[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 111 (Tuesday, September 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL WINNER

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2000

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Scripps 
Ranch High School in Scripps Ranch and its leaders, Principal, David 
LeMay and Superintendent, Alan Bersin. Scripps Ranch has been 
designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Bule 
Ribbon School for 2000. I am proud to inform my colleagues that my 
district had an amazing record of eleven schools selected for that 
prestigious honor this year. I would also like to note that the Academy 
of Our Lady of Peace right outside my district in San Diego County was 
also named a Blue Ribbon School. I applaud the educators, students and 
communities in each of the San Diego County schools who pulled together 
in pursuit of educational excellence.
  Blue Ribbon Schools are recognized as some of the nation's most 
successful institutions, and they are exemplary models for achieving 
educational excellence throughout the nation. Not only have they 
demonstrated excellence in academic leadership, teaching and teacher 
development, and school curriculum, but they have demonstrated 
exceptional levels of community and parental involvement, high student 
achievement levels and strong safety and discipline.
  After schools are nominated by state education agencies for the Blue 
Ribbon award, they undergo a rigorous review of their programs, plans 
and activities. That is followed with visits by educational experts for 
evaluation. Ultimately, those schools which best demonstrate strong 
leadership, clear vision and mission, excellent teaching and 
curriculum, policies and practices that keep the schools safe for 
learning, family involvement and evidence of high standards are 
selected for this prestigious award. I am pleased that they are now 
receiving the national recognition they are due.
  As school and community leaders head to Washington for the Department 
of Education awards ceremony, I want to thank them once again for a job 
well done. More satisfying than any award, these leaders will have the 
lifelong satisfaction of having provided the best education possible 
and a better future for thousands of children. I am proud of what they 
have achieved, and want to share their achievements so that more people 
benefit from their accomplishments. I ask that a summary of Scripps 
Ranch High School's superior work be included in the record:
  Scripps Ranch High School, San Diego, California, opened in 1993, 
modeling its curriculum on Second to None: A Vision of the New 
California High School, the 1992 report from the California State 
Department of Education Task Force. Strong academics, modern 
technology, a wide variety of electives, block scheduling, advisory 
periods, and the integration of academic and career curricula are 
Second to None fundamentals and the foundation of the learning 
environment at Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS). An innovative and 
quality staff presently serves an ethnically diverse 2,063 student 
population.
  All students participate in a 23-minute CORE (Career Opportunities, 
Reading, and Exhibitions) advisory period that meets two days each 
week. The CORE period is used to mentor students, promote school-to-
career activities, and to advance literacy through reading. Staff 
members keep the same CORE students throughout their high school years. 
Because of this continual mentoring in a 25 to 1 ratio, each student 
has a link to a staff member who knows and cares about them and can 
refer them for assistance when a need arises. The heart and soul of 
SRHS lies in its staff. Their dedication to teaching and students is 
obvious to anyone who visits a classroom or attends an extracurricular 
event. Teachers not only sponsor clubs and coach teams, they attend and 
support student events and activities throughout the school year. This 
school began with pride in its foundations, continues to build on its 
reputation of excellence, and is ever ready to enhance its programs to 
benefit the students that it serves.

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