[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E560]]
                       MARCH SCHOOL OF THE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 25, 2003

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have named Oceanside High 
School in the Oceanside School District as School of the Month in the 
Fourth Congressional District for March 2003.
  The principal of Oceanside High School is Dorie Ciulla, the vice-
principal is Robert Ledlie and the Superintendent of Schools is Herb 
Brown. Oceanside High School has over 1600 students in grades 9-12 and 
over 140 staff members. The school philosophy is ``Know Thoroughly, 
Think Critically, Act Ethically.''
  I chose Oceanside High School because its Participation in Government 
program for High School Seniors stands out among the other district 
high schools. Oceanside's seniors are encouraged to get involved in 
government by learning not only about our nation's history, but by 
studying our country's evolving public policy and set of laws, and the 
importance of community service.
  Oceanside High School seniors can enroll in a variety of 
Participation in Government classes. Students with teacher or 
chairperson recommendations can enroll in Advanced Placement American 
Government, a college level course that features an in-depth curriculum 
covering the basic institutions of United States government.
  Students who enroll in Community Volunteer Service get a dual 
curriculum, where they spend three days per week studying the issues 
faced by our local, state and federal government, and two class periods 
a week doing volunteer work in hospitals, nursing homes, elementary 
schools, political offices and day care centers. Completion of the 
course leaves students with first hand knowledge of the problems 
discussed in class.
  Oceanside seniors have one other Participation in Government option: 
Public Policy and the Law. This class focuses on the political side of 
government, by teaching students the nature of politics, how politics 
relates to decision-making, and the formulation of public policy on 
local, state and federal levels. Students learn the process by 
participating in mock trials, town meetings and public hearings.
  The Participation in Government classes converge to hold an annual 
Human Relations Day. On March 19, over 50 speakers were invited to 
address Oceanside students on a variety of topics, ranging from 
violence prevention to AIDS awareness to civil liberties to poverty on 
Long Island. The event provided the students with in-depth discussions 
of particular issues that they felt were of importance.
  Human Relations Day is a unique and wonderful way for our students to 
be involved in current events. It shows that the classes in which the 
students are enrolled are truly successful in motivating the students 
to get involved in many public policy issues and matters of national 
concern.
  I am proud to name Oceanside High School the school of the month for 
March 2003.

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