Clifton High School proudly recognized 207 seniors on May 15 for earning the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy, a prestigious distinction that celebrates students who have demonstrated proficiency in English and at least one additional language. This year’s recipients collectively represent 13 languages, reflecting the cultural richness that defines the Clifton community.
The evening ceremony, led by Yuri Diaz, Supervisor of ESL and World Languages, honored students for their academic achievement and global readiness. “Tonight, we come together, not only to recognize the remarkable language achievements of our students, but to celebrate the rich, cultural diversity that makes our Clifton community so vibrant, inclusive, and inspiring,” Diaz said.
Among the highlights:
- 49 students achieved Advanced-Level proficiency in all four domains: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- 7 students earned recognition as trilingual communicators.
- 4 recipients were awarded scholarships based on their biliteracy achievements.
Languages represented include: Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Albanian, Gujarati, Hungarian, Macedonian, French, Russian, and Polish.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Janina Kusielewicz praised the students' dedication: “This really is a testament to Clifton’s linguistic diversity. Bilingualism is one of the skills that is going to guide you for the rest of your lives. You have opened up the world to yourselves.”
Principal Mr. Hamdeh shared a personal story of language acquisition, recalling his own experience learning a new language as a child after moving abroad. “I am so impressed by all of you,” he said. “This is not an easy feat.”
The Seal of Biliteracy not only acknowledges students’ linguistic accomplishments but also highlights Clifton’s commitment to preparing students for a globally connected world.
