R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, South Davis Elementary School in Arlington has been 1-2 selected as a finalist for the 1997 Governor's Awards for 1-3 Environmental Excellence, and this distinction is indeed well 1-4 deserved; and 1-5 WHEREAS, This prestigious awards program recognizes 1-6 outstanding environmental projects and accomplishments, and South 1-7 Davis Elementary School was singled out for special recognition 1-8 based on its innovative Environmental Learning Center; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Through the hard work of parent volunteers and the 1-10 generous donations of area businesses and foundations, the school 1-11 converted a weed-infested courtyard into a hands-on learning 1-12 experience, allowing students to participate in gardening, 1-13 composting, and recycling activities all within the confines of the 1-14 school grounds; and 1-15 WHEREAS, The center consists of eight different gardens, a 1-16 fish pond, a compost bin, and an earthworm farm, as well as space 1-17 for a reading circle; kitchen scraps from the cafeteria, leaves and 1-18 grass clippings from the community, and old school newspapers are 1-19 all used for composting and for the cultivation of earthworms, and 1-20 through this process, students are able to directly observe the 1-21 effectiveness of recycling and waste reduction programs while 1-22 learning key concepts of horticulture and biology; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Currently, more than 1,000 volunteer hours have gone 1-24 into the construction and maintenance of the South Davis Elementary 2-1 Environmental Learning Center, and students have benefited 2-2 immeasurably from the wide range of lessons it affords; this 2-3 remarkable project exemplifies the highest standards of both 2-4 environmental and educational achievement, and it will undoubtedly 2-5 serve as a model for schools throughout the Lone Star State; now, 2-6 therefore, be it 2-7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-8 Legislature hereby congratulate the students, faculty, and parents 2-9 of South Davis Elementary School for their noteworthy showing in 2-10 the Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence and extend to 2-11 them warmest best wishes for continued success and happiness in the 2-12 future; and, be it further 2-13 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-14 prepared for South Davis Elementary School as an expression of high 2-15 regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Grusendorf _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 975 was adopted by the House on May 23, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House