[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5498-S5499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               50TH ANNIVERSARY OF PLEASANT VALLEY SCHOOL

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I wish today to honor Pleasant 
Valley Elementary School in South Windsor, CT. Pleasant Valley, or 
``PV'' as it is affectionately referred to by many in South Windsor, 
will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this June. To mark this 
momentous occasion, I feel it is fitting to reflect back on all this 
school has done for its students and its community.
  Pleasant Valley's motto is ``Pleasant Valley School, a place to 
learn, to grow, and to care,'' and many of the students, parents, and 
faculty that have been involved with the school would attest that it 
has more than succeeded in creating such an environment. For 50 years, 
Pleasant Valley has helped the children of South Windsor develop a love 
of learning and discovery while instilling in them the skills and work 
ethic needed to succeed in South Windsor's excellent secondary schools.
  When Pleasant Valley first opened in September 1958, it taught grades 
one through eight. While it was tough managing a large group of kids 
with such large age differences, those who attended or worked at the 
school during this time fondly recall basketball games, spelling bees, 
school plays, dedicated teachers, and, of course, friendships that 
would last a lifetime. Eventually, Pleasant Valley would become 
responsible for teaching students in kindergarten up to the fifth 
grade, and would always remain a vibrant, innovative place of learning.
  Over the years, Pleasant Valley's staff has consistently launched 
inspired new initiatives designed to connect with their students. In 
1981, PV started the Read at Home Program, which was put together to 
encourage students to read on their own. The theme for the program's 
first year was ``footsteps to reading,'' which allowed students to post 
a paper foot on the school's walls for every book they read. By the end 
of the year, students had

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managed to cover almost the entire school, including the principal's 
office. In 1989, the school established the Special Friends Program--
the first in South Windsor--to provide a safe setting, counseling, and 
friendship to at-risk students and those students experiencing sudden 
changes in their lives.
  In the 1990-1991 school year, Nancy Mason, the school nurse, and 
Priscilla Spencer, the school's gym teacher, introduced an inventive 
project designed to teach students about both geography and physical 
fitness. The students were told that the school's mascot--Popcorn the 
Panther--was going to take a walking trip across the United States in 
which he would travel a mile for every mile that each student walked or 
ran. For the rest of the year, students were required to walk or run at 
least half a mile during every recess period and were encouraged to 
walk more. Prizes were given to the class and grade that contributed 
the most miles to Popcorn's journey. Throughout the year, teachers 
would have friends and family members who lived around the country send 
postcards ``from Popcorn'' so that students could see the fruits of 
their efforts and learn about various regions of the country. This 
successful program concluded with a large welcome home ceremony at the 
end of the school year, with several students joining Popcorn, played 
ably by an older student, for his final walk back to school.
  At a time when much of our focus is understandably on improving 
schools that are not living up to standards, it is important to take 
time out to recognize those schools that have consistently provided a 
quality education to their students and that are constantly striving to 
find new ways to inspire students to reach new heights. For 50 years, 
Pleasant Valley School of South Windsor, CT, has been one of these 
schools; providing students with the ideal setting in which to develop 
their abilities, meet friends, and cultivate new interests. It truly is 
a place to learn, to grow, and to care. I congratulate all of Pleasant 
Valley's students, alumni, faculty, parents, and volunteers on a 
remarkable 50 years and look forward to seeing how they tackle the 
challenges of the future. Their dedication is truly an inspiration and 
should serve as an example to us all.

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