By U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins
(R-Maine)
One of my favorite things to do as a U.S. Senator is to visit students in schools throughout the state of Maine. I have visited nearly 180 schools since I came to the United States Senate, and each visit is a wonderful opportunity to meet outstanding students, dedicated teachers and administrators, and parents. Visiting schools also gives me the opportunity to share with students the joy of reading, to answer their questions about what it’s like to be a Senator, and to encourage them to pursue their dreams.
It’s also an opportunity to see what wonderful work our schools are doing preparing the next generation. Recently, two of Maine’s schools were recognized as national “Blue Ribbon Schools” by the U.S. Department of Education. Orono Middle School and Eliot Elementary School were selected because of their overall academic excellence and their success in closing academic achievement gaps between disadvantaged students and others.
The Blue Ribbon Schools award, created in 1982, is considered the highest honor an American school can obtain. Schools singled out for this national honor reflect the goals of our nation’s education reforms for high standards and accountability. Specifically, the Blue Ribbon Schools program is designed to honor schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.
Students at Orono Middle School achieve at the highest level academically. It is a top-performing school on state-required assessments, and staff at the school use assessments throughout the academic year as a tool for improving and customizing instruction.
The school also involves its 130-students in extra-curricular activities, which helps forge a strong school community where students are connected and encouraged to pursue their interests. Eliot Elementary School, which serves the towns of Eliot and South Berwick, is also a top-performing school on state-required assessments. The school, which educates students from pre-kindergarten through third grade, is recognized for its outstanding tight-knit culture in which students are greeted each morning by name, and they not only help develop school rules but also are also held responsible for their behavior.
I applaud not only the students, but also the teachers, staff, administrators, and parents of Orono Middle School and Eliot Elementary School. They are both examples of what schools can achieve through hard work and a commitment to excellence shared by students, teachers, principals and other administrators, school board members, and involved parents-in short, the whole community. These schools are but two in our state that are succeeding in their mission to generate confidence and momentum for learning. They are making a difference in the lives of their students, helping them reach their full potential as independent, responsible learners and citizens.
