Shaw Avenue a blueprint for success

Shaw Avenue School Principal Amy Pernick, left, accepted the Blue Ribbon excellence award from Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages at a ceremony on Nov. 20 at the school. Joining them are District 30 Board President Carolyn Torres and Assistant Principal Josh McPherson.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Students and staff watch as the Blue Ribbon flag is raised during a morning ceremony on Nov. 20.

Brian Croce/Herald

Retired Shaw Avenue staff members, from left, Carl Riccobono, Stan Kaminsky, George Beyer and Tom Rouse, came to celebrate the accomplishment.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

District 30 officials, including Shaw Avenue School teacher Dennis Carr, Principal Amy Pernick and Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Stirling accepted the award in Washington, D.C.

Courtesy District 30

The Blue Ribbon banner now hangs above the main entrance of the school for everyone in Valley Stream to see.

Brian Croce/Herald

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See more photos from the Blue Ribbon ceremony here.

“It’s all about you,” District 30 Board of Education President Carolyn Torres told an auditorium full of teachers, students and parents at Shaw Avenue School on Nov. 20. For the second time that day, the school celebrated its accomplishment in earning the Blue Ribbon excellence award from the U.S. Department of Education.

Torres explained that it takes the hard work and effort of an entire community to earn such a prestigious award, and said the Blue Ribbon designation belongs to everyone in District 30. “Obtaining Blue Ribbon status is not easy,” she said. “It is a tremendous accomplishment that can only be realized through the hard work and dedication of many.”

In the morning, Shaw’s entire student body and staff gathered outside to raise a Blue Ribbon flag to commemorate their achievement. Music teacher Stephanie Distler taught the students a Blue Ribbon song prior to the ceremony that was sung in unison as the flag was raised for the first time.

Principal Amy Pernick said seeing her students singing together while the flag was raised was one of her proudest moments while working at Shaw. “This was a moment that not many students experience,” she said, “and my students were experiencing it.”

Pernick, who has been at the school for 19 years, became principal in August after five years as assistant principal. Her replacement, Josh McPherson, said he feels good about his decision to come to Shaw. “It’s very evident that this is a Blue Ribbon school,” he said. “We have a great community that supports our students every day. We have wonderful teachers, a wonderful administration and I’m very happy to be a part of this team.”

The evening ceremony featured a standing-room only crowd and visits from several dignitaries, including Mayor Ed Fare and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who ceremonially presented Pernick with the Blue Ribbon award. Even former teachers and students attended to mark the occasion.

“I’m really excited to be back to share in the moment,” said George Beyer, who taught at Shaw for 39 years before retiring in 2007. “The prestigiousness of the award is great.”