[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        ST. GEORGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN I.S.S.E.

                                 ______


                          HON. THOMAS J. RIDGE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 1994

  Mr. RIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform the members of the House of 
Representatives about the participation of the St. George Elementary 
School in Erie, Pennsylvania and the Rowville Primary School in 
Rowville, Victoria, Australia in the International School-to-School 
Exchange (I.S.S.E.) program this summer. St. George Elementary School 
is the first school in Pennsylvania to become involved in this very 
exciting international exchange. It is a unique student-teacher 
exchange program because it is the only one which involves eleven year 
olds and makes them Junior Ambassadors for the state of Pennsylvania 
and the United States of America.
  The objective of the ISSE is ``to allow elementary students to 
interact with and learn from other children of the world, thereby 
fostering peace and understanding on a global basis.'' This is a goal 
that all of us around the world should work toward every day of our 
lives and one which the students, faculty, parents and administration 
of the St. George Elementary School and Rowville Primary School are 
putting into practice.
  On June 9, 1994 seven 6th grade students and two teachers will travel 
to Rowville, Victoria where these students will live with a host family 
and attend school and other functions. They will be there until July 8, 
1994 before traveling back to the United States. The teachers are Ms. 
Heidi Arnold and Ms. Donna Volk. The students are Stephanie DePlacido, 
Amanda Hale, Gregory Kress, Laura Lochbaum, Terra Smith, Alexandra 
Swonder and Chris Tingley.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to wish these young ambassadors well on their 
journey half way around the world. I know that they will strengthen the 
bonds of friendship that this country enjoys with Australia and, in 
particular, with the young students at Rowville. I know that they will 
make lasting friendships and they will learn new ways of looking at the 
world around them. I am very proud to be able to represent these fine 
young people and teachers as their Congressman from the 21st 
Congressional District of Pennsylvania in the United States House of 
Representatives.

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