Students and staff at Messiah Lutheran School gathered November 21 to celebrate their recent designation as a National Blue Ribbon School, as named by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on September 24, 2013. The prestigious award honors select schools across the country for helping students achieve at the highest levels. Messiah was the only private school in Missouri to receive the award this year, and just the fifth private school in St. Charles County to receive the distinguished recognition in the thirty-one year history of the award.
“Excellence in education matters, and we should honor the schools that are leading the way to prepare students for success in college and careers,” said Education Secretary Duncan. “National Blue Ribbon schools represent examples of educational excellence, and their work reflects the belief that every child in America deserves a world-class education.”
On November 18 and 19, Principal Dr. Tom Guenzler, seventh grade teacher Mrs. Lyn Biesendorfer, and kindergarten teacher Mrs. Barb Wehmeyer visited Washington D.C. to attend the national ceremony and accept the award. They were presented with a plaque and banner denoting Messiah’s Blue Ribbon School status.
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At the school celebration, Mrs. Biesendorfer shared photos of the D.C. trip, as well as a video-taped acknowledgement from Missouri Senator Roy Blunt. Senator Blunt commended Messiah for achieving such a level of excellence. The student body dressed in blue to commemorate the receipt of the prestigious award.
“We are humbly proud to receive this significant recognition,” said Principal, Dr. Guenzler. “A lot of hard work goes into the process, and our teachers, students and parents should be very proud.” Dr. Guenzler credits the dedicated staff, school leadership team, volunteers, parents and students at Messiah for championing the cause of a quality Christian education. “Each year we challenge ourselves to continuously improve the education experience at Messiah,” Guenzler continued. “To see everyone’s hard work recognized at the highest level nationally is truly an honor.”
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Kennedy, an eighth grade Student Council member at Messiah, is proud to attend a Blue Ribbon School. She enjoys mentoring younger students, as well as the camaraderie and positive community atmosphere among students and staff.
Messiah Lutheran School is located at 5911 South Highway 94 in Weldon Spring, MO, and serves 340 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth. The school welcomes children of all faiths. For more information on Messiah, visit www.messiahnetwork.org/school.