of consistent excellence and a resource for other schools and districts. We celebrate them for their tireless effort and boundless creativity in reaching and teaching every student,” he said.

Also pleased, Holy Cross Brother William Dygert, diocesan school superintendent, remarked, “Being named a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School is a mark of distinction for the Assumption school community.”

“Congratulations for this honor goes to Sister Merris; Msgr. John Hart, pastor of Assumption Parish; and the students, faculty and staff of Assumption School,” Brother Dygert said. “It is their consistent dedication to quality, well-rounded Catholic education that has made this a well-deserved recognition possible.”

Sister Merris spoke to The Beacon about Assumption’s success over the years, including a low turnover rate for teachers; the many alumni, who now send their children to the school; and its family atmosphere.

“The kids are so excited [about the Blue Ribbon]. They really have taken it to heart,” said Sister Merris, who has served Assumption for 35 years, 20 of them as principal. “This is a happy school with lots of energy and enthusiasm. The kids know that they are loved, respected and safe,” she said. Every day, Assumption lives out its mission statement: “to provide students with both the educational tools and spiritual values they will need to become productive, morally mature members of society.” Aware of the ever-changing world, the school continually evaluates its curriculum “to meet the demands of the future,” according to Assumption’s website, assumptionnj.org.

One of those happy students is eighth-grader Ryan Minter, who said that he “grew up here,” having started as a student of Assumption 11 years ago. He told The Beacon that his favorite subject is spelling.

“I know everyone here. It’s a community — a second home,” Minter said. “The teachers here are all approachable and friendly.”

Assumption has another reason for its success — its “wonderful and supportive relationship” with Msgr. Hart, who is “an integral part of the administration of Assumption School,” Sister Merris said. “I am every proud of Assumption for its designation as a Blue Ribbon School,” Msgr. Hart said. “Sister Merris leads an exceptional school, where the staff, priests and parish work together as a team to serve the children and their families. When you walk the halls, you can see the enthusiasm and joy. It’s a happy place, filled with excellence in every way. Our children are well prepared for high school and college and receive an exceptional foundation in faith to help them for the rest of their lives,” the pastor said.