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MEMBER NEWS FOCUS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2021

Mason Elementary Named National Blue-Ribbon School

By: Sara Parkinson, Mason Public Schools

n Mason, the air is still buzzing from a recent
United States Department of Education
Iannouncement. On Sept. 21, Alaiedon
Elementary, one of Mason Public Schools’
exemplary elementary schools, was named a 2021
National Blue-Ribbon School (NBRS). The award
is based on a school’s success in maintaining high
academic performance or closing achievement
gaps among students. Alaiedon Elementary
is one of four elementary buildings in Mason,
serving grades 1-5 with a student population of
approximately 374 students.

Schools cannot apply for this award and must be
invited by their State Departments of Education
to apply. In Alaiedon’s case, the Michigan Matthew Stuard, Executive Director of Curriculum, Mason Public Schools;
Department of Education asked principal, Shana Nicole Carlson, Teacher, Alaiedon Elementary ;Aba Kumi, National Blue Ribbon
Barnum to apply due to Alaiedon’s success in Schools Director, U.S. Department of Education; Shana Barnum, Principal,
Alaiedon Elementary and Ronald Drzewicki, Superintendent, Mason Public
making the transition from a one-time focus Schools.
school to now maintaining consistently high
Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) together to celebrate this achievement at an event on Oct.
scores for all grades and being a top-performing school in 4. In early November, district representatives were invited to
Michigan. Washington D.C. to receive the award from U.S. Secretary of
Education, Dr. Miguel Cordona, at a private ceremony. l
The efforts made by building and district leadership
are vast. They include things like utilizing late start
Wednesdays for staff to participate in Professional
Learning Communities (PLC) time each week, providing
individualized What I Need (WIN) time for students
four times per week, utilizing Multi-Tiered Systems of Bank merger
Support, which allows the team to address every individual
student’s needs, championing collective team efficacy
and embodying a growth mindset. For Alaiedon, a growth whiplash?
mindset is supported by “I can” statements displayed,
discussed and referred to frequently during instruction
and goal setting by students and staff. Alaiedon’s
team maintains high expectations, builds strong Switch to local bankers you
relationships with every student, and focuses on collective
commitments, resulting in developing consistent systems know and trust.
to ensure student success with a focus on results.

The U.S. Department of Education says, “The National Blue
Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of students,
educators, families and communities in creating safe and
welcoming schools where students master challenging
content. The National Blue Ribbon Schools flag gracing
a school's building is a widely recognized symbol of
exemplary teaching and learning. National Blue Ribbon
Schools are an inspiration and a model for schools still
striving for excellence.”

fnbmichigan.com
Members of the community, current and former students
and staff, Senator Curtis Hertel, Representative Kara Hope COMMERCIAL | PERSONAL
and Carlee Knott from U.S. Senator Gary Peters’ office came

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