April 7, 2007

Evergreen Elementary School District students celebrated for English Proficiency achievements

The Evergreen Elementary school district celebrated the reclassification of more than 450 students who completed the district’s English Language Learner program with a graduation ceremony held at the Quimby Oak Middle School Gymnasium on April 4.

Cedar Grove Elementary School student Luis Tovar, shown here with his family, was one of 175 students celebrated and reclassified as English Proficient by the Evergreen Elementary School District at a graduation ceremony at Quimby Oak Middle School on April 4. All told, more than 450 students were reclassified by the district as English Proficient.

The graduation, according to Kathy Gomez, Evergreen Elementary School District’s Director of Educational Services, celebrated the achievements of students who entered the district classified as Limited English Proficient students.

To that end, the students enter the English Language Learner program, headed by Cadwal-lader Elementary School Principal Denise Williams, in order to gain the reclassification of English proficient through classes. Prior to being reclassified, Gomez said, all of the students must de-monstrate fluency both orally and in writing. On average, students will take 3-5 years to complete the program, she added.

“It truly is a collaborative effort by the students, the parents, the teachers and the school staff,” Gomez said of the English Proficient reclassification. “It’s a huge accomplishment on the part of the kids and one that we feel needs to be acknowledged in a big way.”

The graduation celebration itself saw more than 175 students receive achievement medals from Evergreen Elementary School District Superintendent Clif Black and members of the district’s Board of Trustees. All of the graduates attending the ceremony, along with their families, were also treated to food and music following the graduation ceremony.