[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20659]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF SHERANDO HIGH SCHOOL AND 25 YEARS OF EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 29, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate 
Frederick County's Sherando High School, an excellent high school in 
the 10th Congressional District of Virginia, while the school community 
is celebrating its 25th Anniversary.
  The school slogan, ``where one person can make a difference,'' 
summarizes the caring, respectful culture that has been created at 
Sherando High School during those 25 years. Central to this special 
culture are the guiding words of the Mission for the staff, wherein 
they accept responsibility for providing ``a safe and supportive 
environment that encourages intellectual, emotional, physical and 
social growth'' and ``a positive educational atmosphere which will 
encourage students to maximize their learning opportunities.'' The 
Sherando community is proud of the fact that the entire community 
supports students with learning differences and that these students are 
encouraged to be an important part of the school and to benefit from 
the daily educational and social activities of the school. This caring 
attitude also extends to other students, including those struggling 
with severe depression. Hundreds of members of the Sherando community 
have participated in Out of the Darkness walks, raising funds for 
suicide prevention programs.
  Another important aspect of Sherando High School's culture is summed 
up in the third sentence of the staff mission statement: ``We will 
promote the active participation of parents and the community in the 
educational process.'' This welcoming attitude of the school has 
provided the community the opportunity to cheer on Sherando students in 
a variety of pursuits, including dramatic productions, D.E.C.A. and FFA 
activities, choir concerts, The Widget Cup, a design/build 
interscholastic competition that shows off the talents of Career and 
Technical Education students, and the marching band, which recently 
took first place in General Effect, Drum Major, and Color Guard 
disciplines at the CD Hylton High School Regional Marching Band 
Competition in Woodbridge, Virginia.
  The motto of the school, ``Once a warrior, always a warrior'' 
certainly rings true in the area of athletics, where community 
residents and alumni get caught up with Sherando football and other 
athletics, and even travel long distances to see their athletes compete 
at regionals and at state championships. And at the very event that 
took place on October 7, 2017, several athletes from the past were 
recognized as the first inductees into the Sherando Athletic Hall of 
Fame. Congratulations to Tyler Gaines, Kelley Washington, Emily Budnyk-
Putt, Robyn Ritter-Browne, Zach Franz, Pepper Martin, and Jason Barbe 
for this special recognition.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and our colleagues 
in congratulating Principal John Nelson, his dedicated faculty and 
staff and the entire Sherando High School community, on 25 years of 
extraordinary success and in wishing them a continuation of this 
success in the years to come.

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