Four students at Belleville High School won the Biliteracy medal. Victor Munongo, Yailsa Puerto-Diaz, Louwanny Nicholas, and Juan Flores are the four BHS seniors who won this prestigious award.
The Biliteracy medal awards students who are graduating from high school for being fluent in two or more languages. It is called the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy.
Currently, 49 students at BHS, varying from different skill levels and languages, are receiving help from ELS services. These students either moved from another country recently, have been in the U.S for a while but are still working towards learning the English language, or are from America but do not know English as their primary language. ELS stands for Education Services Inc. It is an English language learning program for students whose primary language is not English. When joining ELS services, students take an assessment to assess their current knowledge. The type of help they received is based on their WIDA language proficiency score. This is based on a sale of 1.0 through 6.0. With each score being a different level of proficiency. A score of 1.0 means the student is entering, 2.0 means the student is emerging, 3.0 means the student is developing, 4.0 means the student is expanding, 5.0 means the student is bridging, and 6.0 means the student is reaching. These scores reflect how well the students can read, write, and speak in English.
Mrs Patterson stated, “At BHS, if you score a low level, you will receive daily help from Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Matelski, and your classroom teachers.” ELS services are extremely important in America. It is becoming more common for students from other countries to attend American schools. It is great that schools are offering this program to students, so we can accommodate everyone.
Mrs. Patterson also discussed what these students winning the Biliteracy award meant to her, and she said, “This means these students have worked incredibly hard through their school career, having learned to read, write, speak, and listen in two languages. Additionally, they have the ability to be a huge asset to future employers who are looking for this skill. and even save a lot of money by being able to test out of college language courses.” Earning the Biliteracy medal can even help you in the future. It can help with future employment, and you could use it to get a higher wage at your job because you can speak to many groups of people. Students can even test out of language courses in college.
Spotlight: Celebrating Louwanny Nicholas
Q&A with Louwanny
Could you share with us a little about your earliest experiences with languages and cultures?
I was born and raised in Dominica, where English ruled the world around me. It was spoken in classrooms, and carried in conversations. But inside the quiet corners of my home, another current flowed. My mother, from the Dominican Republic, brought her roots with her. She filled our house with the sounds of bachata, and conversations that flowed in Spanish like poetry. I didn’t learn it by studying, but by living it.
What motivated you to pursue the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy?
Pursuing the seal of biliteracy was a way of honouring both the English that raised me, and the Spanish that rooted me. It wasn’t simply about proving I could speak two languages, but about affirming that I belong to two worlds and both had shaped who I’ve become.
How has the Seal benefited you personally?
The seal of biliteracy has allowed me to connect with others in a deeper way. Especially here, where language can often divide and create barriers, ive been able to connect with people, and learn about their lives . A simple conversation in their native tongue can create a moment of understanding and belonging.
What advice would you give to other high school students who want to earn the Seal?
To any student thinking about going for the seal: do it. Whether your language comes from home, culture, or something you chose to learn, it’s valuable. Don’t let the fear of mistakes keep you back, language is meant to be lived not perfected.
What’s next on your language learning journey?
I’ve always been drawn to languages. There’s so much power in being able to understand others in their own terms. If I had the time I’d learn them all, but realistically, I’m looking at Italian or Portuguese next. Both close enough to be familiar, but different enough to challenge me.
Complete the sentence: “Learning another language means…”
Breaking down barriers and opening the door to deeper understanding, connections, and community.
