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This year, 21 students earned the prestigious New York State Seal of Biliteracy, which will be affixed to their diplomas and included in their school transcripts. In addition, two students have achieved the Seal of Triliteracy designation–the first in Rondout Valley history to have done so. 

Students earn the Seal of Biliteracy distinction by successfully completing coursework in English and a world language, while also completing a major research project and an interview conducted in their target language. Their presentations typically last 10–20 minutes, and are followed by a 10-minute question-and-answer session with a panel of evaluators fluent in their chosen language. This year, the projects ranged from biographical reports on athletes, artists, and authors to explorations of culture, to presentations on the environment and magic realism. 

Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator and RVHS Spanish teacher Victoria Robertson is proud of the program RVHS has built. “Watching them carry out these projects is one of the most rewarding parts of my job,” she said. “Every year you see a tremendous amount of growth in these students, not just in terms of their language acquisition, which is significant, but also in their confidence, their maturity, and their ability to challenge themselves and carry out goals.” 

The Seal of Biliteracy Committee supports students throughout the process through mentoring, research guidance, and presentation preparation. In addition to Robertson, the Committee includes World Language teacher Patricia Abi-Hassan, English Language Arts (ELA) teacher Robyn McDonough, School Counselor Alison Klein, Library Media Specialist Tara Thibault-Edmonds, and ENL teacher Rebecca Horwitz. 

McDonough remarked that it is a privilege to be part of the Seal of Biliteracy Committee. “Each year, I am inspired watching students step forward to present topics they care deeply about, sharing their knowledge in another language with peers and evaluators alike,” she said. “This year is especially meaningful, as it marks the first time since the program’s inception that the Seal of Triliteracy was earned.” 

Seniors Diego Castro Linares and Ziqing Liu each made program history by demonstrating proficiency in three languages. “This milestone reflects the strength and value of multilingualism in our community, and the continued success of the program,” said Robertson.

Diego recounted the path he took to earn his Seal of Triliteracy. “I am El Salvadorian, and growing up we would speak only Spanish at home, and I would visit my family in El Salvador multiple times per year,” he recalled. “My Seal of Biliteracy project in Spanish was on El Salvadorian culture and how beautiful the country is.”

Diego began studying French in seventh grade, following the advice of his mother. “I have enjoyed the challenge to push myself to learn a third language and try for the Seal of Biliteracy in French,” he explained. “What inspired me most was all the support I had to challenge myself and to achieve this goal.” 

Ziqing’s family owns Asia, a restaurant in Stone Ridge. She shared that she speaks Mandarin Chinese at home and has studied Spanish since Middle School. “Growing up at my parents’ restaurant, I am able to use both Chinese and Spanish at times when I am working with customers, and it really helps me to communicate and meet their needs,” she said. 

As a junior, Ziqing earned her first Seal by giving a presentation in Mandarin on the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. This year she presented in Spanish, focusing on the role of rice in Chinese and Latin American cultures, earning her Seal in Spanish. “I plan to major in hospitality in college, and I feel that especially in that specific industry, there is a diverse range of people and cultures that would require me to know more languages to be able to connect and network with others.” she said. 

The students receiving Seals this year are: John Basten (French), Fahad Bhuiyan (Spanish), Tristan Cantello (French), Diego Castro Linares (French and Spanish), Tatiana Claros Munoz (Spanish), Maven Flamhaft (French), Sienna Greenberg (Spanish), Elizabeth Hanigan (Spanish), Grace Kiszkiel (French), Jack Kotsides (French), Jacob Kraft (French), Harris Kyaw (French), Ziqing Liu (Mandarin and Spanish), Grace McArdle (Spanish), Camille McMillan (Spanish), Ruby Ortner (Spanish), Hudson Paley (French), Borny Patwoary (Spanish), Hanna Rylewicz (Spanish), Ivonne Vazquez Avila (Spanish), and Gypsy Wish (Spanish).

McDonough expressed the Committee’s pride in all those who participated in the Seal of Biliteracy program. “I am incredibly proud of every student who worked hard to obtain the Seal, and equally proud of those who, even if they didn’t earn it, showed tremendous courage by taking on the challenge,” she declared.