Whoopee! The highest SAT scores ever attained by St. Mary's County seniors were posted by the class of '05, and more students took the test than have ever taken it. That's a real accomplishment. And you can be sure the school system is trying to take credit for what its students accomplished.

I agree that the school system can take some credit for the accomplishment. I feel sure that nearly everyone in the schools, from administrators to classroom teachers to counselors, worked to increase the number of students taking the test.

I know that the school system paid for the practice test (PSAT), bought the SAT practice software, and teachers and counselors encouraged students to use it. I am told that teachers increased the rigor of the classroom instruction. I know the teachers did what they always do. They did the best they could to educate their piece of the students who participated. The students, or their parents, paid for the SAT test, and the students took the test.

It is reasonable to assume that some students were able to take the PSAT who otherwise might not have been able to afford it. After looking at the scores on the PSAT, students with funds to do so could review the results and work with counselors to find out what to do to improve their scores. With experience with the test, scores on the SAT were usually better just because the test style was familiar. Congratulations to the students and their teachers for a real improvement of 17 points over the second best score (11.33%) and 33 points over last year's score.

But what about the parents who encouraged their offspring to take the practice test, use the software, and paid to let their teens take the SAT? Shouldn't they get some credit as well? You bet! It isn't just the teachers who set expectations about what their students will do. Parents play a big role how their children see themselves and whether they believe they are able to achieve. Good work, parents, in helping your children realize their potential.

What about the members of the Board of Education who approved expenditures for this PSAT and SAT software practice activity? Shouldn't they get some credit. Yup, they should. Not Gary Kessler, though, because he wasn't there to approve the FY '05 budget.

Finally, it has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. For the members of the class of '05, St. Mary's County achieved more of its goal of having well educated graduates for the 448 students who participated in the SAT activity. If you encouraged a high school student who wanted to give up, you are part of the village that helped our students. If you have participated on a School Improvement Team, served on a PTA or PTSO, were part of the Board of Education's Budget Advisory Committee or the Great Mills High School's Improvement Team, participated in a Diversity Forum, testified before the Board of Education on a matter of importance to you, or participated in some other education group, you are also to be congratulated.

But there's a new school year starting, even as I write this. So if you don't serve our schools, why not look for a way to be part of the success? Better schools benefit everyone in the community. If you are paying attention to what the schools are doing, you are part of the better schools process. Call your local school and find out what you can do to volunteer. Or you can e-mail me and I'll try to find a volunteer slot for you. Send that e-mail to clare@clarewhitbeck.com

But let's face it folks, the people who did the work to learn what they needed to know, who studied hard, who used the SAT software, who took the test and excelled, those people weren't the school administration. They weren't the teachers, the parents, or the members of the community. It was the students who excelled, and it is the STUDENTS who should get the praise.

CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS of 2005! You have set an example for your younger brothers and sisters that they will have to work hard to exceed. This is one time when sibling rivalry is exactly what we want. GO GET `EM, CLASS OF 2006! You can score even better!