Twenty-six seniors at Woodlands High School proudly completed their New York State Seal of Biliteracy presentations last week, showcasing mastery of English and at least one additional language.
Students demonstrated proficiency in Spanish, Mandarin, Urdu, and Tagalog through conversational discussions with teachers, staff, and community members on topics of their choice.
Organized by Ms. Berkowitz-Torres and Ms. Gorman, the program marks the fourth consecutive year Woodlands has offered the New York State Seal of Biliteracy, providing students with a valuable credential that recognizes their bilingual achievements.
Among the presentations, Isabella Cabezas, seeking the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, discussed family vacations and how each destination shaped her understanding of culture, including the diversity of experiences she encountered in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and even within the United States.
Woodlands senior Jaden Samuel, who began studying Spanish just two years ago, presented on how video games evoke nostalgia and meaning memories for him.
Another student, Muhammad Dawood, is pursuing a rare Seal of Tri-Literacy in English, Spanish, and Urdu. He centered his presentation on his native country, Pakistan, and reflected on how his relationship to language has evolved throughout his life.
“My first languages were Pashto and Urdu. With my family, I speak Pashto. When I’m in Pakistan, I speak Urdu,” he said. “English is a language you definitely need to speak, and when I came here, I wanted to learn Spanish because everyone was speaking it. I love languages.”
“This year, we encouraged students to include more research and background knowledge on their topics and to integrate cultural interpretations of their language,” said Ms. Gorman. “This prepared them to be more spontaneous in their conversations with evaluators. It’s great to see how they’ve progressed throughout the year. They’ve done an excellent job.”
This year also marked the first time the majority of evaluators were members of the Greenburgh community rather than district staff members.
“Since our first year, community support keeps growing, as do the languages represented,” said Ms. Berkowitz-Torres. “The parent and community response this year was significant. It represents a collective effort to build community through language. We look forward to expanding it further next year.”
Gabriela Barahona, a parent of three children in the district, volunteered this year as a Spanish evaluator and said the experience was meaningful on multiple levels.
“It was an opportunity to meet some of this year’s graduates, which I enjoyed,” she said. “One of the students I spoke with had only started learning Spanish two years ago, and he was able to hold a conversation with me. I was impressed by the diversity of projects and the students’ passions and pride in their work. It was inspiring to see.”
Dr. Nadim Farooqi, Director of Global Learning and Academic Excellence, said the Seal of Biliteracy represents more than recognition on a diploma.
“The Seal of Biliteracy gives students the unique opportunity to share their ability to speak more than one language, reinforcing the importance of multiculturalism and strengthening the connection between identity and the world around them.”