[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14285]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING SEA ROAD SCHOOL

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am delighted to commend the Sea Road 
School of Kennebunk, ME, on being named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon 
School of Excellence. This outstanding elementary school is one of only 
329 schools across the country to receive this prestigious recognition 
from the U.S. Department of Education.
  Created in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and 
private schools that are either academically superior in their States 
or that demonstrate significant gains in student achievement. The 
schools singled out for this national recognition are models of high 
educational standards and accountability.
  This award recognizes the hard work and determination of the Sea Road 
School's pupils and staff. Sea Road School is a top-performing school 
on State-required assessments, and staff at the school use assessments 
throughout the academic year as a tool for improving and customizing 
instruction.
  Students also participate in extracurricular activities, which helps 
forge a strong school community where students are connected and 
encouraged to pursue their interests. Indeed, a successful vote on a 
town ordinance to ban single-use plastic bags in Kennebunk this spring 
started with research and advocacy by Sea Road School students.
  Sea Road School is a member of Regional School Unit 21. Six years 
ago, Kennebunkport Consolidated School, another member, was also named 
a Blue Ribbon School. RSU 21 is the first administrative unit in Maine 
to have two schools attain this distinction.
  This Blue Ribbon award is a tribute not only to the students, but 
also to the administrators, teachers, staff, and parents of Sea Road 
School. Together, they are succeeding in their mission to generate 
excitement and momentum for learning. They are making a difference in 
the lives of their students, helping them reach their full potential as 
independent, responsible learners and citizens. I congratulate the 
entire community for this well-deserved recognition.

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