[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

 Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Bamber Valley 
Elementary School, in Rochester, MN, which recently earned an Award for 
Excellence in Education for its exceptional and innovative achievements 
in educating children.
  Bamber Valley Elementary School is truly a model of educational 
success. The school is Rochester's largest elementary school, serving 
885 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The successful 
partnership created between families and the community has made 
possible a school that exemplifies teamwork, pride, and excellence.
  Bamber Valley is making full use of test score data to improve 
teaching techniques and to address the specific reading and math 
challenges facing individual students. The administration's quick 
dissemination of test data to the classroom teachers has allowed the 
teachers to adjust their teaching strategies, addressing the skills 
that students found to be the most difficult on the standardized tests.
  Bamber Valley is home to the district's programs serving the 
elementary deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The program's resource 
teachers work with families encountering crisis situations, and a 
gifted and talented specialist is assigned to the school to help 
challenge students who excel.
  For students in the first through fifth grades, the school has an 
afterschool academy program, where laughter and high energy combine to 
create a learning environment that is safe, welcoming, and fun.
  Much of the credit for Bamber Valley Elementary School's success 
belongs to its principal, Ms. Becky Gerdes, and her dedicated teachers. 
The students and staff at Bamber Valley Elementary School understand 
that, in order to be successful, a school must go beyond achieving 
academic success; it must also offer a nurturing environment where 
students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for a lifetime of 
success. All of the faculty, staff, and students at Bamber Valley 
Elementary School should be very proud of their accomplishments.
  I congratulate Bamber Valley Elementary School in Rochester, MN, for 
winning the Award for Excellence in Education and for its exceptional 
contributions to education in Minnesota.

                          ____________________