Photo by Skip Lawrence Students at St. John Regional Catholic School sing along with the school’s choir in American Sign Language during a celebration Friday for the school being given the 2009 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award.

Visitors to the Opossumtown Pike campus -- who traveled under a bright blue sky -- were greeted by rows of blue pinwheels spinning wildly in the wind.

Inside the school, flower arrangements included blue ribbons and bows. Many staff members wore shades of blue. Students wore blue ribbon pins on their uniforms.

The not-so-subtle use of the color was in recognition of St. John receiving a National Blue Ribbon School award from the U.S. Department of Education.

Each year since 1982, the Education Department has sought out and celebrated public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals.

Honored schools have placed in the top 10 percent on state or national assessments, or have shown dramatic improvement in student performance. St. John was awarded for being in the top 10 percent of assessments.

Although Principal Karen Smith and Assistant Principal Paul Fer officially received the award Tuesday in Washington, the presentation was repeated Friday for students, staff members and invited guests.

Smith told the audience that out of more than 132,000 schools are across the country, just 320 of them won the Blue Ribbon designation.

"That's less than one-half of 1 percent," Smith said.

Ronald Valenti, schools superintendent for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, presented the Blue Ribbon plaque to Smith and Fer. Afterward, Maureen Dowling of the U.S. Department of Education, Frederick County Commissioners President Jan Gardner and Frederick Mayor Jeff Holtzinger presented proclamations and certificates.

After the ceremony, Smith said a new showcase might be needed for all the Blue Ribbon accolades the school has received. In addition to the certificates presented Friday, St. John has also received certificates from other government leaders, the National Catholic Education Association and an accreditation organization.

"I have a scrapbook that I'm going to put together eventually," she said. "And I hope to be able to display all the awards and recognition all in one place."

Throughout the ceremony, care was taken to give credit for the success of the school to all parties: administrators, teachers, staff members, students and parents.

Bishop Mitch Rozanski told students that Blue Ribbon schools serve as models for other schools across the country. At St. John, students strive to meet high expectations, but do so with the support of parents, teachers and the community at large, he said.

As children streamed out of the gym when the program ended, parent David Hook served as a one-man greeting line. He chatted and said hi to students as they filed out, and congratulated teachers as they walked by.

The father of a third- and a sixth-grader -- as well as a graduate -- Hood said parental involvement at St. John is key to its success.

"This is such a great community," he said. "And from the principal on down, everyone is important and everyone is recognized."

St. John will not rest on its laurels, Smith said during the program.

"Where do we go from here?" she said. "We do what we do every day -- pray and work hard É and thank God for everything he has bestowed upon us."