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Green Meadow Goes Blue at School-wide Celebration

Oct 14, 2021 | District, Green Meadow

Principal Garab gives remarks at Green Meadow Blue Ribbon event

Principal Daniel Garab welcomes students, staff and families to Green Meadow’s Blue Ribbon Celebration on Wednesday, October 13.

Green Meadow Elementary School turned blue on Wednesday evening as the entire school community gathered outdoors to celebrate being named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School. Students and staff wore blue shirts, children ate blue popcorn, blue cotton candy and blue snow cones, and the evening culminated with fireworks launched from the back field, lighting the dark sky with spectacular colors.

The event felt like a festival with food trucks, activities and fun enjoyed by all. It was a celebration of Green Meadow’s outstanding achievement recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Green Meadow is one of only 325 schools in the country, including one of 19 schools in New York to receive the 2021 National Blue Ribbon School award.

Students ran in the field behind school, climbed on the playground and enjoyed the entertainment provided by a DJ, balloon artist and magician.

The 4th/5th Grade Chorus performed a song written for the event titled “Green Meadow’s Going Blue” under the direction of music teacher Lawrence Perez.

During the formal portion of the program, Principal Daniel Garab congratulated students, teachers, staff and families for earning this prestigious award.

“As a graduate of the East Greenbush Central School District and currently in my 29th year as a member of the district staff I must tell you, tonight is the highlight of my time here in East Greenbush,” said Principal Garab. “I am privileged and honored to be with an absolutely fantastic group of hardworking, kind students every day. I work with the best team of faculty and staff members anyone could ask for. I have a very supportive central administrative team and Board of Education that puts students first, and of course, the best parents and supportive families around!”

Superintendent Jeff Simons and Board of Education President Michael Buono also spoke at the event, extending their congratulations to the Green Meadow community.

“To be selected as a Blue Ribbon School is not an easy feat. To celebrate this accomplishment with the fun that we’re having tonight could not have come at a better time, Mr. Garab. Don’t we need a party?,” Mr. Simons said to cheers from the crowd. “This is certainly a remarkable accomplishment and a remarkable evening.” 

Distinguished guests including Senator Daphne Jordan, Schodack Town Supervisor David Harris and Meaghan Rossbach, constituent liaison from Assemblyman Jake Ashby’s office, each presented Principal Garab with proclamations for being named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School.

Congratulations to Green Meadow Elementary School!

Special thanks to the Green Meadow Blue Ribbon Planning Committee for organizing this event, the East Greenbush Central School District administration for their support, the Transportation Department, Maintenance Department, Columbia and Goff Student Council, our distinguished guests, the vendors, Schodack Police Department, and our generous event sponsors: Green Meadow PTO, Market 32, Hannaford, and Walter S. Pratt & Sons!