[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 107 (Tuesday, September 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      JOHNSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, today I honor Johnsville Elementary 
School, in Blaine, MN, which recently earned an Award for Excellence in 
Education for its exceptional and innovative achievements in educating 
children.
  Johnsville Elementary School is truly a model of educational success. 
The school has developed a wide variety of programs to meet the 
learning needs of all children. Unlike many elementary schools, which 
offer only three or four break-out curricula, Johnsville has built art, 
music, library, technology, and physical education into the school-day 
curriculum. A talent development program provides enrichment reading, 
math, creative writing, and science for the more advanced learners. A 
targeted services program offers extended-day instruction in reading 
and math for pupils who are struggling.
  At Johnsville, those kindergarten children who have already begun to 
read and write can participate in an advanced reader program. In 
addition, for 2 consecutive years, a Johnsville kindergartner has won 
the Anoka Hennepin District's Anti-Bullying Kindergarten Poster 
Contest. This year's winner was Jake Taylor.
  The school is also very proud of its choir programs, including an 
honors choir program, and its Fine Arts Festival, where everyone 
displays at least one project.
  The Anoka-Hennepin School District has also established a teacher 
with outstanding performance, TOP, recognition program so that parents 
can nominate deserving teachers. Seven of Johnsville's teachers have 
received the award.
  Parents' support for the school is reflected in the 98 percent parent 
participation rate in parent-teacher conferences. Johnsville also 
provides opportunities to involve parents in all aspects of the school 
day.
  In the spirit of community service, this year Johnsville participated 
in a special fund-raiser for people affected by Hurricane Katrina, 
raising $2,700 for St. John's School in Louisiana.
  Johnsville's principal, Mr. Patrick Murray, was recently recognized 
with a division leadership award from the Minnesota Elementary School 
Principals' Association.
  In 2005, the school received a three-star rating in math and a four-
star rating in reading. This is an improvement over the two-star rating 
in reading the school received in 2004.
  Much of the credit for Johnsville Elementary School's success belongs 
to its principal, Mr. Patrick Murray, and the dedicated teachers and 
staff. The pupils and staff at Johnsville Elementary School understand 
that, in order to be successful, a school must go beyond achieving 
academic success; it must also provide a nurturing environment where 
children can develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for success 
throughout life. All of the faculty, staff, and children at Johnsville 
Elementary School should be very proud of their accomplishments.
  I congratulate Johnsville Elementary School in Blaine for winning the 
Award for Excellence in Education and for its exceptional contributions 
to education in Minnesota.

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