35 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com Christ Our King-Stella Maris School in Mount Pleasant has recently been named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, one of 353 schools nationwide to be honored with the award this year through the U.S. Department of Education. “The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon School award have set a national example for what it means to raise the bar in education. The leaders, educators and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially and emotionally,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a news release. Being named as a National Blue Ribbon School validates and affirms all the hard work that educators, students, families and community supporters have contributed to growing the school. They have been striving for exemplary achievement and have succeeded in reaching that goal. Even more impressive is that Christ Our King- Stella Maris School is now a two-time award-winning school having also earned this distinction in 2009. Leaders of a National Blue Ribbon School must hold everyone to high standards as well as facilitate a vision of excellence that pushes others to be their best selves. The innovative teaching and learning that these schools possess demonstrates the value and support that teachers and staff receive through meaningful professional development. There is a focus on personal best along with high value educational practices and standards that encourage growth. Christ Our King-Stella Maris School’s principal Susan Splendido recently stated in an interview that, “our Catholic school is filled with outstanding teachers, engaged parents and hardworking students. We are blessed to be in a faith-filled community united in the goal of helping each and every student find success. COKSM’s focus is to help our students prepare for the next stages of their lives and become active members in our community.” School President John Byrnes echoed that sentiment in a recent press release as well. Christ Our King-Stella Maris School has been operating for more than 70 years. During that time, they have become well known in the Charleston area. Their close-knit family atmosphere, service to the community, academic and athletic excellence, along with their faithbased curriculum, has earned them a reputation of prestige and success. Christ Our King-Stella Maris School is a Catholic school within the Diocese of Charleston. The school utilizes a President/ Principal Administration model and serves 650 students from 4-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade. The school offers a variety of extracurricular as well as supplemental learning opportunities for students including essay contests, robotics, Junior Beta Club and more. It is easy to see how a school with such high standards of excellence earned a prestigious distinction as a National Blue Ribbon School. For more information about the school and other accomplishments, visit their website at coksm.org. Red Carpet meets Blue Ribbon Mt. Pleasant School Achieves National Excellence BY CARI LAWSON our town
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