ST. MARGARET MARY DEANERY - When St. James the Greater School in White Oak was named a 2007 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School, it became the only elementary school in the United States to have earned this distinction four times: in 1988, 1992, 1999 and this year.

CT/TRICIA HEMPEL

St. James School in White Oak, a four-time Blue Ribbon winner.

More than half of the school's 60 faculty members possess master's degrees, and weekly school masses and a very involved community of parents and grandparents of the nearly 900 students add up to a school that addresses more than academic needs.

To acknowledge the amazing achievement that this fourth Blue Ribbon marked, the school planned more than a week's worth of celebration. It began Nov. 5 with a visit to the school from Ohio Congressman Steve Chabot, who brought with him a flag for the school that had been previously flown over the Capitol. The faculty performed their own highly entertaining version of the song "Getcha Head in the Game" from Disney's popular "High School Musical." Students wore blue later in the week, and staff and parental appreciation days were also held.

On Nov. 8, Kristine Cohn, a regional representative of U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling, visited the school and addressed the students.

And on Nov. 18, a parish-wide celebration will be held, unveiling the addition of "2007" to the school's existing Blue Ribbon sign.

The flag gifted by Congressman Chabot will also be raised at the school at that time, and parishioners have been invited to attend a reception following the ceremony.

Malinda Hartong/The Cincinnati Enquirer

Faculty members performed a version of "Getcha Head in the Game" from "High School Musical." From left, Missy Schroeck, Jeff Fulmer, Steffenie Brueneman, Pam Vollman, Karen Weisman, Jenny Acra, Steve Steigerwald, Doug Behr and Dan Wallace. The new kindergarten classes at St. James, above, were proud to participate in the school's honor.