JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – In celebration of Richland Elementary School’s U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon status earned this year, students were treated to an all-day Celebration of Learning fair Thursday.
Students ran all over the school grounds, laughing and cheering each other on during activities, taking turns on the bouncy castles, visiting the petting zoos, having their faces painted, getting glitter tattoos and much more.
“There’s a lot of fun today because we got the Blue Ribbon,” said third grader Mia Lee.
Despite the crisp autumn weather, the blue skies and sunshine kept everyone’s spirits high.
“I’m having a blast,” sixth-grader Jack Tatarko said. “This is so good.”
The student body president was impressed by the event and said it is an honor to serve in his position at a time when the school has been recognized with a Blue Ribbon – the highest honor an educational institution can earn.
Richland is one of 13 schools in the commonwealth and 356 schools in this year’s cohort of accredited schools, joining Saltsburg Elementary School in Indiana County.
Up to 420 schools from across the country can be nominated for this honor each year. Richland Elementary is the latest school in the region to earn a Blue Ribbon.
Rockwood Area Elementary School received the honor in 2022; Cambria Heights High School earned the recognition in 2021; Conemaugh Township Elementary School was awarded in 2020; and Windber Area Elementary School received the Blue Ribbon in 2019.
“We celebrate our successes,” said Elementary School Principal Kelly Lashinsky.
Brandon Bailey, director of educational services, said all schools are always focused on the end results of education, but it is quite exciting for the children to have a day without education.
He also stated that the fair will likely serve as an incentive for them to continue doing well.
Lashinsky said 60 volunteers from the parent-teacher organization helped with the fair Thursday, and the Richland School District Foundation was a major benefactor for the event.
Kim Mock, second grade teacher and foundation president, said it was special to see the students having fun because of her dual role.
“For the kids to be able to celebrate because of all the hard work – that’s the best part,” she said. “They are having the time of their lives.”
Lashinsky said she received a comment from first-grader Ryan Papanicolas, who said, “This is going to be the best day of my life” as he arrived at school and looked at the six inflatables.
She added that one parent said their child had been on a countdown for the past few weeks that they thought was for a family vacation, but was actually for Celebration of Learning day.
“Quite honestly, they deserve this,” said Superintendent Arnold Nadonley.
“This is the result of everything we are working towards.”
He added that the Blue Ribbon – a bucket list item in his decades in education – “is a testament that public education is here and strong.”
To round off the day, a special student-made video was shown at the end of the fair that emphasized the district’s core values of respect, responsibility, motivation and safety.
