By Shannon McMahon

Although commonly associated with the color green, one Dublin school is proudly wearing a hint of blue these days. A blue ribbon, that is.

St. Brigid of Kildare School, a private Catholic school on Avery Road in Dublin, was recently recognized as a 2008 No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon School by Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education. This national award is given to public and private schools that are academically superior or demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

St. Brigid of Kildare School is one such school, with student scores on the national Terra Nova test that exceeded the average scores from their diocese, the Diocese of Columbus, and national average scores.

With a grip on strong, progressive academics and Catholic tradition, the St. Brigid community has focused on being a model school since opening its doors in 1996. It was the first new school in the Diocese of Columbus in more than 35 years.

According to Principal Kathy O’Reilly, the school’s administration established a clear mission from the start and sought to build an academically rich and inclusive learning environment that fostered growth for each child.

“We do the best of what’s traditional with the best practices of today,” she says.

The students’ parents have noticed a commitment to this mission.

“I know this (award) has been something St. Brigid has had in their vision for a while,” says Theresa Marquart, mother of two St. Brigid students.

Guided each year by a different theme, the St. Brigid community uses various educational tools to focus children on how to respond to the world as a Catholic citizen. This year’s theme, “Bridges of Mercy, Uniting God’s Children,” illustrates integration and a friendly environment.

Programs in religion, language arts, science, health, social studies, technology, fine arts, physical education, as well as Spanish for kindergarten through eighth grade (a unique feature in Dublin) build understanding in their specific areas and also concentrate on making the subjects relevant to each other and to students’ lives outside the classroom.

In one project, older children learned to overlap language arts, science, and technology while typing formal business letters, using persuasive techniques to talk to corporations about using fewer materials in packaging (which they learned piles up in landfills). Assistant Principal Cindy Lombardo says integration is the obvious route for current schools.

“It all flows together, which is what makes it enduring so kids can learn it, remember it, and use it,” she says.

“Smartboards” in the classroom enable students to interact with maps, streaming video from the Internet and even the periodic table of elements. Teachers employ a collaborative approach in their curricula. Each child gets a chance to play a bigger part in the school experience.

“It’s not a straight textbook kind of teaching,” Marquart says.

Extracurricular activities are also available to students, giving them fun outlets for particular academic interests. “Power of the Pen (and Pencil)” gives young writers a voice, while “Mad Scientist,” the science club, engages students in extra after-school science experiments and demonstrations.

Roots in a Catholic tradition also tie together subject matter, students and faculty. Students learn about the Catholic faith in religion classes, but learn to apply it in after-school programs like ALSO (Afterschool Learning and Service Opportunity). Lombardo leads the CARE family program (Creating a Respectful Environment), which builds awareness of the Catholic school community by grouping students into a “family” with whom they engage in projects, service, and other activities.

O’Reilly and Lombardo agree the child-centered, homey environment at St. Brigid sets the school apart. Lombardo has had five children attend St. Brigid, and O’Reilly says she has 675.

“These children are like my children,” she says.

For more information about St. Brigid of Kildare School and its blue ribbon recognition, visit www.stbrigidofkildare.com.

Shannon McMahon is a contributing writer for Dublin Life.