[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13242]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           SOUTH CANYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, it is with great honor that I rise 
today to congratulate the South Canyon Elementary School in Rapid City, 
SD, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary of service on Friday May 
16, 2003.
  Plans for South Canyon Elementary began in June 1949, when the 
current school area was a quiet alfalfa field. An area rancher, Ernest 
Schleuning, herded his livestock down Nordbye Lane, where the school is 
now. Due to overcrowding at Upper Rapid School, previously on West Main 
Street, South Canyon Elementary School was built in 1952 and opened for 
the 1952-1953 school year, with 25 to 30 students in each class. Fifty 
years later, the school continues to serve Rapid City and the needs of 
its citizens.
  South Canyon Elementary School commemorated its fiftieth anniversary 
of service in the Rapid City school district with an all-school 
assembly, potluck picnic, and evening program. During the evening 
activities, the school was also open for tours, inviting all current 
and former teachers, staff members, students, parents, and alumni to 
attend. Attendees and guest speakers included South Canyon Elementary 
student council members, State Representative Ed McLaughlin, and Police 
Chief Craig Tieszen.
  Over the last half century, the South Canyon Elementary School has 
provided quality educational services to the children of Rapid City. 
Their vision, ``expecting excellence to happen, we affirm that all 
children can learn,'' has been carried out in all the children who have 
graduated and gone on to excel in their school careers. Not only has 
this school encouraged learning, but South Canyon Elementary School 
also strives to bring the community together in the education of its 
children. Their mission states just this in that, ``In partnership with 
staff, parents, and neighborhood, we provide each child an opportunity 
to reach his/her potential and become a contributing member of the 
community.''
  I am pleased to announce that the South Canyon Elementary School is 
planning to commemorate this occasion by burying a time capsule. The 
capsule includes a current photo album of the school and items chosen 
by the students. Students from each class collected items from their 
classroom, such as popular books and baseball cards, and one second-
grade class added a collection of popular snack wrappers to the 
capsule. Graduation speeches written by each fifth-grade student 
describing what school is presently like at South Canyon Elementary 
School were also added.
  I am proud to have this opportunity to honor Principal Charles McLain 
and the South Canyon Elementary School for its 50 years of outstanding 
service. It is an honor for me to share with my colleagues the 
exemplary leadership and strong commitment to education South Canyon 
Elementary School has provided. I strongly commend their years of hard 
work and dedication, and I am very pleased that their substantial 
efforts are being publicly honored and celebrated.

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