Session 2000
Effective: March 17, 2000
SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1826
A� Resolution congratulating and commending Valley Center High School.
� � � WHEREAS,� Valley Center High School has been selected as one of twenty-three high
schools in the nation, and the only one in the midwest, to participate in a student exchange
program with schools in one of the newly independent countries of the former Soviet
Union; and

� � � WHEREAS,� Valley Center will be sending eight students and two teachers for a month
to Lyceum No. 9, a secondary school in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The Valley Center
representatives will visit Astana in May of 2000 and the Kazan students will visit Valley
Center next September. The students selected will be Juniors who have applied to be
members of the "Kansas to Kazakhstan Team". The students will live with Kazan families
during their stay in Astana; and

� � � WHEREAS,� Lyceum No. 9 is similar to a magnet school. The 1,100 students have a
specialized curriculum in economics, architecture, the humanities and law; and

� � � WHEREAS,� The goals of the exchange program are:

� � � To encourage our students to learn about the citizens of Kazakhstan and to develop an
understanding of their history and culture.

� � � To learn about and accept the differences between the two cultures and help to bring
the youth of America and Kazakhstan closer together.

� � � To help the students of Lyceum No. 9 develop a school publication and set up a student
government.

� � � To help the students of Lyceum No. 9 gain a better understanding of the rights and
responsibilities of citizens.

� � � To help the faculty and students of Lyceum No. 9 gain greater knowledge concerning
the structure, function and problems of a democratic society at the local, state and national
levels; and

� � � WHEREAS,� The leaders of Lyceum No. 9 want Kansas students to work on several
joint projects while they are in Astana. The first would be to work together to establish a
voter registration program in Astana. The second would be to set up some form of com-
munication between the two schools--to make a sister school arrangement; and

� � � WHEREAS,� When the Kazan students visit Kansas they will experience political cam-
paigning American style and will experience the history and life of Kansas by visiting state
historic sites and Kansas industries: Now, therefore,

� � � Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas:�That we congratulate Valley Center
High School for its participation in this valuable exchange program and wish the partici-
pants a lifetime experience in a foreign land; and

� � � Be it further resolved:�That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to provide an
enrolled copy of this resolution to Dr. Louise Herrington, Principal, Valley Center High
School, Valley Center, Kansas 67147.

� � � Senate Resolution No. 1826 was sponsored by Senator Christine Downey.