PHILADELPHIA, PA—Students from 31 of the 127 participating parish schools throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received recognition for their excellent academic performance in the First In Math® Online Program on May 25, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall in Philadelphia. Twenty-one Archdiocese of Philadelphia schools ranked among the Top 100 Schools in the Nation, All Grades, in the K-8 mathematics program, which included public, private, and parochial students.
Top: Principal Sister Diane Licordare from St. Pius School joins students and teachers to accept awards. Bottom: Students from St. William, St. Peter the Apostle and Resurrection of Our Lord ranked among the Top 100 Players in the Nation, All Grades. St. William third grader, Josephine Nguyen, (front) earned a FIM All Star Award.
The record number of Archdiocese of Philadelphia schools represented among the Top 100 Schools in Pennsylvania account for one-fifth of the National Top 100 Schools. Three placed among the elite National Top Ten, All Grades: Saint Pius X Parish School, Broomall (3rd); Saint Charles Borromeo Parish School, Bensalem (7th) and Immaculate Conception Parish School, Jenkintown (8th). St. William third grader, Josephine Nguyen, earned a coveted FIM All Star Award, ranking 4th among Top Players in the Nation, All Grades.
The Office of Catholic Education's Award Ceremony recognized principals, teachers, students and parents for high achievement. FIM Executive Vice President Nan Ronis was on hand to present awards, as was Sister Edward William Quinn, IHM, Director of Elementary Curriculum, Instruction and Staff Development for the Archdiocese. FIM creator Robert Sun could not attend the event this year, but had high praise for all involved. "The dedication to excellence in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia never wavers," says Sun, who attended Philadelphia's St. Francis DeSales School as a boy. "Students receive a superior education in a supportive atmosphere where supplementary programs, such as First In Math, are welcomed as a way to enrich each child's experience."
Left: Several St. Villa Maria Academy students and their teacher accept an award for being ranked in the Top 100 Schools category. Right: Ms. Deborah Bachor, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Educational Services, congratulated all students on their success and helped present awards.
In addition to school and individual player awards, the Archdiocese is home to two of the Top Ten Team Leader Players in the Nation. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Teacher Denise Peters ranked #6, while Cindy Schneider, from Saints Philip & James School, ranked #8.
"We could not be more proud of the way our schools and our students have performed in this year's First In Math competition," says Dr. Richard McCarron, Secretary of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. "This level of achievement is testament to the endless dedication of our teachers and the enthusiasm and commitment of our parents and students."
Sister Edward agrees. "Our schools are blessed to have all of this success. We feel that incorporating FIM into our future plans helps us move forward toward the new Common Core Standards."