Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-Dist. 11) and other state and local leaders congratulated about 500 parents, students, alumni, and staff of the Nathan Bohrer-Abraham Kaufman Hebrew Academy of Morris County at a Dec. 19 ceremony honoring the Randolph school for being awarded a “Blue Ribbon” by the United States Department of Education.

“This is a big deal,” Frelinghuysen declared to a cheering crowd gathered for the school’s annual Hanukka show and Blue Ribbon ceremony, held at Adath Shalom Synagogue in Morris Plains to accommodate the capacity crowd.

“It’s a wonderful recognition of the Hebrew Academy of Morris County and its students and those who teach and nurture them,” he said.

Randolph Mayor Gary Algeier presented the school an official proclamation declaring Dec. 19 “Hebrew Academy of Morris County Blue Ribbon Award Day” in recognition of the honor.

“Randolph Township takes great pride in being the home of this fine school, which serves children of Randolph and surrounding communities with excellence in education while also instilling pride in their heritage and pride in their country,” the proclamation reads.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program, part of the government’s No Child Left Behind initiative, honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

HAMC was selected as one of 250 schools from across the country to win the Blue Ribbon award for 2006. The academy is one of only four schools in the state to be nominated this year. The school was selected based on high test scores (its students score in the 90th percentile on national standardized tests in language arts and math) and overall academic excellence, according to a school press release.

Located on Dover Chester Road in Randolph, HAMC is a community day school open to families from all branches of Judaism.

At last week’s ceremony, John Lally, director of nonpublic educational services for the State Department of Education, presented a letter by Gov. Jon Corzine and offered congratulations on behalf of the state.

The academy “has demonstrated a consistent dedication to educating our children by maximizing their learning experience,” wrote Corzine. “On behalf of the State of New Jersey, I thank the faculty and staff of the school for their hard work and dedication to educating the children of their community.”

Ken Heyman, president of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ, told the gathering that Hebrew Academy is “a community resource and a community treasure.”

“It is a place that brings Jewish parents and children together to learn and grow and develop lifelong ties — both to the Jewish community and to each other,” Heyman said.