Howard Elementary School students and staff took time Tuesday to celebrate receiving a national award. On Tuesday afternoon, all of the Howard Elementary students and staff were treated to a special program and cake at the Howard Armory in celebration of being named a national Blue Ribbon School for 2014. Howard Elementary principal Dr. Chris Noid told the students that in order to receive this national award, it takes many different people working together.
Noid, along with Howard Guidance Counselor Michaela Bourn, traveled to Washington, D.C. earlier this month to receive the Blue Ribbon plaque and flag in a special ceremony. Bourn said that trip was when it really started to sink in just how important this award was for Howard.
Bourn said that Howard Elementary was one of four schools in South Dakota chosen for the Blue Ribbon award. Those four schools were part of more than 340 schools nationwide receiving the award this year. Bourn said that the school district hopes to use the momentum of receiving the award and the information they’ve learned through the experience to keep moving Howard Schools forward.
The students’ celebration also included comments from Howard’s Superintendent, Mayor, a School Board member, and several students. A second celebration of the Blue Ribbon Award was held Tuesday night also for the Howard community.