The number of seniors in New York and nationally who graduate with a Seal of Biliteracy on their diploma continues to grow, and Ossining High School students are no exception.
This year, 20 members of the OHS Class of 2020 have completed all the requirements for the award, which recognizes students who have acquired a high level of proficiency in two or more world languages (including English). Seven additional students are still finishing the requirements. The state granted an extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, 13 OHS graduates received the Seal of Biliteracy on their diploma, a special cord, a certificate and a medallion.
"We are immensely proud of the students who diligently followed the path to reach this wonderful recognition, and who completed all the requirements in spite of the challenges presented this year due to the COVID-19 crisis," said Nancy de la Cruz-Arroyo, director of the district's Bilingual and English as a Second Language programs. "I am grateful to Nicholas Cook, the Seal of Biliteracy adviser at Ossining High School, who worked closely with students on the development and completion of the required portfolios."
Senior Tia Lema said the Seal of Biliteracy program brought her closer to her Hispanic heritage and increased her self-confidence. Her mother is Italian and her father is Chilean.
"I believe the Seal of Biliteracy was a true benefit for me. This is because it gave me a confidence I didn't know I had," she said. "Seeing that last year, only 13 students got the seal, I knew it must have been difficult. I didn't think I'd be able to do it because even though I've been taking Spanish for six years, I didn't grow up with my fluent father speaking Spanish to me. Definitely a regret, but I think it motivated me to work harder for wanting to truly be a part of my Hispanic background."
Tia plans to major in biology with a pre-medical track at Binghamton University. She wants to minor in Spanish to further improve and use it in her everyday life. "My main goal in life is to learn as many languages as I can and I believe that obtaining a Seal of Biliteracy was a great place to start," she said.
The seal denotes that the graduates are highly proficient in listening, speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages, in addition to English. This is the third year Ossining has offered students the option.
OHS students must take world language and English language arts classes, earn a grade point average of 85 or above in them, get recommendations from teachers, and complete 20 hours of community service in the target language. Examples of community service include greeting parents at a Back to School Night or assisting during a parent-teacher meeting. They also have score 80 or higher on the English Language Arts Regents Exam and earn a 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement English Language or English Literature exam, as well as present a culminating project, essay or portfolio.
The state Board of Regents approved the Seal of Biliteracy program in 2016 to encourage the study of world languages, recognize the value of that knowledge, and prepare students with 21st century skills. The seal also gives universities and employers a means of identifying people who have a high level of language and biliteracy skills.
A February 2020 report from the New York State Education Department found that 4,031 students in the Class of 2019 earned the Seal of Biliteracy in 47 different languages. That was more students than the total of the three prior years combined.
In the 2018-19 school year, 228 schools in the state offered the Seal of Biliteracy, an increase of 98% from 2017-18. The Hudson Valley region had the highest percentage of high schools that offer the seal at 23%. That compares to 22% on Long Island and 17% in New York City.
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June 11, 2020 at 12:35AM
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Seal of Biliteracy Program Participation Grows in Ossining - Patch.com
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