By:  Cain                                              H.R. No. 524
       73R8336 BNL-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The students, faculty, and staff of Stonewall
    1-2  Jackson Elementary School consistently strive to attain the highest
    1-3  levels of learning within a nurturing school environment, and their
    1-4  dedication to excellence in education was rewarded recently when
    1-5  this fine school was named one of "America's Best Schools" in the
    1-6  April 1993 issue of Redbook magazine; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, This exceptional school was one of 177 public
    1-8  elementary schools from across the nation recognized for innovative
    1-9  and successful programs, caring teachers, and challenging
   1-10  curriculum; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Stonewall Jackson Elementary School excels in all
   1-12  these areas and more largely because teachers and parents have high
   1-13  expectations for all of the students, and they have created a warm
   1-14  and supportive atmosphere in which students are encouraged to meet,
   1-15  and often exceed, these standards; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, By putting much thought and effort into every lesson
   1-17  plan, teachers continue discovering creative and challenging ways
   1-18  to bring academic lessons to life; children are taught not just
   1-19  through lectures and books but also through field trips, contests,
   1-20  and hands-on experimentation and participation; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, This stimulating curriculum is supported by an
   1-22  enthusiastic group of parents who volunteer their time and talent
   1-23  to the school; these dedicated parents assist in the classroom,
   1-24  tutor students who need help, organize carnivals and other
    2-1  celebrations, and sponsor a wide array of extracurricular
    2-2  activities, and through their hard work and commitment they have
    2-3  opened up new worlds of opportunity for the school's students; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Perhaps the most important feature of this
    2-5  outstanding school is the camaraderie that has been built among the
    2-6  students, as evidenced by the fact that all 550 learn sign language
    2-7  so they can communicate with their 70 classmates who are hearing
    2-8  impaired; in doing this, the students have broken down the barriers
    2-9  that might separate them and have forged a common identity, and
   2-10  most important, they have learned to respect all individuals by
   2-11  focusing on our shared humanity rather than on our differences; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, Across Texas and across the nation, citizens are
   2-13  examining their schools and exploring ways of making educational
   2-14  institutions more responsive to the needs of today's children; the
   2-15  students, teachers, parents, and staff of Stonewall Jackson
   2-16  Elementary School are an inspiration to all Americans, for these
   2-17  commendable individuals have gone beyond the traditional model of a
   2-18  school and have created a new paradigm for education in the 21st
   2-19  century and beyond; now, therefore, be it
   2-20        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-21  Legislature hereby congratulate the students, faculty, parents, and
   2-22  staff of Stonewall Jackson Elementary School for making their
   2-23  school one of Redbook magazine's "America's Best Schools" and
   2-24  extend to each of them warmest best wishes for many more years of
   2-25  continued success; and, be it further
   2-26        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-27  prepared for Stonewall Jackson Elementary School as an expression
    3-1  of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.