Graves Middle School was honored at the Golden Bell Award ceremony Thursday, November 30, at the Marriott Marquis in San Diego for academic excellence.
Dr. Fraijo, Graves Middle School principal, attended the ceremony to accept the award on behalf of the school. Other South Whittier attendees included superintendent, Dr. Gonzales, and board members, Fransisco Santana, Jan Baird, and Elias Alvarado.
“The Golden Bell Award presentation was an awesome experience, we received this prestigious award with some of the best schools and school districts in the entire state of California, “ stated Graves principal, Dr. Fraijo. “This award is a testament to our School Board, staff, students and community.”
Graves Middle school received notice that they were selected for this prestigious award back in October after a site visit from the California School Board Association. With this new recognition Graves is the most recognized school in Whittier with already being a Gold Ribbon School, Title I Academic Achievement School, AVID National Demonstration School, and now a CSBA Golden Bell School.
The California School Board Association states that the Golden Bell Award, “promotes excellence in education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards in school districts and county offices of education throughout California. Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs and governance decisions supporting these programs that are necessary to address students’ changing needs.”
Now that the school has received this new recognition, Grave’s principal believes that the school may potentially receive visitors from other schools who desire to take part in an exceptional AVID program and Golden Bell Award School. Dr. Fraijo says that this award, “would reaffirm our students that they attend an outstanding middle school that they can be proud of, and a school where they can learn at high levels.”