[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5112-S5113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO STONEWALL JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I 
rise today to pay tribute to the accomplishments of Stonewall Jackson 
High School, in Manassas, VA. Stonewall Jackson has been named Time 
magazine's High School of the Year and is featured in the May 21, 2001 
issue.
  Time's Schools of the Year were judged on their approaches to the 
most pressing challenges in education; educating children of the poor; 
consolidating schools in rural areas; making effective use of 
technology in teaching; and getting parents and communities

[[Page S5113]]

involved in the education of their children.
  I firmly believe that strong parental involvement is a cornerstone 
for academic success--for it is parents who know the special needs of 
their own children. Steve Constantino, principal of Stonewall Jackson, 
believes this also. To increase parental involvement at the high 
school, Mr. Constantino and his staff planned to put resources in the 
hands of those who know best how to improve the education of their 
children, parents. He first removed the counter in the main office to 
welcome parents and make them feel more comfortable.
  But Mr. Constantino and the faculty went a step further by putting in 
place a program called ParentLink. Through a website and voicemail 
system, parents can receive up-to-date information regarding their 
child's grades, homework, attendance, and even the details about what 
was being taught that day in the classroom. Bridging the communication 
gap between parents, students, and staff extends beyond ParentLink to 
the community. Stonewall Jackson accommodates working parents' 
schedules by holding Saturday morning events and by encouraging parents 
to make evening use of the school's resources on college and career 
options.
  While increasing parental involvement in education, Stonewall Jackson 
has also vigorously challenged its students through the International 
Baccalaureate Diploma program, a rigorous academic program based on 
international perspectives, an enriched curriculum, community 
involvement, and written and oral communication skills. An I.B. degree 
is often regarded as superior to the completion of advanced placement 
courses, and about 45 percent of the student body at Stonewall Jackson 
are enrolled in I.B. courses, with 86 percent scoring four or better on 
a five-point scale.
  Over the period of 1995-1999, SAT scores at Stonewall Jackson have 
risen 61 points; the school has reduced the disparity between minority 
and non-minority scores by 18 percent; the dropout rate has decreased 
from 11 percent to 3 percent; and parent satisfaction has risen from 34 
percent in 1995 to 59 percent in 1999.
  I also would like to take this opportunity to personally congratulate 
Mr. Constantino on being named Prince William County Public School's 
``Principal of the Year'' for 2001, as well as receiving The Washington 
Post's ``Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.'' I also want to 
extend the highest commendation and congratulations to the teachers, 
faculty, and parents of Stonewall Jackson High School for their 
outstanding performance in educating our children and preparing them to 
thrive in the 21st Century. And last, but certainly not least, to the 
students of Stonewall Jackson; I salute you on the floor of the United 
States Senate, because without you, none of this would be possible.
  As we all know, today's youth are tomorrow's leaders, and schools 
such as Stonewall Jackson are paving the way to a prepared and 
intelligent generation. Stonewall Jackson High School is an inspiration 
to everyone in the community of Manassas, the Commonwealth of Virginia, 
and the United States of America, and should take great pride in the 
honor this recognition represents.

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