S*0192 Concurrent Resolution, By Courson
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF OF
 HAND MIDDLE SCHOOL IN RICHLAND DISTRICT ONE FOR BEING SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE
 JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS "CREATIVE TICKET-NATIONAL
 SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION" AWARD FOR THE 2003-2004 SCHOOL YEAR.

   01/12/05  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-10
   01/13/05  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-116

TO CONGRATULATE THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF OF HAND MIDDLE SCHOOL IN RICHLAND DISTRICT ONE FOR BEING SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS "CREATIVE TICKET-NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION" AWARD FOR THE 2003-2004 SCHOOL YEAR.

Whereas, Hand Middle School located in Richland School District One has been selected to receive the "Creative Ticket--National School of Distinction" award, one of the nation's highest achievements in arts education; and

Whereas, the Creative Ticket: Schools of Excellence award is one that recognizes each year those schools across the nation that exemplify qualities such as: making arts an essential component in the curriculum by integrating the arts into several subject areas, creating and using imaginative learning approaches and environments for teaching the arts and recognizing that the arts are critical and essential to education, and linking arts education to the community and providing community connections that build value and respect for it by offering students diverse experiences beyond the classroom; and

Whereas, another important reason for the school's recognition is the talented and dedicated teachers and staff, who give of their time and experience to provide students opportunities for learning about other cultures through the arts and also provide opportunities for parental involvement in the educational lives of their children; and

Whereas, this prestigious award is only given to five schools from across the nation each year and Hand Middle School is the only school in the state of South Carolina this year to receive this award; and

Whereas, in the Spring of 2005, Hand Middle School will send a delegation of teachers and students to our nation's capitol to formally accept the award and perform on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly sincerely congratulate Hand Middle School for its continued advancements and enhancements in education and for its recent impressive award. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, commend and congratulate the students, faculty, and staff of Hand Middle School in Richland School District One for being selected to receive the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts "Creative Ticket-National School of Distinction" award for the 2003-2004 school year.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Hand Middle School in Columbia.