SAN GABRIEL, CA – Gabrielino High School has received a 2017 Exemplary Program Award for its outstanding visual and performing arts program, a distinction reserved for 23 of the 275 California Gold Ribbon schools honored in April.

The recognition shines a light on Gabrielino’s 24 visual and performing arts courses – including speech and debate, visual arts and theater – and their ability to evoke creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication.

“We are proud to provide an engaging variety of educational opportunities and incentives to our students, like art gallery visits, meet and greets with professional artists, and classes for uncommon interests like stop motion animation,” said Kat Ross, Gabrielino’s visual and performing arts department chairwoman. “Our dedication to a unique and well-rounded arts education is part of what sets Gabrielino apart.”

Only schools that have been awarded the Gold Ribbon distinction can be considered for the Exemplary Program Award, which Gabrielino received this year for increasing English learner graduation rates and improving college eligibility for Hispanic students.

The award measures a program’s excellence through several benchmarks, such as whether students can gain industry or academic certifications, whether the program provides adequate equipment and facilities and whether it proves accountability through internal and external program reviews.

“I’m thrilled for Gabrielino to receive such a distinguished award because the work of art educators often goes unseen,” Gabrielino Principal Sharron Heinrich said. “This state recognition validates the hard work of our visual and performing arts teachers.”

In addition to arts education, Exemplary Program Awards were also granted for schools with outstanding career and technical education and physical activity and nutrition education.

“San Gabriel Unified is dedicated to providing the best academic and artistic programs for promoting student growth, and this award acknowledges our ongoing efforts,” SGUSD Superintendent Dr. John Pappalardo said. “Congratulations to Gabrielino High School for the visual and performing arts program’s phenomenal success.”

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051517_SANGAB_ARTS: Gabrielino High School received a 2017 Exemplary Program Award for its outstanding visual and performing arts program, which offers 24 courses ranging from speech and debate to choral music and stop-motion animation. The Exemplary Program Award was awarded to 23 of the 275 California Gold Ribbon schools honored in April.