Students dressed in blue-ribbon colors created a sea of blue while they sang the “Fairview Foxes” Fairview song.
FAIRVIEW NAMED A TOP
SCHOOL IN THE NATION
FOX CH APE L AR EA SC H OO L NE WS
T
he blue carpet was rolled
out for students and staff,
trees were adorned with
blue ribbons, and student
lockers were decorated with certificates
and blue ribbons. It was a special
celebration day – recognizing Fairview
Elementary School being named a
National Blue Ribbon School. One
of 279 public and 50 private schools
from across the nation (and one of
only 18 in Pennsylvania) to receive the
honor from the U.S. Department of
Education, Fairview was recognized
for the high performance of its
students who consistently score as a
top-performing school on standardized
testing.
“It’s absolutely amazing to go here,”
said Fairview Elementary School fourth
grader Matthew Begg, who said he first
found out about the award from his
mother, who is the vice president of
the school’s PTO. “I did a search on the
computer. Fairview last won it [the Blue
Ribbon] in 1999.” He added, “It was
amazing to be one of the older kids when
it happened.”
12 Fox Chapel Area
Photo Courtesy Joshua Hoover
U.S. Department of Education
ox Chapel Area
Blue Ribbon Status Result of Commitment to Educational Excellence
Fairview teacher Elizabeth Voltz, who
has taught at Fairview for 19 years, said,
“Soon after I began teaching, Fairview
won its first Blue Ribbon. I’m glad to
still be a part of Fairview as we win our
second one.”
Fourth grader Colette Walter agreed,
“I was very excited. To receive a blue
ribbon is a very high honor.”
The entire student body, staff, and special
guests assembled in the gymnasium
October 14, dressed in blue-ribbon
colors, creating a sea of blue, to celebrate
their achievement.
Assistant Superintendent David
McCommons, Ed.D., congratulated
Fairview and told the students, “It’s about
what you have done. It is a really big, big
deal.”
Ashley Nestor, the district’s executive
director of elementary education
and instruction, also congratulated
the students and staff saying, “Being
considered one of the best schools in the
nation is quite an impressive honor. You
have been recognized as an exemplary
high-performing school thanks to the
Fairview Elementary School Principal Becky
Stephan, and fifth grade teacher John Anderson
received the school’s National Blue Ribbon
Award from Aba Kumi, the director of the
National Blue Ribbon Scho