At the April board meeting, the Solana Beach School District celebrated a special group of 44 students who have reclassified from English learner status to Fluent English Proficient status this school year. The students have met the challenge of being able to understand and communicate effectively in a new language.
“I can tell you firsthand it takes a lot of dedication for a student to accomplish it,” said Jovani Mejia, a sixth grader from Skyline School. “Many students like me are now considered bilingual. Bilingualism strengthens thinking abilities, in fact, bilingual people tend to be more creative, flexible and better communicators.”
Solana Highlands Principal Lindsey Conley recognized the hard work of the students from six schools and how their diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds “enhance the diversity and vibrancy of schools.”
There are around 280 students in the district who are considered English learners with 10% speaking another language in addition to English, a fun fact shared by newly reclassified student Alessandra Czukerberg , a second grader at Solana Highlands. More than 30 different languages are spoken across the school sites: “I feel lucky to be a part of what makes Solana Beach schools so diverse and unique,” Alessandra said.
After the students were recognized with certificates of achievement, SBSD President Debra Schade congratulated the students on reaching such a significant milestone in their educational journey.
“This achievement is a testament to their perseverance, resilience and commitment to excellence and we extend our gratitude to our students for their determination and mastering a new language,” Scahde said. “Their enthusiasm for learning and eagerness to embrace new challenges inspires us all.”
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