[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16685]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       HAWAII BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

 Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I congratulate three Hawaii 
schools for being recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools for 2010 by the 
U.S. Department of Education. These schools, Ewa Beach Elementary 
School, Momilani Elementary School, and Royal School, serve as models 
of success and accomplishment.
  The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, 
middle, and high schools whose students achieve at very high levels or 
have made significant progress and helped close gaps in achievement, 
especially among disadvantaged and minority students.
  The program is part of a larger Department of Education effort to 
identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and 
teaching practices.
  I wish to extend my aloha to the principals: Sherry Lee Kobayashi of 
Ewa Beach, Doreen Higa of Momilani, and Ann Sugibayashi of Royal. As a 
former principal, I know firsthand the dedication that goes into 
leading schools and staffs, and I commend them for their hard work on 
behalf of their students and communities. I also commend the students, 
families, teachers, and staff of all three schools for their 
contributions towards this recognition.
  I am proud of all that our keiki, the children, can accomplish when 
they are given access to quality education. My sincere mahalo, thanks, 
again, to Ewa Beach Elementary School, Momilani Elementary School, and 
Royal School for their efforts to give our students the best education 
possible. I offer my congratulations to all 2010 Blue Ribbon Schools 
nationwide and my sincere wishes for success in their futures.

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