Along with 275 other middle schools, Griffiths has received the Gold Ribbon Schools Award. According to the California Gold Ribbon Program, only schools that demonstrate exemplary achievements are selected and we have been chosen based on our outstanding results from our test scores last year. Griffiths Middle School has been hard at work these last few months as we prepare our students for the upcoming SBAC test. We want to thank and recognize our teachers, students, and staff for working hard.

The California Gold Ribbon Award is an award given by the California Department of Education which was made to honor public schools. It is the highest and most prestigious award a public school in California can receive and Griffiths is overjoyed to have won this award. The CDE honors public schools that show improved student outcomes  through Standardized Testing but, as policies evolve the CDE looks towards the same standards but this time they include test scores from all students including English learners.

When members of the CDE came to visit our school some students were interviewed while other students were giving them tours of our campus. One student, Nathan Au, was interviewed and asked questions about our school.

“They asked me how do the teachers here at GMS support us, what kind of activities we do, how do we use critical thinking, what’s our motto, and other questions regarding our school,” said Nathan.

He also says that they were impressed with our school and really liked it.

GMS students weren’t the only ones who made a good impression on the members of the CDE, but also teachers. One teacher in particular is Mr Berchtold. In an interview he said:

What was the most difficult task preparing for this award? – ” Looking at the questions and rubric; decomposing the application.”

What were some things that stood out about Griffiths to the people who came to see the school? – ” The amazing students and staff.”

What was it like to be a part of the staff preparing for this award? – ” I enjoyed it. I enjoyed working with the students.”

Griffiths will be honored in May during regional ceremonies for winning the Gold Ribbon Schools Award. We are very glad to have won this award because it shows that our students are very bright and well educated. We’re also glad to learn from the teachers that we have here at GMS because they push us to do our best and motivate us to keep on going. We hope that our students will continue to show perseverance through their work and that our teachers will continue teaching future students to go above and beyond. Once again, it was an honor to receive the Gold Ribbon Schools Award.