Last night at Joshua Tree Elementary, MUSD celebrated their English Language Proficiency Assessments for California Reclassification and Seal of Biliteracy, a recognition by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction for graduating high school students who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.
Serenaded by Mariachi Palm Springs, Joshua Tree Elementary’s multipurpose room filled with students, parents, staff, and board members to herald the achievement. Master of Ceremony was Director of Evaluation and Multilingual Learning Dr. Daniele Snider who gave the Welcome, Introduction of Distinguished Guests comprised of MUSD staff, and the Recognition of Reclassification, the latter of which students must achieve an overall score of 4 on ELPAC, the Basic Skills Literacy Assessment, teacher assessment, and parent consultation.
Snider then invited Yucca Valley High student Hermoine Guitierrez Rios to the podium to deliver the Student Reflection in both English and Spanish:
“I am a first-generation student, which means that my family did not have the opportunity to have an education; moreover, an education with opportunities I am receiving. The biliteracy seal entails hard work that we put in, in two languages. We have to obtain good grades as well as qualify and prove that we speak both languages, which is for me English and Spanish. I would like to thank my mom because she has pushed me every single day and has always told me to take advantage of the opportunities I have been given. I also want to thank MUSD for giving us the opportunity to earn this seal, as not every school offers the biliteracy seal. I would like to thank all of you for coming, have a great night.”
Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Amy Woods then presented the State Seal of Biliteracy, reminding students of the full scope of the importance of being bilingual:
“It is through language that we share our stories, it is through language that we share our dreams and our aspirations and our goals. By achieving the seal of biliteracy, you have mastered a skill and you now have become ambassadors of cultural understanding. Congratulations to every one of you. May this achievement only inspire you to continue your journey of learning and exploration to the next level.”
