[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 53 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         WASHINGTON 8TH DISTRICT SCHOOLS NOTED AS NATION'S BEST

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                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2006

  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
tremendous students, teachers and administrators at Newport High 
School, Interlake High School, Bellevue High School, International High 
School and Sammamish High School, all located in Bellevue, Washington. 
These schools were named to Newsweek magazine's list of `` America's 
Best High Schools.''
  For the second year in a row, three high schools in Bellevue were in 
the top 50--Newport is ranked 37th, Interlake is ranked 44th and 
Bellevue is ranked 49th. The International School in Bellevue is ranked 
57th, up from 160th last year. Sammamish of Bellevue is ranked 186th.
  Sincere congratulations to: Newport High School's Principal, Patty 
Siegwarth and Assistant Principals, James Peterson and Bethany Spinler 
and the Knights; Interlake High School's Principal, Sharon Collins and 
Assistant Principals, Eric Cochran and Keith Schacht and the Saints; 
Bellevue High School's Principal, Mike Bacigalupi and Assistant 
Principals, Doug Sovde and Johnnie Gregory and the Wolverines; 
International High School's Principal, Peter Bang-Knudsen, and 
International's student body; and Sammamish High School's Principal, 
Spencer Welch and Assistant Principals, Laura Bang-Knudsen, Jennifer 
Rose and Andrea Pfeifer and the Totems.
  Newsweek determines its ranking based on the number of Advanced 
Placement and International Baccalaureate tests taken by all of the 
schools' students in 2005. These tests are the best measure of overall 
college readiness, according to Newsweek.
  Newsweek noted the schools for Creating Good Citizens, Celebrating 
Liberal Arts, Preparing Students for Work, Emphasizing Science and 
Technology and Reaching Out to Everyone as well.
  I am filled with pride for these students and teachers, that their 
dedication to their educations has distinguished them from others. 
Their accomplishments are noteworthy, but their drive to get where they 
are--the countless hours of preparation it entailed--is the real 
accomplishment. Juma Ikangaa, a Tanzanian marathon runner once said 
about preparing for marathons, ``The will to win means nothing without 
the will to prepare.''
  Teachers and administrators at Newport High School, Interlake High 
School, Bellevue High School, International High School and Sammamish 
High School have prepared students not just for college with an 
outstanding high school education, but for life with a real lesson that 
will serve them well--real accomplishments take time and sustained 
effort to achieve. They do not happen overnight. They do not come easy. 
They are often impeded by unsuccessful attempts. These schools, 
students, teachers and administrators have demonstrated the philosophy 
Aristotle spoke of when he said, ``We are what we repeatedly do. 
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.'' Don't break the habit.

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