[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1117-E1118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CHELTENHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, McKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THOMAS 
  FITZWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE WINNERS OF THE BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS 
                                 AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 1999

  Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
efforts of three elementary schools in Pennsylvania's Thirteenth 
Congressional District, which I am proud to represent.
  On behalf of the entire Montgomery County community, I congratulate 
these schools for winning a national competition to earn recognition as 
Blue Ribbon Schools of excellence. The U.S. Department of Education 
recently named Cheltenham Elementary School in Cheltenham, 
Pennsylvania; McKinley Elementary School in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; 
and Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania as 
1998-1999 winners of the prestigious Blue Ribbon Schools Award.
  The Blue Ribbon Schools Program was established by the U.S. Secretary 
of Education in 1982 with three goals in mind: identify and recognize 
outstanding public and private schools across the United States, offer 
a comprehensive framework of key criteria for school effectiveness, and 
facilitate the sharing of best practices among schools. Over the years, 
the program has developed a reputation of offering a powerful tool for 
school improvement in addition to providing recognition.
  Before winning the national Blue Ribbon Schools Award, Cheltenham, 
McKinley, and Thomas Fitzwater Elementary Schools all were named as 
Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon schools and were nominated for national 
recognition by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Each school 
had to work very hard to earn the Blue Ribbon status, going through a 
demanding self-assessment experience that involved the entire school 
community, including students, teachers, parents, administrators, and 
business leaders.
  Each of these schools have been judged particularly effective in 
meeting local, state, and national goals. In addition, each school 
displayed strong leadership, clear vision and a sense of mission shared 
by the entire school

[[Page E1118]]

community, high quality teaching, challenging and up-to-date 
curriculum, policies that ensure a safe environment conducive to 
learning, family involvement, and equity in education to assure that 
all students are helped to achieve high standards.
  Blue Ribbon schools do not rest on their laurels. Each is committed 
to sharing best practices with other schools, and to helping to 
identify their strengths and weaknesses.
  Special congratulations are due to Cheltenham Elementary School for 
designing a curriculum that encourages students to research their 
community. Cheltenham students take field trips to historic homes, the 
police station, the township building, the library, and the local 
judge. Their learning also makes the students aware of needs of the 
less fortunate through activities such as providing food baskets and 
visits to nursing homes. As a result of these projects, Cheltenham 
students have gathered money to build a wall for a school in Ecuador 
and to purchase materials for a school devastated by a hurricane in 
Florida. They have also written letters to governments officials on 
behalf of a Native American group. Cheltenham students are learning 
civic responsibility at a young age.
  McKinley Elementary School has demonstrated excellence in creating a 
safe school environment. The McKinley community understands that 
academic success can only grow in a violence-free class-rooms, and has 
been a leader in these issues. They have taken a proactive approach to 
violence prevention by developing non-violent conflict resolution 
strategies, peer mediation program, parenting workshops, and school and 
police collaboration. The importance of McKinley's work in this area 
has been underscored by recent tragedies in schools across the nation.
  Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School has taken special steps to meet 
the needs of all students. This commitment to have every child 
experience success is exemplified by the programs and accomplishments 
such as Thomas Fitzwater's Support One Student initiative, a child 
advocacy program to assist at-risk students. Each identified student is 
matched with a volunteer staff member. These members include 
professional, custodial, secretarial, and cafeteria staff. Regular 
personal contact by caring and supportive staff member promotes a 
positive environment and guides the student away from inappropriate and 
possibly destructive behavior. Another example of Thomas Fitzwater's 
inclusive policies is the collaboration between the Montgomery County 
Intermediate Unit special education classes and the regular education 
classes in our school. Throughout the county, the Intermediate Unit 
provides classes for children with low-incidence handicaps. Four of 
these classes are housed in Thomas Fitzwater's school building. Regular 
education children assist in these classes and are very sensitive to 
these exceptional children's needs. As a result of this collaboration, 
many special education students have been integrated into regular 
education classes. McKinley sets the bar high with its motto, ``Success 
for All Students,'' and every school in the country should endeavor to 
meet this standard.

                          ____________________