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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The students, faculty, and staff of Walnut Hill |
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Elementary School in Dallas are celebrating the school's 100th |
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anniversary on April 8, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, This venerable educational institution can trace |
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its origins back to 1916, when local farmers constructed a |
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three-room brick schoolhouse just north of Dallas on a mowed wheat |
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field; the student body eventually outgrew the schoolhouse, and a |
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new building was constructed in 1937; still in use today, the |
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structure features distinctive Spanish mission architecture, |
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including red-tile roofs and arched doorways, as well as a |
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courtyard butterfly garden with a variety of native plants; and |
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WHEREAS, Part of the Dallas Independent School District since |
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1945, Walnut Hill serves more than 350 students in early education |
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programs through fifth grade; the dedicated faculty and staff, |
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under the able guidance of principal Robert Mclaurin, lead a number |
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of significant initiatives and activities, such as Destination |
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Imagination, STEM Scouts, and a two-way dual-language immersion |
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program, which promotes bilingualism, academic achievement, and |
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positive cross-cultural attitudes by placing native English and |
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Spanish speakers in the same classroom; and |
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WHEREAS, For the 2016-2017 school year, Walnut Hill earned a |
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"met standard" rating and five academic distinction designations |
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from the Texas Education Agency; among the many other accolades |
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bestowed on the school in recent years are an A+ rating from |
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Children at Risk, a place on the PTA National President's List, a |
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National Excellence in Urban Education Award, and a Counselors |
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Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Ever since Walnut Hill first opened its doors, its |
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faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to provide its students |
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the best educational opportunities possible, and in so doing, they |
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have equipped multiple generations of Texans with the knowledge and |
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skills necessary to build a brighter future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Walnut Hill |
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Elementary School and extend to all those in attendance sincere |
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best wishes for a meaningful and memorable event; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the school as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |