By Hochberg H.R. No. 165
74R5589 PAN-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, With the opening of The Rice School/La Escuela Rice
1-2 in the fall of 1994, the Houston Independent School District has
1-3 ushered in an exciting new era of educational opportunity for
1-4 future generations of Texas schoolchildren; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A collaborative effort between the school district
1-6 and Rice University, the state-of-the-art institution was initially
1-7 envisioned in 1990 as an attempt to alleviate overcrowding in
1-8 nearby schools and has since evolved into a school that combines
1-9 within its curriculum all of the elements needed to offer its
1-10 students the finest public school education available in the United
1-11 States today; and
1-12 WHEREAS, From its architecture to its curriculum, this
1-13 remarkable new facility has been 100 percent community planned;
1-14 hundreds of parents, teachers, and volunteers came together to
1-15 participate in designing every aspect of the school and Rice
1-16 faculty members not only helped to develop the curriculum but
1-17 remain an integral factor in the school's success, offering their
1-18 expertise to teachers on a regular basis as well as teaching
1-19 minicourses on campus; and
1-20 WHEREAS, The school is both an elementary and a middle school
1-21 and clusters grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 to foster leadership among
1-22 the older children within each level, to provide role models to the
1-23 younger set, and to allow all children to develop a sense of
1-24 community; and
2-1 WHEREAS, A small percentage of slots are reserved for the
2-2 children of Rice University faculty members, while the majority of
2-3 the 1,307 children in attendance at the school have been drawn from
2-4 neighborhood schools and other parts of the city through a lottery
2-5 system; the school's dress code, which requires the children to
2-6 wear a uniform, has enabled children from all walks of life to take
2-7 pride in their appearance and come together as equals, regardless
2-8 of their family's financial resources; and
2-9 WHEREAS, The school also has eliminated University
2-10 Interscholastic League athletics from its campus, preferring
2-11 instead to have students participate in intramural sports in a move
2-12 that will enable them to reap the positive benefits that team
2-13 sports have to offer without concerns of championship tournaments
2-14 stealing in to deplete their enjoyment; and
2-15 WHEREAS, The HISD-Rice campus is a dual-language school at
2-16 which all students are expected to become fluent in both English
2-17 and Spanish over the course of their education; all classes are
2-18 taught in English and Spanish, and every sign in the school has
2-19 been printed to reflect both languages; children also will become
2-20 well-versed in community service, as all students are required to
2-21 participate in annual community service projects and to uphold the
2-22 tenets of a school honor code that was drafted to emphasize high
2-23 expectations and strong community values; and
2-24 WHEREAS, A place of learning for teachers and students alike,
2-25 the school employs an excellent staff of 70 educators and serves as
2-26 a districtwide professional development center that focuses on
2-27 effective teaching strategies for urban students; and
3-1 WHEREAS, Every aspect of the 167,000 square foot structure
3-2 has been built with its mission in mind, from small conveniences
3-3 like sinks in the kindergarten rooms to its focal point, an
3-4 enormous library and resource center serving parents, students, and
3-5 all HISD teachers; and
3-6 WHEREAS, The Rice School/La Escuela Rice has dedicated itself
3-7 to the total development of its students, helping to develop
3-8 tomorrow's leaders with pride and determination; on the momentous
3-9 occasion of its dedication ceremony, it is an opportune time to
3-10 honor the many people who have played a part in the establishment
3-11 of this shining example of excellence in education; now, therefore,
3-12 be it
3-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-14 Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of The Rice School/La
3-15 Escuela Rice and commend all who have given generously of their
3-16 time and talent over the past four years to ensure the success of
3-17 this remarkable institution of education; and, be it further
3-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-19 prepared for prominent display at the school as an expression of
3-20 highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.