[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 71 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1024-E1025]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING KITTATINNY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 1998

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Kittatinny Regional 
High School on receiving the U.S. Department of Education's prestigious 
Blue Ribbon Schools Award.
  This award recognizes that Kittatinny Regional High School is one of 
the finest schools in our entire nation. This proves that public 
education works and that our young people in Sussex County are among 
the best and brightest. This accomplishment is the result of hard work 
on the part of students, their parents, teachers and the Board of 
Education. Special congratulations go to Principal Susan Kappler, 
Superintendent of Schools Robert Walker and English teacher Carol 
Fishbone, who helped Mrs. Kappler shepherd the Blue Ribbon application. 
As a former teacher and school board member, I am proud of everyone 
associated with this accomplishment.
  Of the thousands of middle schools and high schools across the United 
States, only 166 this year were found to be outstanding enough to 
receive this high honor. Recipients of the Blue Ribbon Schools Award 
have been judged particularly effective at meeting local, state and 
national goals. The award is presented to schools that have shown 
strong leadership, a clear vision and sense of mission, high quality 
teaching, challenging curriculum, a safe environment for learning, 
solid evidence of family involvement, evidence that the school helps 
all students achieve high standards, and a commitment to share best 
practices with other schools. These schools clearly display the quality 
of excellence necessary to prepare our young people for the challenges 
of the next century.
  Kittatinny Regional High School is located on 95 acres in Hampton 
Township and offers its 1,100 seventh-through-twelfth-grade students a 
modern physical plant designed for learning. It includes more than 50 
classrooms, nine science labs, six computer labs, a media center, two 
gymnasiums, cafeteria, main office, superintendent's office, a pool and 
eight athletic fields. A computer network has been installed throughout 
the building. Each classroom has a telephone, at least one computer and 
a video connection. The computer labs offer facilities ranging from 
word processing to presentation software.
  An outstanding physical plant is, of course, worthless without an 
excellent teaching staff and Kittatinny's teachers have been recognized 
as some of the best in New Jersey. Special education teacher Lynn 
Bishop and speech coordinator Marie Decker this year jointly received 
the state Department of Education's Best Practice Award. Social studies 
teacher Ellen Kolonoski received a grant from the National Geographic 
Society Education Foundation and sociology teacher Pamela Bilby was 
chosen to participate in the Belfer National Conference for Education 
held by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. English teacher Mary Jane 
Westra was the 1997 Kittatinny Teacher of the Year and received the 
Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Newton Rotary. Computer assisted 
drafting teacher Bill Meyer was the 1997 New Jersey Technology Teacher 
of the Year and received the 1996 Distinguished Alumni Award from the 
College of New Jersey. These are just a few of Kittatinny's award-
winning teachers and I offer my apologies to those I've left out.
  The school offers a wide variety of courses in English, mathematics, 
science, social studies, history, foreign languages, fine arts, 
technology, creative arts, health, physical education and business. 
Many of the courses are given credit by Sussex County Community 
College. A strong emphasis is placed on honors courses and advanced 
placement courses. A successful school-to-career program helps prepare 
non-college-bound students for direct entry into the workforce.
  The excellence of Kittatinny's academic program has been repeatedly 
recognized. Last year, it was selected as one of 10 ``Star Schools'' in 
New Jersey. It has received several ``Best Practices'' awards in New 
Jersey.

[[Page E1025]]

Mock trial and other academic teams have earned state championship 
titles and athletic teams have produced championship titles at county, 
regional and state levels.
  Management style at Kittatinny emphasizes collaborative decision-
making, site-based management and teacher/staff empowerment. Committees 
deal with current and future needs of the school and allow the faculty 
to have a voice in changes in policy.
  Kittatinny students are well prepared by their teachers, parents and 
role models in the community. They can rest assured they will be able 
to handle whatever challenges they choose in life. Once again, 
congratulations to everyone involved in this impressive achievement.

                          ____________________