Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School has been honored with a 2006 Partnership School Award from the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University.

The school was honored for excellence in strengthening and sustaining a comprehensive program of school, family, and community partnerships. Recognizing that families are critical contributors to student achievement, the school continually worked toward strengthening the home-to-school connection.

Lee held a variety of activities and programs to build student literacy and encourage family participation. Some of the activities included:

-Registering 240 students for Montgomery County library cards
-Participating in the National Young Readers’ Day event that included guest celebrity readers Channel 7 news anchor Kathleen Matthews and Comcast SportsNet anchor Chick Hernandez
-100 students taking part in the Bowie Baysox reading initiative program that met or exceeded their reading goals
-Hosting a second annual Family Reading Week, during which middle school families read together for one week
-Holding four community forums with Hispanic parents to discuss report cards, course selection and student relations.

Lee Middle School received an award plaque and $500 to support its family and community involvement activities.

Of the 14 awards given nationally by NNPS, seven were given to schools; two each were given to school districts and state Departments of Education, and three were given to education-related organizations.

More information on the National Network of Partnership Schools is available at www.partnershipschools.org.