13-R039

2013 -- S 0160

Enacted 01/31/13

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

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

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

Rhode Island; and

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

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

stimulating environment rich in spiritual character and moral development; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

assistance annually to low-income families; and

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

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

socio-economic groups; and

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

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

and

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

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

now, therefore be it

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

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

Rhode Island; and be it further

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

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

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

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

State of Rhode Island; and be it further

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

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Most Reverend Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of

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

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

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LC00672

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