HR0506 LRB094 09482 CSA 39733 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Musical performances and folk dance presentations
3 were a part of the festivities as the students celebrated the
4 Latvian School of Chicago's 55th anniversary on January 22,
5 2005 at the Chicago Latvian Zion Lutheran Church; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Currently, 82 children from pre-school to high
7 school attend the school's five 50-minute sessions each
8 Saturday, learning academic subjects such as Latvian grammar,
9 literature, and history; they also receive cultural
10 instruction in folk music, traditional cooking, and jewelry
11 making and learn about Latvian current events and ancient
12 traditions; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Hundreds of first-generation Latvian-American
14 children attended the school in its first decades; today, many
15 of these former students take their own children to the school
16 each Saturday as Latvian customs and traditions are passed on
17 to another generation; school officials are also reaching out
18 to recent Latvian immigrants and inviting them to participate
19 in the school as students, teachers, and active parents; and
 
20     WHEREAS, The school has been at its present location in the
21 Chicago Latvian Zion Lutheran Church since 1976; its facilities
22 include 10 classrooms, music and jewelry-making rooms, and an
23 8,000-book library; in 1950, classes were first held in private
24 homes; starting in 1951, a series of rented spaces were used,
25 including the Olivet Institute, Association House of Chicago,
26 Lutheran Memorial Church, and the Oak Park Baptist Church; and
 
27     WHEREAS, Throughout its history, the school has had nine
28 librarians, 12 principals, and more than 200 teachers, 49 of
29 whom taught for 10 or more years; along with an active parent
30 council, they have helped preserve old customs while creating
31 55 years of new memories; therefore, be it
 

 

 

HR0506 - 2 - LRB094 09482 CSA 39733 r

1     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3 we congratulate the Latvian School of Chicago on the occasion
4 of the celebration of its 55th anniversary and we wish the
5 school many more rewarding years of teaching Latvian customs
6 and traditions; and be it further
 
7     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8 presented to the Latvian School of Chicago as an expression of
9 our admiration and esteem.