[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 20 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DENT MIDDLE SCHOOL

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                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 1998

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dent Middle 
School for being honored with the Palmetto's Finest award. This award 
is giving annually to four schools in my home State of South Carolina 
for excellence in an educational facility. It is sponsored by the 
Carolina First bank and the S.C. Association of School Administrators.
  As a former high school history teacher, I congratulate them with 
heartfelt pride for the work that is being done at Dent Middle School. 
Under the leadership of principal Cheryl Washington, a personal friend, 
Dent was chosen based on factors including how they teach, what classes 
they offer and how well the school interacts with parents and the local 
community. Site visits are also made by the judges, who comprise a team 
of educators representing schools that have won the award previously. 
Schools may win this prestigious award only once.
  Dent Middle School, located in the Midlands area of the Sixth 
Congress District, is a unique school that represents the diverse 
population of my district very well. Dent has not only an economically, 
but also racially, diverse student body of 1,200. Students come from 
affluent suburban areas, lower-income apartment communities and nearby 
Fort Jackson. Students also come from across Richland District 2 for a 
magnet program housed at Dent. The magnet program, The Learning 
Cooperative, offers a longer school day, smaller teacher to student 
ratios, and challenging subjects for approximately 240 students from 
across the school district.
  Aside from the magnet program, Dent offers an after-school tutoring 
program, study sessions and help with homework for students who need 
extra assistance. They also offer a program called ALERTS who offer 
special challenges for academically talented students.
  Aside from being chosen as one of the Palmetto's Finest, Dent Middle 
School is a finalist for the Blue Ribbon School award given by the U.S. 
Department of Education. The other schools in South Carolina chosen as 
Palmetto's Finest are Riverside High in Greenville County, Reidville 
Elementary in Spartanburg County and Shell Point Elementary in Beaufort 
County. All four of the Palmetto's Finest schools will be honored by 
Governor David Beasley and state Superintendent of Education Barbara 
Nielsen at a March 10 gala in Columbia.
  Principal Washington says the awards bestowed on Dent aren't won 
easily and it takes the ``commitment of everyone here, the 
collaboration of everyone working together.'' It is obvious that Dent 
Middle School is indeed very committed to meeting the needs of an 
extremely diverse student body and has proficiently collaborated their 
efforts so that each student gets the educational attention they 
deserve. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join with me in paying tribute to 
Dent Middle School, with congratulations to Ms. Cheryl Washington; two 
of the Palmetto State's Finest.

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