[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 24, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  RECOGNIZING ELIOT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, today, I commend Eliot Elementary 
School of Eliot, ME, on being named a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School 
of Excellence. This prestigious recognition of high accomplishment was 
bestowed by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
  Created in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Award is considered the 
highest honor an American school can obtain. Schools singled out for 
this national recognition reflect the goals of our Nation's education 
reforms for high standards and accountability. Specifically, the Blue 
Ribbon Schools Program is designed to honor public and private schools 
that are either academically superior in their States or that 
demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.
  This award recognizes that Eliot Elementary students achieve at the 
highest level academically. Eliot Elementary School is a top-performing 
school on State-required assessments, and staff at the school use 
assessments throughout the academic year as a tool for improving and 
customizing instruction. The school works closely with families to 
forge a strong school community where students are connected and 
encouraged to pursue their interests.
  I applaud not only the students but also the administrators, 
teachers, staff, and parents of Eliot Elementary School. Together, they 
are succeeding in their mission to generate excitement and momentum for 
learning. They are making a difference in the lives of their students, 
helping them reach their full potential as independent, responsible 
learners and citizens.
  I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Education has selected Eliot 
Elementary School for this well-deserved honor, and I congratulate the 
communities of Eliot and South Berwick for this outstanding 
achievement.

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