[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 22576]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 L'ANSE CREUSE MIDDLE SCHOOL--NORTH NAMED 1999-2000 BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, in 1982, the United States 
Department of Education initiated its Blue Ribbon Schools Program. In 
each year since, the Department has recognized schools throughout the 
country which excel in all areas of academic leadership, teaching and 
teacher development, and school curriculum. In other words, Blue Ribbon 
Schools are recognized because they are the finest public and private 
secondary schools our Nation has to offer. They are the schools that 
set the standard for which others strive. I am very proud to report 
that nine of the 198 Blue Ribbon Schools named by Secretary Richard W. 
Riley for 1999-2000 are located in the State of Michigan, and I rise 
today to recognize L'Anse Creuse Middle School-North in Macomb, 
Michigan, one of these nine schools.
  The mission of L'Anse Creuse Middle School--North, MSN, is for each 
student, with the support of staff, parents and the community, to 
``attain measurable growth intellectually, physically, and socially in 
a safe, positive environment.'' Being recognized as a Blue Ribbon 
School is a tribute to the success that MSN has achieved in this 
regard.
  Increased staffing, thoughtful scheduling and a dedicated staff have 
been the primary keys to this success. They have also been the keys to 
MSN completely ``teaming'' its students, the only school in its 
district to have done so. Teachers also work as parts of instructional 
teams--most academic teachers have been teammates for at least three 
years. This fact illustrates one of the greatest strengths of the 
school, which is the high level of cooperation that exists between 
members of the faculty, cooperation which in turn facilitates student 
learning.
  The administration and faculty at MSN quickly realized the advantages 
that technology offered to their new learning program and made a strong 
commitment to improving the ability of their students to access 
computers. Indeed, this commitment to technology has revolutionized the 
teaching process and the management of the school. Two computer 
laboratories are now available to staff and students. Students can also 
sign out laptop computers for overnight use to help them with their 
homework. In addition, telephones have been placed in each classroom, 
which allow teachers to better communicate with parents and school 
offices, as well as with one another.
  The administration and faculty of MSN recognize that a truly 
successful middle school is one that takes elementary school students 
and prepares them to succeed in the adult world of high school. Their 
philosophy is represented in this statement from the book The Middle 
School--and Beyond: ``High quality middle schools result from the 
creative balance between elementary and secondary perspectives, between 
specialization and generalization, between curriculum and community, 
between equity and excellence, between teaching the mind and touching 
the heart.'' This is the core belief of all MSN faculty and 
administration, and the programs they have adopted, which have been so 
successful, reflect their commitment to this belief.
  I applaud the students, parents, faculty and administration of MSN, 
for I believe this is an award which speaks more to the effort of a 
united community than it does to the work of a few individuals. With 
that having been said, I would like to recognize Mr. Erick Alsup, the 
Principal of MSN, whose dedication to making his school one of the 
finest in our Nation has been instrumental in creating this community. 
On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I congratulate L'Anse 
Creuse Middle School--North on being named a Blue Ribbon School for 
1999-2000, and wish the school continued success in the future.

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