201810.01
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Golden is the new blue: Placentia elementary only school in Orange County to win Blue Ribbon honor

by in News

It’a one thing to be named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. It’s another to be the only school in all of Orange County to receive that esteemed honor in a year.

True to its name, Golden Elementary in Placentia took the gold medal this year – making it one of 12 in California, and 349 in the country, to win the designation for 2018.

The good news arrived via email Monday morning, Oct. 1, said Candy Plahy, deputy superintendent for the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.

“I guarantee, we will be celebrating in a big way,” Plahy said.

Schools in the district have garnered a total of 10 Blue Ribbons. This marks Golden’s first.

“We did not expect to be the only school in Orange County,” Plahy said. “We are proud of that distinction. The county is filled with wonderful schools, so the competition is steep.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private schools in two categories – for overall academic excellence, or for their progress in closing achievement gaps over the past five years.

Throwing your name in the hat is no simple task, Plahy said. The process requires much data analysis and paperwork – accomplished by Principal Roann Turk, who retired at the end of last school year after six years on campus.

Applicants are requested to highlight “signature practices,” Plahy said. Turk focused on the school’s “positive behavior intervention system.”

“She was an amazing leader who, obviously, retired on a high note,” Plahy said. Alison DeMark is serving her first year as principal at Golden Elementary.

Golden is one of the district’s three magnet elementary schools for students in the Gifted and Talented (GATE) program. However, Plahy said, most children at the K-6 school are in general education.

In a sense, the commemoration comes as little surprise, Plahy said: “We already knew Golden is a Blue Ribbon school, but it’s nice to be validated by other people, as well.”