By Carmen M. Hubbard

DAYTON DEANERY — School officials and students in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are continuing to celebrate their national recognition as 2008 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools.

Bishop Leibold School, with campuses in Miamisburg and Miami Township, is the only elementary school in the Miami Valley to achieve the honor this year. Other archdiocesan schools earning this year’s award were St. Dominic in Delhi Township; St. Ignatius in Monfort Heights; and Cardinal Pacelli in Mt. Lookout. The award was given to 320 schools, including 50 private schools, throughout the country.

CT/E.L.HUBBARD

Dr. Laura Meibers, deputy superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, presents a plaque to principal Paul Beyerle and assistant principal Kathy Borchers during a ceremony at Bishop Leibold School on Oct. 24.

Students, teachers and administrators celebrated Mass at St. Henry Church and participated in a Blue Ribbon flag-raising ceremony on Oct. 24 at the school’s east campus. The students also held a pep rally that afternoon, and continued the celebration at the "Blue Ribbon Family Bash."

Last month, Beyerle and some of the teachers accepted the award, along with other recipients throughout the country, from the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. The formal two-day ceremony featured a luncheon, presentation and a tour of the city.

Beyerle said it was the first time Bishop Leibold had applied for the award. When a representative from the Department of Education visited the school to formally announce the award in front of students, teachers and administrators, Beyerle said they realized their efforts were worthwhile.

"I’m extremely proud of and (feel) privileged (to work with) such a fine community," he said. "As a model school, we need to continue to be innovative for other Catholic schools."