[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 78 (Thursday, June 13, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   WHITESIDE SCHOOL NAMED AS NATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING LEADER SCHOOL

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                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 2002

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in honoring the Whiteside School District in Belleville, Illinois 
which is one of 16 schools in the United States to serve as a 2002 
National Service-Learning Leader School. This honor demonstrates the 
school's strong commitment to service-learning in its curriculum.
  Whiteside has undertaken many projects which demonstrate its 
exceptional efforts in service. Students at the school have created a 
garden area, an outdoor science lab and a pond, including a fountain 
and fish. Also, sixth-grade students at the school have converted a 
courtyard into an outdoor classroom and put new landscaping in the 
area.
  The children have restored the Whiteside Cemetery, which had been 
abandoned and vandalized. In addition, they have done genealogical 
research on the people who are buried in the cemetery and have 
published an extensive Whiteside family history. They are taking 
photographs of other Civil War gravesites in St. Clair County, and they 
are in the process of putting together a web site that will include the 
genealogical information and other Civil War information. The students 
have assembled a CD-ROM that will be sent to the Library of Congress.
  The teachers and administrators at Whiteside have been a great asset 
for these children, as they have combined service and education in a 
way that is fun and creative. There are 412 students in 5th through 8th 
grade at the school, and they have all been involved with service-
learning projects. The children have not only found a new enthusiasm 
for their education, but they have performed valuable work for the 
community as well.
  Whiteside continues to make a significant contribution to 
Southwestern Illinois and the entire nation, Mr. Speaker, I urge my 
colleagues to join me in expressing appreciation to the Whiteside 
School District for its dedication to service.

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