[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 4, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E873-E874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATIONS TO WILLIAM H. CROCKER SCHOOL ON ITS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE 
             NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL AWARD

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 2005

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the William H. 
Crocker Middle School of Hillsborough, California, located in my 
Congressional district, for its 4th consecutive year as a recipient of 
the National Blue Ribbon Award.
  For the year of 2004, California State Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, Jack O'Connell announced the 33 public and six private 
schools in California selected by United States Secretary of Education 
Rod Paige, as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Blue Ribbon Schools.
  Schools who receive this honor demonstrate excellence in education 
and genuine investment in the value of that education for our children. 
It is my honor to congratulate each and every faculty member and parent 
of Crocker Middle School whose dedication to the education of their 
children indisputably earned Crocker Middle School the honor of being a 
Blue Ribbon School.
  Mr. Speaker, this 21-year old national recognition program sponsored 
by the U.S department of Education encourages states to nominate public 
kindergarten through grade twelve schools that are either academically 
superior or demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement. The 
schools endure a rigorous application process, with success resting 
mostly on test scores, growth, and achievement in reading and math over 
three years. All schools selected as winners met the 2004 Adequate 
Yearly Progress criteria. Additionally, all schools have already been 
named as a California Distinguished School, or meet the qualification 
required to apply for this state awards program.
  On November 5, 2004, Crocker Middle School received the 2004 No Child 
Left Behind National Blue Ribbon Schools Award in Washington D.C. On 
February 7, 2005, I was invited to celebrate this accolade on the 
campus of Crocker. As my two daughters Annette

[[Page E874]]

and Katrina are alumnae of William H. Crocker Middle School, I was 
delighted to be a part of the celebration both as a father of and as a 
Member of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, during my visit to the campus and after spending an 
assembly period with the students, parents and faculty of Crocker, I 
witnessed the immense enthusiasm and spirit this school fortunately 
possesses. As the only middle school in the nation to have received 
this distinction four years in a row, I have no doubt that under the 
leadership of Principal Janet Chun, William H. Crocker Middle School 
will continue to shine.

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