SLS 181ES-39 ORIGINAL
2018 First Extraordinary Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 2
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
COMMENDATIONS. Commends University Elementary School in Shreveport on its 50
th
anniversary.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend and congratulate the administration, faculty, students, and alumni of
3 University Elementary School on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary.
4 WHEREAS, located in the southeastern section of Shreveport, University Elementary
5 School (UES) opened its doors in the fall semester of 1967 when community leaders
6 addressed the ever-increasing educational needs of the region, which experienced
7 exponential growth during the 1960s; and
8 WHEREAS, governed by the Caddo Parish School Board, University Elementary
9 facilitates the academic requirements of a diverse population of over one thousand students
10 from prekindergarten through fifth grade; and
11 WHEREAS, University Elementary is an exceptional institution whose primary focus
12 is the preparation of its student body for continuous lifelong learning; it is a top-rated school
13 that promotes a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curricula
14 named "Project Lead the Way", and retains a cache of extraordinary teachers and counseling
15 staff; and
16 WHEREAS, University Elementary has been honored with copious awards in the
17 field of education for outstanding teaching and scholastic achievement; and
18 WHEREAS, some of these recognitions include Path to Excellence, School of
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SLS 181ES-39 ORIGINAL
1 Academic Achievement, technology education grants, corporate grants from BellSouth,
2 Target, SWEPCO, Best Buy, Shreveport Green Clean Campus Award, State/District PTA
3 Outstanding Unit, Caddo Principal of the Year, Regional VII-Principal of the Year, Caddo
4 Student of the Year, Outstanding Website from District and State PTA, State PTA
5 Grandparent of the Year, State PTA Teachers of Distinction, and Walmart Teacher of the
6 Year; and
7 WHEREAS, six principals have guided the school since its beginning; the first
8 principal was Frank Tyler, followed by Lillian Mothershed, James Sanders, Charlotte
9 Watson, Paula Nelson, and the current principal, Kasie Mainiero; and
10 WHEREAS, with improved scholastic outcomes as its synergy, Principal Mainiero,
11 the faculty, and staff incorporate the most up-to-date teaching methods and after-school
12 programs to address the academic needs of all students, including gifted and talented and
13 those with special needs; and
14 WHEREAS, teacher continuing education is an important segment in instructional
15 innovation; University Elementary is a pilot study school for "Discovery Education", a
16 subsidiary of The Discovery Channel, which provides teacher training, classroom
17 enrichment resources, and interactive lesson planning; teachers also train in a workshop
18 setting at the Ron Clark Academy to create a more positive classroom environment in which
19 students are eager to learn; and
20 WHEREAS, for academic development and social involvement University
21 Elementary offers a myriad of extracurricular activities such as football, cheerleading, soccer
22 club, running club, history club, 4-H, archery, Bricks4Kidz (architecture), acting, singing,
23 musical theater, art club, computer club, robotics, programming/coding club, and Green Club
24 (environment); and
25 WHEREAS, on August 21, 2017, University Elementary set a new Guinness World
26 Record during the solar eclipse when students, faculty, parents, and community leaders
27 participated in the largest astronomy lesson ever recorded; the class was taught by University
28 Elementary science teacher, Charles Moser; and
29 WHEREAS, the University Elementary administration maintains a website to
30 facilitate lines of communication between teachers, parents, and the local community, and
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SLS 181ES-39 ORIGINAL
1 also supports a public Facebook page; and
2 WHEREAS, at University Elementary, the use of social media applications provides
3 a nearly constant dialogue between teachers and parents and addresses student achievement,
4 curriculum choice, study infrastructure, and testing analysis, as well as the connectivity of
5 positive parental involvement in the social and academic ecology of this outstanding school;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, the 2017-2018 school year calendar is dotted with numerous activities
8 to celebrate this golden anniversary; the kickoff event occurred on September 26th with a
9 50th anniversary potluck party; on February 24, 2018, the Celebration of Education: 50
10 Years 5K Fun Run celebrates the mutual golden anniversaries of University Elementary,
11 Captain Shreve High School, and Louisiana State University Shreveport; and
12 WHEREAS, the school will also commemorate its fiftieth anniversary with the
13 creation of a university memorial courtyard paved with bricks engraved with the names of
14 students, staff, teachers, principals, and alumni, both past and present; "Bricks For US", in
15 conjunction with other activities, will spotlight this prestigious occasion in Caddo Parish
16 history; and
17 WHEREAS, within the courtyard, a time capsule shall be buried with the intent that
18 it be opened, perhaps in another five decades, on the centennial anniversary of University
19 Elementary School by a future student body; its contents will include timely items such as
20 a yearbook, student drawings, popular toys, photos, and other items that reflect the trends
21 of the present and that hold a special connection to the citizenry of the Shreveport-Bossier
22 region; and
23 WHEREAS, University Elementary strengthens the bonds of family and school with
24 the support of the PTA and committees of volunteers who coordinate various activities
25 within the school year that include social events and fundraising activities; and
26 WHEREAS, these many effective interactions contribute to the overall positive
27 achievement of the individual student, accelerate academic improvement within University
28 Elementary School as a whole, and, in the long term, encourage strong connections within
29 the Shreveport community.
30 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
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1 commend and congratulate the administration, faculty, students, and alumni of University
2 Elementary School of Shreveport on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
4 Kasie Mainiero, principal of University Elementary School of Shreveport.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 2 Original 2018 First Extraordinary Session Peacock
Commends University Elementary School of Shreveport on its 50th anniversary.
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