[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11552]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 11552]]

TRIBUTE TO THE TEACHERS, PARENTS, ADMINISTRATORS AND STUDENTS OF HOLLOW 
                        HILLS FUNDAMENTAL SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 1999

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the parents, students, 
faculty and staff whose dedication to excellence has earned Hollow 
Hills Fundamental School, in my hometown of Simi Valley, CA, 
recognition as a national Blue Ribbon School
  Hollow Hills Fundamental School is a shining example of what can 
happen when parents, teachers and administrators collaborate on the 
best approaches for providing a quality education. The school's motto--
Committed to Excellence--is not merely a slogan. It's a way of life 
that other campuses would be well served to follow. A combination of a 
structured, consistent learning environment with an emphasis on basic 
skills and traditional American values ensures intelligent, socially 
responsible students and future adults.
  Mr. Speaker, the school will be honored at the Ronald Reagan 
Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Tuesday. It's a particularly 
fitting tribute to Hollow Hills. President Reagan once made this 
statement to a group of educators:

       Our leaders must remember that education doesn't begin with 
     some isolated bureaucrat in Washington. It doesn't even begin 
     with state or local officials. Education begins in the home, 
     where it is a parental right and responsibility.

  That principle is fully integrated into Hollow Hills' lesson plans. 
The school was founded in 1982 in collaboration with parents. Every 
year, Hollow Hills parents, students and educators formally rededicate 
themselves to quality education through a ``Commitment to Excellence'' 
agreement. The school boasts a strong PTA and dedicated parents who 
volunteer their spare time to enhance their children's education.
  In addition to stressing basic reading and math skills, the school 
also emphasizes art, music and technology, guaranteeing students a 
well-balanced education.
  Hollow Hills also stresses attributes that unfortunately are missing 
in many schools today: personal responsibility, diligence, courtesy, 
respect to authority, punctuality and respect for the law. These 
ingredients are just as important to raising intelligence and socially 
responsible adults.
  Mr. Speaker, as our nation works in concert to better our education 
system, it would serve us well to study the successes of our Blue 
Ribbon Schools. They are the best of the best and a key to our future. 
I know my colleagues will join me in applauding Hollow Hills Principal 
Leslie Frank, her entire staff, and the parents and students of Hollow 
Hills for raising the bar and setting a strong example for others to 
follow.

                          ____________________