Dear Parishioners,

I am delighted to share with you the news that this past Tuesday, September 19, St Joan of Arc School was named a recipient of the National Blue Ribbon Award for 2023. The U.S. Department of Education recognized 353 schools in our country as “Blue Ribbon Schools.” This means that St. Joan of Arc School is among the top ten percent of all school in this country that take standardized tests. This recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student group assessments.

These schools demonstrate that it is possible to make enduring, positive differences in students’ lives. We are one of three schools in the Diocese of Joliet to receive this award. The other two are, St. Isaac Jogues in Hinsdale, and St. Francis High School in Wheaton.

The department will formally recognize the 313 public and 40 private schools at an awards ceremony this November 16-17 in Washington DC. The 2023 cohort represent public and non-public elementary, middle and high schools, including traditional, charter, magnet schools, parochial schools and independent schools in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and a Department of Defense Education Activity School in Italy.

This marks the third time that St. Joan of Arc has been the recipient of this prestigious award. The previous two times were under the leadership of Sr. Carolyn Sieg, OSB who served at our school for 50 years. I am profoundly grateful to Mrs. Michelle Picchione, our current principal, who continues the great legacy of learning in a Catholic context that Sr. Carolyn left us. While many individuals and groups of parishioners labored to make it possible for our school to receive this award, in the end, there must always be one creative and tireless leader who is able to galvanize these people so that such noteworthy results can emerge. We are blessed to have such a leader in Mrs. Picchione.

I am deeply grateful to Mrs. Picchione for everything she has done and continues to do so that St. Joan of Arc School can be a credible ministry of our parish that continues the work of the greatest of all teachers, our Lord Jesus Christ.

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