SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2016 SESSION

16105388D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 371
Offered February 26, 2016
Commending Patrick Henry Elementary School.
----------

Patrons-- Lopez, Hope, Levine and Sullivan; Senators: Ebbin, Favola and Howell
----------

WHEREAS, Patrick Henry Elementary School in Arlington County was honored as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education for its high academic performance; and

WHEREAS, Patrick Henry Elementary School was one of only 12 schools in the Commonwealth to receive the national designation for 2015, and was the only public school in Northern Virginia to be named a Blue Ribbon School; the program recognizes exemplary high-performing schools or schools that have made progress in closing an academic achievement gap; and

WHEREAS, as a diverse Title I neighborhood school, Patrick Henry Elementary School enrolls approximately 580 students in preschool through fifth grade who speak more than 20 languages; the school also is home to Arlington County’s Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Communications programs; and

WHEREAS, the student body of Patrick Henry Elementary School has outperformed statewide averages on standardized tests despite the fact that nearly 40 percent of the hardworking students qualify for free and reduced-price meals; and

WHEREAS, the goal of the faculty and staff of Patrick Henry Elementary School is to continuously improve student achievement while supporting the development of the whole child; the dedicated men and women encourage each student by establishing personal relationships and by working as a team; and

WHEREAS, students at Patrick Henry Elementary School are expected to adhere to high academic and behavioral expectations, and the faculty and staff support the students as they strive to reach their highest potential; and

WHEREAS, the curriculum at Patrick Henry Elementary School includes the Henry’s Helping Hands: Creating Community Connections program, which integrates the curriculum and service learning; and

WHEREAS, the families whose children attend Patrick Henry Elementary School are an integral part of the educational process, and the faculty and staff are committed to working in partnership with them to provide the best possible education for their children; and

WHEREAS, the motto of Patrick Henry Elementary School is “Do your personal best today and all life long”; the students and staff have taken that slogan to heart, and Patrick Henry Elementary School has been honored twice in recent years as a Distinguished Title I School, once as a Highly Distinguished Title I School, and once as a National Distinguished Title I School; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Patrick Henry Elementary School in Arlington County for being named a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Andrea Turner, principal of Patrick Henry Elementary School, as an expression of the General Assembly’s congratulations and admiration for the hard work and outstanding achievements of the faculty, staff, and students of the school.