SCHOOL EARNS BLUE RIBBON STEVENSON RANCH HONORED IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

STEVENSON RANCH - In its first year of eligibility, Stevenson Ranch School snagged the prestigious National Blue Ribbon award Friday, the third such honor for the Newhall School District in 15 years.

One of 49 nominees statewide, Stevenson Ranch will be honored along with hundreds of other national winners in Washington, D.C., this fall for its leadership, challenging curriculum and student support.

``We just found out today and it was so exciting to tell the children,'' said Principal Diane von Buelow. ``A cheer went up around the school.''

Eligibility requires that a school be in its sixth year of operation, a condition the two-campus elementary school fulfills. Stevenson Ranch is also the most crowded school in the district with about 1,500 students.

Von Buelow credits the community for a large part of the honor.

``We're a very young school, only six years in operation. But I truly believe it's a community effort. Everybody is just focused on excellence,'' she said.

Former district winners include Newhall School and Meadows School, according to the district.

Information on how many schools received the award was not available Friday, but von Buelow was sure of one thing.

``We'll have a delegate from our school in Washington, D.C., where we'll receive a National Blue Ribbon flag. I'm sure we'll have a flag-raising ceremony here, but I don't have any details yet,'' she said.

The rigorous application process includes site visits from judges, but also allows schools an opportunity to improve their programs through the necessary and lengthy assessments the application requires.

The award is given to elementary and secondary schools in alternating years.

Stevenson Ranch earned the state's version of the award two years ago.