There was plenty of language learner success to celebrate at a giant banquet Tuesday, April 25, with more students than ever before earning the state Seal of Biliteracy this year and NUSD projecting that its percentage of English learners attaining fluency will be its largest ever.
The numbers are a tribute to hard work by students and staff: 129 seniors earned the coveted Seal of Biliteracy and more than 350 kids of all ages are projected to attain fluency this year in English reading, writing, speaking and listening.
NUSD’s language learner success represents an increase of 40% over last year in Seal of Biliteracy recipients, all high school seniors, and a projected boost of more than 60% percent in Redesignated Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) students of all ages, with final numbers pending.
“By acknowledging our students and their learning, we provide them a real-life example of our Core Belief: ‘Our diversity is a strength.’ Not only do we believe this, we live this. We celebrate this. We celebrate them.”
Three students earned the state Seal of Biliteracy in English and two other languages, making them not only biliterate but multi-lingual. They and all Seal of Biliteracy recipients received a trophy from NUSD and will be given a distinctive gold medal to wear at their graduation.
Natomas High’s Edgardo Gutierrez, 17, earned the state seal in English, Spanish and French. He dreams of owning his own business someday.
“It means a lot,” he said of NUSD’s trophy. “I know I’ve worked my hardest to deserve this, and I’m happy to get this award.”
Learning to speak different languages will help him get better jobs in the future and to assist people who can’t speak English, Edgardo said.
Beili Huang, 18, of Natomas High, has much the same goal. “I could talk to people from different cultures and translate for them and help them interact with each other,” said Beili, who is literate in both Chinese and English.
Sajanpreet Malhi, of Inderkum High, said his goal is to speak English well but never forget his Indian culture.
“I want to remember my roots and where I come from, and keep that in mind, and go further in the future,” he said.
Sandra Quintero, of Leroy Greene Academy, said the ability to speak two languages will be particularly helpful in her future career: She plans to be a nurse, serving people of all cultures.
“Of course I’m proud,” said Sandra’s mother, also named Sandra Quintero. “It’s very important because that way you can get more opportunities to get a job.”
Abdal Mohammad, an Afghanistan immigrant, said he was proud of his son, Zahid Ahmad, 8, for attaining fluency in English.
“Now he’s able to talk by himself and he’ll be able to stand on his own,” Mohammad said. It will help him everywhere – in school now, in college, in career, and interacting in the community. “We’re really happy and we’re proud of him.”
