HR1656 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1656 LRB095 23175 GRL 53823 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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

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

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

WHEREAS, Lincoln School stood unchanged until 1924, when the Board of Education, then called District #108, approved the addition of an auditorium; the auditorium was followed by the addition of a southeast corner in 1928, first floor classrooms in 1938, additional classrooms in 1956, a complete renovation in 1959, and a cafeteria and southeast classrooms in 1999; one of the most unique architectural elements at Lincoln, "The Flight of Time" designed by John Van Bergen, was added in 1929; and

WHEREAS, Today, 277 students in kindergarten through fifth grade attend Lincoln School; the school's original staff of four has grown to a current total of 14 classroom teachers and 26 additional staff members, which provide instruction in general studies as well as special programs such as music, art, physical education, technology, library, Spanish, band, and orchestra, as well as social work, speech/language, special education resource, and gifted and Reading Recovery services; and

WHEREAS, Lincoln School has a long tradition of academic excellence; in 1988, the school received the Blue Ribbon Award as an exemplary school from the United States Department of Education; the school has been recognized four times, most recently for 2007, with certificates of Academic Excellence from the Illinois State Board of Education, which are given to schools demonstrating continued success on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test; and

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

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

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