2013 -- S 0160

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LC00672

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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

PROCLAIMING JANUARY 31, 2013, AS "RHODE ISLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DAY"

IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Ruggerio, Paiva Weed, Goodwin, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2013

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, Catholic Schools offer a complete academic and values-based education

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emphasizing the moral, intellectual, physical, and social development of young people throughout

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Rhode Island; and

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     WHEREAS, Catholic Schools produce students who are strong and dedicated to their

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faith, values, families, and communities, by providing a safe, disciplined, and intellectually

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stimulating environment rich in spiritual character and moral development; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s Catholic Schools are acclaimed for their academic

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excellence. Their elementary school students consistently score above average in national

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standardized tests in all subject areas, and their high school graduation rate is nearly 100 percent,

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with almost 95 percent of those graduates going on to college; and

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     WHEREAS, There are currently 43 Catholic secondary and elementary schools in Rhode

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Island, with an enrollment of an estimated 13,000 students; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island Catholic Schools teach students of culturally and socio-

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economically diverse backgrounds and provide more than $1.7 million dollars in tuition

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assistance annually to low-income families; and

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     WHEREAS, Research demonstrates that Catholic Schools, better than any other type of

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school, successfully close the learning achievement gap between children from higher and lower

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socio-economic groups; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island Catholic School parents provide over $184 million in

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education and construction savings to the state and local communities in Rhode Island every year;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Catholic Schools parents, students, and alumni contribute to, are involved

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in, and are dedicated to the life of their parishes and communities well beyond their numbers;

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now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby proclaims January 31, 2013, to be "Rhode Island Catholic Schools Day" in the State of

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Rhode Island; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That we applaud the efforts and support and the many contributions of

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Catholic Schools in the State of Rhode Island. We furthermore congratulate the students, parents,

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teachers, and administrators for their dedicated commitment to the education of Rhode Island’s

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youth, and for the key role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for the

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State of Rhode Island; 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 the Most Reverend Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of

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Providence, Daniel J. Ferris, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and James Sheil, the President

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and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Catholic Schools Parents Federation.

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LC00672

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