Senator Collins Visits Fruit Street School in Bangor to Congratulate School Community on Prestigious Blue Ribbon Award

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Bangor, ME — U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Fruit Street School in Bangor today to participate in an assembly recognizing the school’s recent designation as a National Blue Ribbon School.  Senator Collins delivered remarks congratulating the Fruit Street community on their accomplishment and gave a brief presentation to the students.  Following the assembly, Senator Collins visited the Pre-K classroom and read Antlers Forever! to the students.

“I was delighted to visit Fruit Street School today to congratulate the entire school community on their outstanding achievement,” said Senator Collins.  “To be named a Blue Ribbon School is a tremendous accomplishment.  It is an honor that they have earned by working together to make a difference in the lives of students, helping them reach their full potential as independent, responsible learners and citizens.  I am so proud of the teachers, students, parents, and administrative staff for their commitment to academic excellence.”

Fruit Street School, which includes students in Pre-K through third grade, was recognized in September by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School. Fruit Street School was one of only three Maine schools—and one of only 362 public and private schools nationwide—to be recognized for this highly prestigious achievement in 2019. The school was selected out of the nearly 133,000 schools nationwide.

In November, Senator Collins met with Fruit Street School Principal Richard Fournier and third grade teacher Dianne Johnson in her Washington, D.C., office and presented them with a statement that she entered in the Congressional Record recognizing the school’s success.

For 35 years, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has honored public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Blue Ribbon schools are recognized for overall academic excellence or for making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.

Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Education Committee, has visited more than 200 schools throughout Maine during her Senate service and has long led efforts to honor our nation’s public schools and improve our education system.