JOSHUA TREE — The Morongo Unified School District celebrated student achievements in language proficiency at its inaugural Seal of Biliteracy & Reclassification Celebration held on Jan. 22. The event recognized 24 seniors who earned the prestigious seal of biliteracy and 45 English learner development students who achieved reclassification as fluent English proficient.
The seal of biliteracy is a highly regarded academic honor awarded to students who demonstrate mastery of two or more languages. This year’s recipients excelled through rigorous assessments and coursework, showcasing their bilingual or multilingual abilities alongside a commitment to cultural and linguistic excellence.
“Learning a new language is not just about mastering vocabulary and grammar but also about opening up new perspectives, understanding diverse cultures and building bridges between communities,” said MUSD Director of Evaluation and Multilingual Learning, Dr. Danielle Snider.
“Your hard work, perseverance and dedication have brought you to this moment … You have shown that language is a powerful tool that can broaden our horizons and deepen our connections with others.”
The celebration kicked off with a student speech from YVHS senior and Seal of Biliteracy recipient Hermoine Gutierrez Rios.
“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,” she said. “The biliteracy seal entails hard work that we put in, in two languages.”
Gutierrez Rios presented her speech in both English and Spanish, celebrating her home language and her second language.
The district also applauded 45 ELD students for meeting the criteria to be reclassified as fluent English proficient. These students demonstrated remarkable progress in English language skills, reaching state and district benchmarks in listening, speaking, reading and writing.
The event underscored the district’s commitment to fostering linguistic and cultural diversity as a cornerstone of academic excellence. By celebrating these achievements, the district highlighted the value of multilingualism in today’s interconnected world and encouraged all students to embrace the power of language learning to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.