[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E699-E700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING PARENT SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 2010

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
and pay tribute to the contributions of Parent Teacher Associations 
(PTA) and Parent Teacher Student Associations (PTSA) in northern 
Virginia. These associations serve a critical role in helping to 
provide the best possible educational environment for our students.
  Schools located throughout northern Virginia are consistently 
recognized as being among the very best in our country. I strongly 
believe one factor in the excellent education received by our students 
is the high level of involvement and encouragement provided by parents 
through PTAs and PTSAs. Parent volunteers exist in a number of 
capacities within each school ranging from planning and implementing 
social events to helping ensure that teachers have the classroom 
resources they need to succeed.
  The Northern Virginia District PTA represents a region with more than 
220 schools. Maintaining a healthy and strong organization is an 
important part of allowing these groups

[[Page E700]]

to have the greatest possible impact on the students they serve. To 
encourage such strength, it is important to note the individual PTAs 
and PTSAs that excel in this mission as well as the individual 
Volunteers of the Year.
  I am pleased to congratulate the following on being recognized by the 
National PTA and Virginia PTA for 2009-2010 school year:
  $1,000.00 National PTA Healthy Lifestyle Grant: Laurel Hill ES PTA
  $300.00 Virginia PTA Family Fitness Grants: Samuel Tucker ES PTA and 
Haycock ES PTA
  2010 National PTA Phoebe Apperson Hearst Family-School Partnership 
Awards of Merit: Fairview ES PTA, Lake Braddock SS PTA, Mosby Woods ES 
PTA, and White Oaks ES PTA
  2009-2010 Virginia PTA Superior Membership Achievement Awards: Falls 
Church ES PTA, Nottingham ES PTA, Flint Hill ES PTA, and Langley HS 
PTSA
  2009-2010 Virginia PTA Outstanding Membership Achievement Award: 
Peyton Randolph ES PTA
  2009-2010 100 percent Membership Awards: Chesterbrook ES PTA, Falls 
Church ES PTA, Flint Hill ES PTA, Langley HS PTSA, Nottingham ES PTA, 
and Waynewood ES PTA
  2009-2010 New Unit Charters: Cedar Lane School PTSA, Laurel Hill ES 
PTA, Lutie Lewis Coates ES PTA, Drew Model School PTA, and Arlington 
Special Education PTA
  2009 Virginia PTA Volunteer of the Year: Sue Bernstein, Hollin 
Meadows ES PTA
  2010 District Volunteer of the Year Nominees (Secondary): Kathy 
Conrad, Patricia Fausser, John Long, Janet Robinson and Greg Brandon.
  2010 District Volunteer of the Year Nominees (Elementary): Karen 
Hildebrand, Teresa Willebeek-Lemair, Jenniefer Schantz, Jana Hollis, 
Ellen Giblin, Jill Chastain and Christa Soltis.
  Congratulations to Sue Bernstein for being named the 2009 Volunteer 
of the Year and best of luck to the 2010 Volunteer of the Year 
Nominees.
  A special note of appreciation is deserved by the following 
individuals for their service as elected officers of the Northern 
Virginia PTA Executive Board as they complete their term in office; 
District Director Debbie Kilpatrick, 1st Asst. District Director Nina 
Austin, 2nd Asst. Director Rob Horvath, Secretary Angela Nesley and 
Treasurer Donald Cantwell. Thank you and those who serve as Committee 
Chairs for your tireless efforts during the 2008-2010 term in office.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognizing the 
outstanding achievements of the individuals and the PTA/PTSA 
organizations being recognized. Dedicated involvement from so many 
parents reflects a strong commitment to public education and community 
service that students in our schools are fortunate to experience. I 
offer my strong support for these organizations and their dedicated 
volunteers.

                          ____________________