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2011 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 849
Commending Longfellow Middle School on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 11, 2011
Agreed to by the Senate, February 17, 2011

 

WHEREAS, the 2010 - 2011 academic year marks the 50th anniversary since Longfellow Middle School opened its doors; and

WHEREAS, with 1,238 seventh and eighth grade students, Longfellow Middle School has earned a reputation as a consistently outstanding middle school in the Commonwealth, known for its culture of excellence in teaching that inspires students to serve their community and dedicate themselves to lifelong learning; and

WHEREAS, the Longfellow Middle School faculty is dedicated to its mission of “inspiring excellence,” working in collaborative, collegial ways to produce student growth and achievement, emphasizing content and pedagogy equally, and establishing personal connections with the children entrusted to their care; and

WHEREAS, by stimulating a higher level of thinking and creativity, Longfellow Middle School’s dedicated faculty strives to uphold top standards of achievement and success, which is manifest in both its recruiting and educational outcomes; and

WHEREAS, the parent-school relationship is characterized by mutual respect, appreciation, and open communication, with parents supporting Longfellow Middle School with volunteer time, resources, and involvement with teachers in decisions affecting their children, which has greatly contributed to students’ development and character formation; and

WHEREAS, Longfellow Middle School’s students thrive as a result of service to the community, participating in after-school volunteer service for at least 15 hours during their two years at the school; and

WHEREAS, students tutor youth and peers, work with the elderly, perform service through the Scouting program and at hospitals, and participate in a wide variety of community organizations; and

WHEREAS, Longfellow Middle School is well-known in the region, state, and nation for its excellence in math education and has won numerous honors; and

WHEREAS, the MathCounts team has won the state competition for 25 years and placed second three times, won the Northern Virginia chapter competition every year for 28 straight years, and won Nationals three times, while the eighth grade math students have placed first in the state in Math League for 32 years running; and

WHEREAS, in 2008 and 2011, Longfellow Middle School received the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence and received national recognition of its orchestra, band, and choral programs; and

WHEREAS, the Symphonic and Concert band received Superior ratings from all judges at the district band festival for five straight years, while Longfellow’s extraordinary music program has earned a designation from the Virginia Music Educators Association as a Blue Ribbon school for music; and

WHEREAS, outstanding state and national recognition has been achieved by the Science Olympiad team with nine consecutive state championships and a steady rise to tenth in the nation; the Knowledge Masters team placed first nationally for two years running; and the First Lego League, Model United Nations, Robotics, Rocketry, and Theater programs (among others) have all recently been decorated for their achievements; and

WHEREAS, the faculty, administration, students, and parents of Longfellow are committed to building upon its foundation of excellence as they enjoy a fully renovated school facility in 2012; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Longfellow Middle School on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Principal Carole Kihm as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation for the achievements of Longfellow Middle School as a model of success in education, character, and culture.