Story Published: Oct 15, 2009 at 10:06 PM PST
Story Updated: Oct 15, 2009 at 10:06 PM PST
Decked out in their blue t-shirts, students and staff at the Lewiston school were presented a "Blue Ribbon Award."
The Department of Education announced last month the elementary school would be one of 300 in the nation to earn one of the highest distinctions a public school can garner. State Superintendent Tom Luna was there Thursday to present the award among dozens of explosions of applause at a school assembly.
"Yeah these kids were very excited and they should be, because they're being recognized for accomplishing something that not many schools in the country have done, and we have this one here in Lewiston, Idaho that's shown remarkable improvement in student achievement," said Luna.
Luna said in his speech Thursday that the award comes straight from the White House, which brought oohs and aahs from the kids.
But with a strong contingent of the state Board of Education in attendance, Luna said the reaction should be shared by adults.
"We have a little over 700 schools across Idaho, and only two of them are being recognized with this Blue Ribbon Award, so it's very big," said Luna.
Luna said awards are earned based on measurable improvements in all areas of education, but he said for a school like Webster it's the intangibles that put them at the top.
"What you saw here was just a can do attitude," said Luna. "The students believe they can do it, the teachers believe in them, and the synergy there just catapults them to higher and higher levels of achievement."
