HR1656

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate the students, 
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faculty, and staff of Lincoln Elementary School in Highland 
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Park on the occasion of the school's 100th anniversary on 
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February 12, 2009; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Lincoln Elementary School's rich history began in 
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1886, when the school's first building at the intersection of 
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Lincoln and Glencoe Avenues in Highland Park was built at a 
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cost of $2,450; the two-room school was used until 1909 and was 
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called "The Little Red School", though the official name given 
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was Fairview School; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Fairview School served students until February 
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12, 1909, when a new school was dedicated; the new school, 
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named the Lincoln School, was dedicated and opened on the 100th 
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birthday of President Abraham Lincoln; the new eight room, 
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two-story school were staffed by the Fairview School's original 
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teachers, William C. McKenzie, Abbie B. Bastin, and Mrs. Lulu 
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Gaggin, as well as a new teacher, Magaret L. Freeman; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Lincoln School stood unchanged until 1924, when 
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the Board of Education, then called District #108, approved the 
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addition of an auditorium; the auditorium was followed by the 
 


 






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addition of a southeast corner in 1928, first floor classrooms 
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in 1938, additional classrooms in 1956, a complete renovation 
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in 1959, and a cafeteria and southeast classrooms in 1999; one 
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of the most unique architectural elements at Lincoln, "The 
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Flight of Time" designed by John Van Bergen, was added in 1929; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Today, 277 students in kindergarten through fifth 
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grade attend Lincoln School; the school's original staff of 
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four has grown to a current total of 14 classroom teachers and 
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26 additional staff members, which provide instruction in 
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general studies as well as special programs such as music, art, 
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physical education, technology, library, Spanish, band, and 
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orchestra, as well as social work, speech/language, special 
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education resource, and gifted and Reading Recovery services; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, Lincoln School has a long tradition of academic 
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excellence; in 1988, the school received the Blue Ribbon Award 
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as an exemplary school from the United States Department of 
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Education; the school has been recognized four times, most 
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recently for 2007, with certificates of Academic Excellence 
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from the Illinois State Board of Education, which are given to 
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schools demonstrating continued success on the Illinois 
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Standards Achievement Test; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, On February 12, 2009, the Lincoln School PTA will 
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have a Centennial Party to honor the 100th anniversary of the 
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school and to celebrate the bright future that the school most 
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definitely has; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the students, faculty, and staff of Lincoln 
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Elementary School in Highland Park on the occasion of the 
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school's 100th anniversary and wish them continued success in 
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the future; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Bill Fredricksen, Principal of Lincoln Elementary 
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School, as a symbol of our esteem and respect.