The entire staff of Garden City Middle School plus central administration posed with Board of Education trustee, Angela Heineman (front row, left), middle school Principal Dr. Peter Osroff (front row, holding certificate) and Assistant Principals Susan Lee and William Marr (front row) to celebrate the school's award. Everyone at Garden City Middle School is smiling at bit wider and brighter these days as students, faculty, staff and administration share pride of ownership in being honored by United States Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling as one of the 320 National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence recently selected from across the nation. "I can't even count the number of emails and phone calls I've received congratulating our faculty for a job well done," commented middle school Principal Dr. Peter Osroff to his staff. "Thank you all for the wonderful job you do every day for the children."

Selected for its demonstrated academic superiority with students achieving in the top 10 percent of the state on state testing, Garden City Middle School has truly exemplified its mission statement: ". . . As members of a school community, we affirm that we will reach academic success together, take responsibility for each other, and treat others as we wish to be treated. Success does not come at the expense of others, but is reached with others."

Middle School Principal Dr. Peter Osroff, Assistant Principals Susan Lee and William Marr and representative members of the middle school staff were congratulated by the Board of Education and attending community members at the September 16th BOE meeting. Pictured here are Principal Osroff and Board of Education President Colleen Foley (holding certificate) who are joined by Board of Education members, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen (far right), central administration, middle school Assistant Principals Lee and Marr, and representative members of the middle school faculty.. In addition to being featured on a recent edition of Long Island News Tonight for this prestigious national achievement, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy is reading the middle school's award into the Congressional Record and will attend an upcoming school assembly to present the faculty and students with a special certificate.

Eighth-grader Allison Miller expressed her thoughts about the middle school winning the National Blue Ribbon of Excellence during a television interview with reporter Danielle Anzalone of Long Island News Tonight.. On behalf of the middle school, Principal Osroff will be traveling to Washington, D.C. on October 20 - 21 to accept the bronze plaque and banner from Education Secretary Spelling in a special ceremony honoring the Blue Ribbon schools.

"We all have a great deal of which to be proud," Dr. Osroff recently wrote in an open letter to the community. "Our selection as a National School of Excellence was only possible due to the partnership and outstanding efforts of our entire community. Dedicated and caring teachers, parents and administrators worked collaboratively with the resources provided by a generous community through leadership of our School Board. Without question, this is truly a school community award. We have much to celebrate here in Garden City."