R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Mrs. Robin Gattis, Mrs. Betty Martinez, and their 1-2 kindergarten students at Seagoville Elementary School have been 1-3 presented with a Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise 1-4 Education from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, and this 1-5 remarkable achievement is indeed worthy of special legislative 1-6 recognition; and 1-7 WHEREAS, In an effort to introduce students to the concepts 1-8 of economics and private enterprise, the class began a unit 1-9 entitled "Wants versus Needs--Earning Money for Things We Need 1-10 First and Then for Things We Want" and formed a company known as 1-11 "Gattis & Martinez's Terrific Team"; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The company was designed to perform small jobs for 1-13 family and friends, with all the profits donated to the Spina 1-14 Bifida Association of Dallas; one of the students' classmates was 1-15 born with spina bifida, and by incorporating fundraising into the 1-16 economics unit, everyone gained far more than had been expected; 1-17 and 1-18 WHEREAS, Using a rainbow logo similar to the one used by the 1-19 Spina Bifida Association of Dallas, the students adopted the name 1-20 "Rainbows Are Special and Unique Just Like Our Friend, James" for 1-21 their project; their enthusiasm and success motivated the entire 1-22 school community and soon everyone was participating in this worthy 1-23 endeavor; and 1-24 WHEREAS, While the kindergartners learned the value of hard 2-1 work, counting skills, denominations of currency, and even how to 2-2 use a calculator, the community learned the importance of 2-3 cooperation and common cause; by the course's end, 18 kindergarten 2-4 students had helped to raise more than $600 for the Spina Bifida 2-5 Association of Dallas and had grasped the very valuable 2-6 fundamentals of private enterprise; and 2-7 WHEREAS, The phenomenally successful "Rainbows Are Unique" 2-8 project will be in operation at Seagoville Elementary School for 2-9 the 1999-2000 school year, and in light of its positive results and 2-10 unselfish ends, it is indeed appropriate to recognize all those 2-11 individuals connected with the program at this time; now, 2-12 therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-14 Legislature hereby congratulate Seagoville staff members Robin 2-15 Gattis and Betty Martinez and their class of dedicated students for 2-16 winning the Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise 2-17 Education, and extend to them and all associated with the school 2-18 warmest best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it 2-19 further 2-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-21 prepared for prominent display at Seagoville Elementary School as a 2-22 reminder that great lessons can be carried by small messengers and 2-23 as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of 2-24 Representatives. Tillery _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 240 was adopted by the House on May 31, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House