[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 20, 2019

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
an outstanding school in my district that is being honored for the 
second time as a National Blue Ribbon School. It is a pleasure to 
congratulate Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Indianapolis, Indiana, 
in celebration of this special occasion.
  The National Blue Ribbon designation, given by the United States 
Department of Education, is awarded to both public and private schools 
across our great nation. Started by President Reagan and given annually 
since 1982, the award celebrates great American schools that achieve 
very high learning standards or are making significant improvements in 
the academic achievements of their students. In my district and across 
the country, the award recognizes the great educators, students, and 
parents who have worked so hard to ensure our children reach their full 
potential and achieve academic success.
  For all of these reasons and many more, I am very proud that 
Immaculate Heart of Mary School is receiving this prestigious 
designation. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the school's 
commitment to providing young Hoosiers an exceptional education. While 
hundreds of schools nationwide were nominated, only 362 schools were 
designated as 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools. Of the 362 schools, 
Immaculate Heart was one of 12 Indiana schools to receive recognition, 
making this recognition all the more impressive. Furthermore, this is 
the second time the Warriors of Immaculate Heart have been named a 
prestigious Blue Ribbon school, achieving this designation also in 
2005. Under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the 
leadership of Principal Ronda Swartz, Immaculate Heart has become a 
beacon of educational excellence.
  Immaculate Heart of Mary School is committed to providing a nurturing 
environment for the intellectual, physical, and social development of 
each child. As a Catholic institution it has been the mission of the 
Immaculate Heart of Mary School to provide an exceptional academic 
experience grounded in making God known, loved and served. This 
commitment to the well-being and development of the student body is led 
by a dynamic staff of teachers, working to shape the future through the 
lives they are positively influencing in their classrooms daily. The 
dedicated staff at Immaculate Heart engages students in meaningful 
educational tasks that promote thinking and reasoning and it is because 
of their hard work that Immaculate Heart of Mary School has been 
deservedly honored with this Blue Ribbon Award.
  As an advocate for education and youth, I want to acknowledge how 
important it is to our nation's future to encourage and raise a new 
generation of Americans who have the skills and knowledge to succeed 
both in and out of the classroom. Students like those at Immaculate 
Heart give me hope that we will accomplish this vital mission. Their 
outstanding work is an inspiration to students, educators, and parents 
across the nation. Once again, congratulations to Immaculate Heart of 
Mary School. I am very proud of them.

                          ____________________