Bel Air Elementary School is proud to be a National Blue Ribbon School Centered on Reaching Excellence! 

Bel Air Eagles Soar to S.C.O.R.E.

VISION:  Bel Air Eagles Soar to S.C.O.R.E: A School Centered on Reaching Excellence

There is little teacher turnover at Bel Air, and continuity of the staffing helps maintain strong teamwork and positive relationships. The students are familiar with the entire staff, including the itinerant educators, the cafeteria workers, the custodians, and the bus drivers. Drivers often check on students who did not board the bus for home. The secretary and the nurse are vital to the school’s success and both work closely with all parents, students, and staff. Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) parents are visible in the school daily. Bel Air is truly a family and this attitude reflects in our students’ success.

Since Mrs. Eirich became principal seven years ago, the school has established a vision of excellence for all. The school’s vision is “Bel Air Eagles Soar to Score: A School Centered on Reaching Excellence”. To perpetuate this vision, the meaning of excellence is taught by teacher-led discussions using examples from reading, math, science, and social studies texts. Students write about different examples of excellence they have seen or performed in school, and those writings are shared during morning announcements. The success of the vision was evident when a student wrote with pride, “I can read!”

The Bel Air School community is proud of its efforts to demonstrate caring and service to others. This year the school community will participate in “Laps for Lupus” to support our physical education teacher who was diagnosed with Lupus. The school annually donates mittens and hats and “gently used toys” to children living in shelters. Students also participate in the Jump Rope for Heart event sponsored by the America Heart Association.

One of our most successful traditions through the years has been the St. Jude’s Math-a-Thon. More than 70 percent of our students annually participate in the Math-a-Thon, and their efforts were recognized by the National Network of Partnership Schools for “Outstanding Practices” in 2008-2009.

Bel Air School has maintained the standard of excellence through the years. In 2007-2008 and 2010-2011, Bel Air was named a School of Distinction by the Allegany County Board of Education.

In 2010 Bel Air was honored to be selected as a Maryland Blue Ribbon School, and in 2011 the school received yet a higher honor when it was named a National Blue Ribbon School.