E2292 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 20, 2008 

and devotion to the citizens of Michigan. 

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Honorable Marilyn Massengill, 

upon her retirement and recognizing her years 

of loyal service to our community and our 

country. 

f 

HONORING THE SAFETY AND EXCELLENCE OF KEITH BRUCE AND 

CHARLES RHYNEHART OF 

UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, U.P.S. 

HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER OF LOUISIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to commend the outstanding efforts of 

Keith Bruce and Charles Rhynehart of the 

United Parcel Service. 

These two men who graciously serve Louisiana’s 5th District, have been inducted in to the 

elite ‘‘Circle of Honor’’ for their 25 years or 

more of accident-free driving. The men and 

women who have achieved membership in to 

the Circle of Honor are the best of the best. 

This is an accomplishment I am proud to 

honor as these men have demonstrated a 

commitment to safety and high standards in 

the workplace. 

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join 

me in honoring Keith Bruce and Charles 

Rhynehart of the United Parcel Service, for 

their dedication to the safety of their fellow 

drivers and those with whom they share the 

roads. 

f 

SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL 

MAKES HISTORY! 

HON. BOB FILNER OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased 

to rise today to recognize Sweetwater High 

School in National City, California, a school in 

California’s 51st Congressional District, my 

district, with a statement prepared by the 

school which touts its remarkable success. 

In the United States of the 21st Century, no 

single institution has received more attention, 

been the center of more controversy or passionately advanced as ‘‘the last best hope’’ of 

passing on the promise of national excellence 

than the public high school. The driving force 

behind the passage by Congress of ‘‘No Child 

Left Behind’’ was to create schools that reflect 

equity—where dynamic learning environments 

driven by high academic standards will promote academic, social and ethical growth for 

ALL students. 

Schools are held accountable through a 

comprehensive assessment program that 

measures achievement and yearly progress 

for every student, their scores reported by 

gender, by ethnicity, by parent education, by 

economic circumstance. No child was left undiscovered, and in 2001, at Sweetwater High 

School, it was alarmingly clear that many had 

been left behind. 

Census reports from 2001 reported that National City ranked as the second poorest city 

in San Diego County and had the fifteenth 

poorest economy in the United States for a 

city of fewer than 59,000 residents. Located 

seven miles north of the Mexican border, 

Sweetwater High School, built in 1921, serves 

culturally and socially diverse low-income families whose needs place unique demands on 

the school and staff who serve them. Eight of 

ten students speak a language other than 

English at home. More than 80 percent of the 

2500 students qualify for the free lunch program. 

In its first reporting year for ‘‘No Child Left 

Behind,’’ Sweetwater scored a lowly 461 out 

of a possible 1000 on the Academic Performance Index (API) and more telling, did not 

meet adequate yearly progress by its targeted 

populations. In the second year, while the API 

score improved significantly and some gains 

had been made, the school did not meet the 

goals established by the federal guidelines of 

‘‘No Child Left Behind.’’ Two consecutive 

years of unmet goals landed Sweetwater High 

on the Federal List of Failing Schools. 

What followed is Sweetwater High School at 

its best, Sweetwater High School calling on 87 

years of Spirit and Pride. 

Under the leadership of new principal Wesley Braddock, administrators, counselors, resource personnel, and teachers united to develop a school-wide assault on poor and failing scores. District curriculum and instructional 

staff provided resources and support identified 

by Sweetwater teachers and administrators as 

key to moving ALL students to academic success, with proficiency on state exams and 

meeting and exceeding federal benchmarks 

for performance. Student data became the 

map staff followed in search of the keys that 

would unlock the treasure chest of achievement. Students who had previously missed the 

proficiency cut were assigned an extra support 

class to assist them in developing critical 

thinking strategies and test taking skills. Incoming 10th grade students identified as 

below basic—those in the lowest quartile— 

were given additional support. This strategy 

provided in-depth remediation and academic 

development prior to the California High 

School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) to the Sophomore Class each February. Most striking was 

the challenge to those sophomores who were 

‘‘not at risk,’’ that they too should work hard in 

their core academic classes. 

Principal Braddock went personally to every 

10th grade English class and spoke from his 

heart about the importance of doing well, 

about the Sweetwater Tradition to rise far beyond what others think we can do. While 350 

is the score required to pass the CAHSEE 

exam, this minimum state score was not sufficient to move Sweetwater out of the federal 

Program Improvement category. Principal 

Braddock then issued the ‘‘380 Challenge.’’ 

He challenged students to do what so many 

said Sweetwater High would never do. He told 

them that together, they would accomplish 

great things. To accomplish those great 

things, all of us, students, staff, administration, 

parents and community would not only act, but 

dream, and not just to dream, but to BELIEVE! 

Students did believe, and many smashed the 

380 goal, giving Sweetwater High the largest 

passing percentage in English-Language Arts 

in the district. 

The staff and students have learned over 

these past three years that great things are 

not done by impulse, but by knowing the goal, 

committing to the work, and hitting the target 

always saying, WE BELIEVE. 

Sweetwater High School has raised its Academic Performance Index (API) from 461 to 

706. 

Sweetwater’s API growth is the 5th highest 

in the entire state of California. 

Sweetwater High School’s 97 percent Attendance Rate is the highest in the 30,000 

student/23 school Sweetwater Union High 

School District. 

Sweetwater High School, in September of 

2008, made history by being one of only two 

schools to make it off the Federal Watch List. 

In fact, its achievement has surpassed the 

achievement of 851 of California’s 855 high 

schools. 

Sweetwater High School, stands with firm 

resolve, both feet planted in this 21st century. 

The staff and students of Sweetwater High exemplify extraordinary courage as they continue 

to engage in attacking and mastering the rigorous academic standards set forth by the 

state and the nation. Their resilience and resolve rise up from their State of the Heart Legacy and will take each generation of students 

into a world where they not only believe in 

their ability but will achieve success. For those 

looking for that ‘‘Last Best Hope’’ described in 

A Nation at Risk, just Google . . . 2900 Highland Avenue, National City, CA: Sweetwater 

High School—‘‘Home of the Red Devils!’’ 

As an educator, I applaud the achievements 

of the students, staff, teachers, administrators, 

parents and the community of Sweetwater 

High School! I was so moved by the efforts of 

these students that I was able to obtain 

$292,000 in federal funds for students at 

Sweetwater High School and neighboring high 

schools for their Compact for Success. This 

Compact is a program that guarantees a place 

at San Diego State University for every graduating high school student who maintains a 

‘‘B’’ average and meets the goals of the Compact. Participation in the Compact is yet one 

more way that the Sweetwater High School 

community is challenging and rewarding its 

students, the students who are a beacon of 

light and a remarkable example of what can 

be achieved when everyone focuses on the 

goal, the goal of a quality education for each 

and every student. 

f 

IN HONOR OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DELAWARE STATE 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S 

MARVIN S. GILMAN SUPERSTARS 

IN BUSINESS AWARDS 

HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE OF DELAWARE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is with 

great pleasure that I rise today to recognize 

the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s 

Marvin S. Gilman Superstars in Business 

Awards. For ten years, the Delaware State 

Chamber of Commerce has taken pride in 

honoring small businesses and organizations 

for their outstanding services, quality of management, and exemplary approach to business in our state. 

Each year, winners of the Marvin S. Gilman 

Superstars in Business Awards are companies 

that have met three criteria: the companies 

have been established at least three years, 

have 150 employees or less, and are members of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Awards of Excellence are 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with REMARKS