The Ar-We-Va School District was awarded their 2016 National Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in education during an assembly Friday afternoon. Students and community members attended to celebrate the national recognition they have received. Rich Stoffers, sixth through 12th grade principal, praised the entire district for their work to become a Blue Ribbon School.
Ar-We-Va Superintendent, Jeff Kruse, looks at how long some families have attended the school as evidence to their quality. Kruse’s mother was a part of that team.
Each graduating class is only 15 to 20 students, and one of the key instructors making the award possible, Sarah Smith, says Ar-We-Va’s size is no disadvantage.
Smith presented the award with another critical team member, Kathleen Snyder. Snyder takes the claim of an Ar-We-Va family to heart.
Ar-We-Va was one of only five school district in Iowa to receive the award in 2016.
