A BLUE RIBBON CELEBRATION TOLL MIDDLE SCHOOL WINS AWARD.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Officials were debating Thursday just how students, staff and parents should celebrate winning the coveted National Blue Ribbon Award for Toll Middle School.

A schoolwide family picnic topped the list of ideas - since gaining parental involvement is one of the criteria for the outstanding-achievement award given by the U.S. Department of Education.

``It affirms that our staff and students are doing an excellent job and are being strongly supported by our school district, parents and school community,'' said Principal Jan Homan. ``It's really a big compliment to our program.''

Homan, in her first year as principal of Toll, said much of the groundwork for the Blue Ribbon Award was laid by her predecessor, Hasmik Danielian, now the principal at Hoover High School.

Toll, which serves 1,200 students, won the award for leadership in instructional programs, extra-curricular activities and enrichment programs, Homan said.

Candidates for the Blue Ribbon Award are nominated from schools that already have won a California Distinguished School Award. Representatives of a nominated school must then complete a 30-page application that examines every facet of campus life, including parent and community participation and support.

Federal education officials then conduct on-site visits to confirm the information.

One of the classes that impressed federal officials was Deidre Weber's family consumer-science class, formerly known as home economics.

Through computer software and hands-on training in a single one-semester class, students learn about 32 vocational careers, including child care, cooking and assembling a faucet.

``We've infused technology and careers so that the class is student-directed,'' Weber said. The program is one of only two of its type in the state, Weber said.

The school's English language development classes also earned points. English is not the native language for more than 450 students who attend Toll. Many have been in the country only for two years, but have learned English well enough to keep up academically, said teacher Miriam Wazirkajoyan.

For the Glendale Unified School District, the award for Toll caps an already noteworthy year.

Three district schools - Mark Keppel, John Marshall and R.D. White Elementary - each won a California Distinguished School award in April. Representatives from the three will participate in an awards ceremony today at Disneyland. Representatives from Toll will attend a national recognition ceremony in the fall in Washington, D.C..

``Professionals in the district continue to work hard every day to meet the high standards,'' said district spokesman Vic Pallos. ``It might sound simple, but there's a great deal of tradition here.''

Toll joins 30 schools statewide and 172 nationwide on the Blue Ribbon list, including Thousand Oaks High School, Colina Middle School in Thousand Oaks, Arroyo Seco Junior High School in Valencia and Chaparral Middle School in Moorpark.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Toll Middle School students work in class for English learners whose academic success impressed visiting educators. From left are Hannah Hwang, Tomik Hambarsomian and Angela Saakyan.

(2) Working on child care in a consumer-science class, Roisin Ward, left, and Kathy Mendoza, both 12, use a model programmed to behave like a baby.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer