[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATIONS TO SISTER M. JOSEPH BARDEN UPON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVE WELDON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 2000

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on June 30, 2000, Sister M. 
Joseph Barden will be retiring after twenty-nine years of faithful 
service to an entire generation of America's youth. Since 1971 Sister 
Joseph has led Ascension Catholic School, in Melbourne, Florida as its 
principal.
  Since beginning her commitment to educating children in Catholic 
schools while living in Ardee, Ireland in 1957, Sister Joseph has 
touched the lives and influenced the hearts and minds of thousands of 
children.
  During her tenure at Ascension School, enrollment nearly tripled. 
Sister Joseph oversaw the renovation and construction of a brand new 
educational facility, and assisted the school in receiving initial 
accreditation in 1973 and continuing accreditation three more times.
  In 1985, the school received the ``Exemplary School Award'' from the 
United States Department of Education, while she continued to help and 
encourage her students to receive many local, state, and national 
awards. She initialized prekindergarten classes and ``Extended Care 
Programs,'' to increase the positive role that religious instruction 
and educational excellence has on our nation's youth. Sister Joseph 
enabled teachers and staff to offer at least twenty-four extra-
curricular programs serving about four hundred students, encouraging 
them to use their special God given gifts and talents. Because of 
Sister Joseph, Ascension remains a school of excellence.
  The thousands of students, parents, faculty, and staff, as well as 
the general public, whose lives she touched, owe Sister Joseph a debt 
of gratitude. After nearly three decades of service, I want to extend 
my congratulations and best wishes to Sister Joseph Barden on her 
retirement from the school.
  God has richly blessed Sister Joseph's work, and I pray that He 
continues to bless her in her future service.

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