[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 72 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING GUERNEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT

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                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2010

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Guerneville School 
District on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. The school can trace 
its history to several separate one-room schools in Russian River 
communities in Sonoma County, CA. The earliest was founded in 1860, and 
the last one merged into the Guerneville School District in 1955.
  The direct forerunner of the school opened its doors in the old-time 
logging town of Guerneville on First Street, in a building which now 
houses the Sonoma County Veterans' Memorial Hall. There were four 
classrooms serving students in first through eighth grades. In 1949 the 
school moved to its current location, one mile north on Armstrong Woods 
Road.
  Guerneville School District operates from the Armstrong Woods Road 
site today, although it has gone through many transformations to raise 
it above flood level and to gradually replace the original rooms with 
spacious classrooms, offices, gymnasium, library, and computer lab, as 
well as a modern play yard. Today it houses students in grades K-8.
  But the school's biggest asset is its community of students, parents, 
and staff who work together to create a learning environment that 
addresses the whole student. To achieve this, Guerneville School 
District offers ``a campus that is friendly, safe, and welcoming; a 
district that accepts and is committed to diversity; and an educational 
environment that promotes unity of staff on both professional and 
community levels.''
  The school also works in partnership with the larger community to 
impart a sense of citizenship to the students and secure local support. 
One of its programs, Circle of Sisters, was started as a pilot project 
by St. Joseph Health System to promote the self esteem of middle school 
girls; Circle of Sisters was such a success that it has been replicated 
around the area.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate the Guerneville School District and all 
of its family, friends, alumni, students, and staff as they celebrate 
this momentous occasion. Happy 150th birthday!

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