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2003 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 849
Commending the Northumberland Elementary School's Reading Partners Program.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 7, 2003
Agreed to by the Senate, February 13, 2003

WHEREAS, assisted by University of Virginia staff, the teachers of Northumberland Elementary School planned and implemented the Reading Partners Program in 1997; and

WHEREAS, receiving state and national recognition after only five years, the Reading Partners Program has been a huge success; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Reading Partners Program is to ensure that every child can read on grade level; and

WHEREAS, the Reading Partners Program is the cooperative effort of dedicated volunteers, teachers, library staff, school administrators, Northumberland County officials, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, parents, and participating students; and

WHEREAS, approximately 70 volunteer tutors, including middle and high school students possessing superior reading skills, staff the program; and

WHEREAS, five elementary school teachers, who are responsible for lesson plans and evaluating the progress of each student, supervise the volunteer tutors; and

WHEREAS, because of the Reading Partners Program’s success, it has been presented at the State Reading Conference on several occasions, the Eastern International Reading Association Regional Conference, the Governor's Best Practices Conference, the National School Board Association Conference and Exposition, and the University of Virginia's George Graham Lecture in Reading; and

WHEREAS, in 2000 the Northumberland Elementary School received the prestigious Virginia State Exemplary Reading Award for its outstanding reading programs; and

WHEREAS, while visiting the school, the judges of the state competition were amazed by the numerous reading and early intervention programs and impressed with the support and commitment of the teachers, community, school administration, and the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors; and

WHEREAS, since reading and comprehensive skills are essential to learning, the Reading Partners Program has been invaluable in preparing students for the Standards of Learning tests and a contributing factor to Northumberland Elementary School’s receiving accreditation in 2001; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby congratulate Northumberland Elementary School and the Reading Partners Program on its outstanding achievement; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Northumberland Elementary School and the Reading Partners Program as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration and gratitude for its efforts on behalf of the children of Northumberland County and the Commonwealth.