Henry Elementary School in Ballwin has been named a 2014 Missouri Gold Star School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and I had the pleasure of honoring the school for this accomplishment at its end-of-year assembly.
I presented a resolution and two flags flown above the state Capitol to Henry Elementary late last month. It was wonderful to see all the students, staff, and families in attendance whose hard work and dedication made this accomplishment possible.
During the assembly each of the classes sang songs, led by music teacher Mrs. Peggy Plesia, that were incredible to hear. The lyrics focused on attributes that people of all ages need to develop. With titles like “Responsible,” “It Starts with Me,” and “Mind Your Manners,” the songs were catchy ways of reminding students of the virtuous qualities that make our schools and communities strong.
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The music was very upbeat, and the students were clearly animated and into the songs. Engaging in songs with such constructive messages will have a positive impact on these young learners. I had initially only planned to stay for half an hour but stayed for over an hour because it was such an impressive ceremony.
The Missouri Gold Star Schools program is our state’s branch of the federal Blue Ribbon Schools program, which was created by Ronald Reagan in 1982 to recognize schools for outstanding performances and gains in student achievement.
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This year DESE recognized only eight of the over 2,400 public schools in our state as Gold Star Schools based on their academic achievement and student progress. Six of the eight Gold Star Schools in Missouri are located in the St. Louis Area. I would also like to congratulate Concord Elementary, Festus Elementary, Long Elementary, Mason Ridge Elementary, and North Glendale Elementary for their accomplishments.