H.R. No. 447
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to
    1-2  congratulate Travis Middle School of McAllen on the noteworthy
    1-3  achievement of its designation as a state Blue Ribbon Award winner;
    1-4  and
    1-5        WHEREAS, This prestigious accolade is sponsored by the United
    1-6  States Department of Education and recognizes schools that are
    1-7  proven leaders in the area of education reform; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, Travis Middle School was selected by the Texas
    1-9  Education Agency as one of 27 outstanding secondary schools in the
   1-10  state and will go on to vie with schools from across the country
   1-11  for top national honors; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, The school has been heralded for its exceptional
   1-13  efforts to increase parental involvement; to this end,
   1-14  administrators joined with Valley Interfaith's Alliance Schools
   1-15  Initiative to coordinate the efforts of the school, the parents,
   1-16  and the church, which are the most important influences in a young
   1-17  person's life; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, Valley Interfaith met with parents to identify their
   1-19  concerns about education and also provided training sessions on how
   1-20  parents could most effectively communicate with their children's
   1-21  teachers, while educators took the time to acquaint themselves with
   1-22  the neighborhoods in which their students reside; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, The school also restructured several of its programs
   1-24  and allowed some of its students to attend classes at McAllen High
    2-1  School, thus giving them an opportunity to acquaint themselves with
    2-2  the high school environment; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, In addition, the school conducts its eighth-grade
    2-4  English classes in a workshop fashion, which allows students to
    2-5  choose individualized courses of study and greatly enhances
    2-6  creativity; students also have experienced the joys of publishing
    2-7  their own work in the school's innovative and entertaining Conejo
    2-8  Magazine; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, The success of the program has become evident as
   2-10  many parents have become active participants in their children's
   2-11  education and have gone on to contribute to the betterment of the
   2-12  Travis Middle School campus in a variety of ways; families have
   2-13  donated patio furniture for the school's courtyard, and some
   2-14  parents are involved in safety issues and direct traffic after
   2-15  school; and
   2-16        WHEREAS, The campus has embarked on a number of
   2-17  beautification projects that make it a truly lovely place in which
   2-18  to study and work; trees have been planted throughout the area, and
   2-19  a mural depicting a prehistoric landscape now graces one of the
   2-20  courtyard walls; and
   2-21        WHEREAS, Most importantly, these efforts have had a positive
   2-22  effect on the school's 700 students, all of whom have benefitted in
   2-23  countless ways from increased parental involvement in their
   2-24  education, and the members of this chamber take great pleasure in
   2-25  commending the many dedicated and caring individuals who have made
   2-26  the school the outstanding academic institution that it is today;
   2-27  now, therefore, be it
    3-1        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    3-2  Legislature hereby honor Travis Middle School on the occasion of
    3-3  its designation as a state Blue Ribbon Award winner and wish the
    3-4  school continued success in the competition as it vies for top
    3-5  national honors; and, be it further
    3-6        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-7  prepared for prominent display at Travis Middle School as an
    3-8  expression of high esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.