Hillview Middle honored again as a U.S. Blue Ribbon School Hillview Middle honored again as a U.S. Blue Ribbon School (May 31, 2000)

By Marjorie Mader

Menlo Park's Hillview Middle School won national recognition last week as one of the finest middle schools in California and in the nation.

Principal Mike Moore announced the "exciting news," which was posted on the Blue Ribbon Schools Web site May 22, to Hillview's 510 students, teachers and staff. The word that Hilllview was rated among the best quickly spread to the other district schools and the community.

"Our kids are excited and proud of their school," said Principal Moore. For a time the prospects of being named a Blue Ribbon school disappeared from the radar screen, he said. Hillview, a California Distinguished School last year, was nominated for the award in December. In early March, a program representative, who is a superintendent and former Blue Ribbon-school principal from the Oklahoma City suburbs, visited the school. From then on, there was no news.

"It's incredibly exciting. Our principal, his teachers and the staff really earned the honor through lots of hard work and creativity," said Gordon Lewin, president of the Menlo Park City School District Board.

"Hillview has a demanding but innovative curriculum and keeps its focus on the development of good citizens for this age group," he added. "This is not an easy task."

"I'm so proud of Mike Moore, the faculty, staff and students," said Superintendent Meredith Jones, adding that she is proud to be associated with Hillview Middle School. "This is a school of togetherness where parents, staff and students work side by side."

To receive the Blue Ribbon award, a school has to be outstanding in many areas, and has to have a zest for continuous improvement, said Dr. Jones.

The selection of 198 middle and high schools as national Blue Ribbon Schools for 1999-2000 was based on an intensive self-assessment of eight established criteria. The criteria include: student focus and support; challenging standards and curriculum; active teaching and learning; school organization and culture; professional community; leadership and vitality; school, family and community partnerships; and other indicators of success such as student performance on standardized tests and alternative assessments.

The reviewer, who visited classes at Hillview, talked with students, teachers, staff, parents and district administrators and observed students at lunch and on the playground, verified that Hillview's self-assessment was accurate and complete.

Hillview "represents an educational environment for middle school students that is rigorous and challenging to all students but where students are nurtured, highly motivated and feel a sense of family," concluded the reviewer in her report.

Her evaluation also noted an "extremely committed staff" that connects with kids and constantly seeks ways to do a better job for students. She credited Hillview's "visionary principal" for providing strong leadership and improving the school over the last 15 years. The contributions of "involved and committed parents" are invaluable, she said. "There is not a single area of the school's operations or programs and services provided for students that has not been impacted in a positive way by parental involvement."

The Hillview staff takes the "responsibility of educating adolescents very seriously," she commented in her report. "All programs and services are organized and implemented with a priority of meeting students' needs." Programs are designed to be "inclusive" rather than "exclusive."

The reviewer also noted that while there is an emphasis on ensuring a rigorous and challenging academic program at Hillview to meet the majority of students, "the staff has not forgotten there are students who need remediation and attention to special learning needs." She cited a number of effective intervention programs such as: Core Support in language, reading and social studies; math support; the homework club; volunteer tutoring; and counseling.

One of Hillview's most significant strengths, as identified by the reviewer, is its commitment to professional development. There is an expectation upon employment that each professional staff member will participate in the ongoing curriculum research and collaborative discussions about school improvement.

The Blue Ribbon awards will be presented at a special gathering in Washington, D.C., in September. Principal Mike Moore and representatives of the Hillview team are planning to accept the award.

For more information about the national Blue Ribbon Schools program, log on to: www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/BlueRibbonSchools.