2012 -- H 8027

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LC02270

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE 34 FRESHMEN AT NORTH SMITHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

WHO WON THE RHODE ISLAND "WE THE PEOPLE" COMPETITION

     Introduced By: Representatives Newberry, Ferri, Valencia, Williams, and McCauley

     Date Introduced: March 29, 2012

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, North Smithfield High School freshmen have taken the first-place slot in the

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state's "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" competition for a 6th year in a row; and

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     WHEREAS, "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Competition" is

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sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, and is a yearly competition held in Washington,

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D.C., for American high school students. Teams are divided into six units, each comprised of

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three or more members, and each team focuses on a particular area of constitutional interest; and

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     WHEREAS, On February 11, 2012, at West Warwick High School a group of 34

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freshmen from North Smithfield High School under the guidance of honors American

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Government teacher Mrs. Natalie O'Brien competed against students from area high schools to

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win the "We the People" competition. Since September, the freshmen class had labored for

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countless hours to study the Constitution, its founding principles, and its historical and modern

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applications; and

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     WHEREAS, The competition requires that students deliver a prepared statement on a

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specific constitutional topic and answer a series of questions asked by a panel of judges. The

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students prepare for a wide variety of potential follow-up questions, are not allowed to use any

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materials, and are not aware of the questions they will be asked until they are posed. The students

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are required to develop the important skills of critical thinking and performing under pressure;

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and

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     WHEREAS, As a result of their victory on February 11th, this class will travel to

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Washington, D.C., from April 27th through May 1st to represent Rhode Island in the National

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Finals; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby extends our congratulations to honor American Government

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teacher, Mrs. Natalie O’Brien and the following 34 freshmen students of North Smithfield High

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School: Brianna Andreoni, Tracy Ayotte, Austin Berard, Cassandra Cavallaro, Carter Cianci,

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Jacob DeCelles, Lana Delasanta, Alyssa Felos, Gelsomina Gambardella, Melissa Juhr, Derek

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Kruzan, Jenna LaChapelle, Gabrielle Lafond, Brian Lamoureux, Sarah Lamoureux, Jack Lanoie,

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Megan Lefebvre, Amanda Levenson, Ryan L'Heureux, Marissa Marsella, Andrew Matulaitis,

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Kathleen McMullin, Diane Newberry, Kaley O'Connor, Melayna Prudhomme, Ryan Racine,

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Emily Richards, Brian Rowe, Kevin Taratuta, Cassaundra Trudel, Morgan Walsh, Gabriella

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Wholey, Christian Witcher, and Kylie Wortz, for winning the Rhode Island "We the People"

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Competition, and we wish this hard-working class the best of luck in the National Competition;

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and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to honors American Government teacher Mrs.

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Natalie O'Brien and the 34 freshmen of North Smithfield High School who will represent Rhode

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Island in the National "We the People" Competition.

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LC02270

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