Students at Holy Family School cheered for academics Friday after Principal Karen Moeder announced that the Great Bend school has won the prestigious Governor’s Achievement Award for the sixth time.
“I had just learned of the award on Thursday, and surprised everyone with the news at the beginning of the day,” Moeder said.
Close to 100 Holy Family students in grades 3-6 took the state assessments last March.

Holy Family School was one of 36 Kansas elementary schools, 10 middle/junior high schools and 11 high schools recently recognized as part of the annual Governor’s Achievement Awards, honoring top-performing schools in the state.
In order to receive a Governor’s Award, schools had to receive building-level Assessment Performance Index scores in the top 80 percent in math and reading. Schools also had to be in the top 5 percent of elementary schools or high schools.
“The Governor’s Award recognizes a school’s high expectations for student success and the ability of the school community and culture to work together to assist students in reaching those high expectations,” said Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson. “Congratulations to the Governor’s Achievement Award recipients for 2016!”