HR0506 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0506 LRB094 09482 CSA 39733 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Musical performances and folk dance presentations were a part of the festivities as the students celebrated the Latvian School of Chicago's 55th anniversary on January 22, 2005 at the Chicago Latvian Zion Lutheran Church; and

WHEREAS, Currently, 82 children from pre-school to high school attend the school's five 50-minute sessions each Saturday, learning academic subjects such as Latvian grammar, literature, and history; they also receive cultural instruction in folk music, traditional cooking, and jewelry making and learn about Latvian current events and ancient traditions; and

WHEREAS, Hundreds of first-generation Latvian-American children attended the school in its first decades; today, many of these former students take their own children to the school each Saturday as Latvian customs and traditions are passed on to another generation; school officials are also reaching out to recent Latvian immigrants and inviting them to participate in the school as students, teachers, and active parents; and

WHEREAS, The school has been at its present location in the Chicago Latvian Zion Lutheran Church since 1976; its facilities include 10 classrooms, music and jewelry-making rooms, and an 8,000-book library; in 1950, classes were first held in private homes; starting in 1951, a series of rented spaces were used, including the Olivet Institute, Association House of Chicago, Lutheran Memorial Church, and the Oak Park Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, Throughout its history, the school has had nine librarians, 12 principals, and more than 200 teachers, 49 of whom taught for 10 or more years; along with an active parent council, they have helped preserve old customs while creating 55 years of new memories; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Latvian School of Chicago on the occasion of the celebration of its 55th anniversary and we wish the school many more rewarding years of teaching Latvian customs and traditions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Latvian School of Chicago as an expression of our admiration and esteem.