[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 51 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING THE WEQUONNOC SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 1998

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a school 
in my district, the Wequonnoc School of Norwich, Connecticut. On May 
5th of 1998, the Wequonnoc School will receive a national award for 
excellence through the Title I Recognition Program at the International 
Reading Association Annual Convention.
  Only two schools in Connecticut and one hundred and nine schools 
around the nation will receive the Title I Recognition Award. I am 
proud of Wequonnoc's membership in this elite group. This is especially 
commendable considering the special challenges Wequonnoc faces in 
Norwich. Just 39 percent of Wequonnoc's students attended preschool, 
compared with 55 percent of Norwich's students and 69 percent of the 
state's students. Wequonnoc clearly proves that every student can 
succeed in an excellent school.
  Wequonnoc has maintained its high educational standard by encouraging 
strong family participation in the educational process.
  Continuing their good work, the school is studying new parent 
empowerment strategies in an effort to involve even more parents in 
their children's education.
  In 1994 Wequonnoc initiated a Family Resource Center that offers a 
wide range of services including year round preschool and school-aged 
child care, adult education, and a variety of other services. These 
services are essential if we are going to make it possible for young 
people to be successful in life.
  Wequonnoc is ultimately successful because the administration, 
teachers, students and families take education seriously and are 
willing to work hard to help all of their students succeed.
  The Wequonnoc School is a model for the nation in how to educate 
students from every background. I congratulate the students, teachers, 
families and administrators of Wequonnoc for their tremendous work in 
educating the young people of Connecticut.