Hollister
– After hugging his principal, 9-year-old Jonathan Vallejo
smiled broadly up at his mom in the audience as the crowd cheered
him on.
Hollister – After hugging his principal, 9-year-old Jonathan Vallejo smiled broadly up at his mom in the audience as the crowd cheered him on.
His eyes clearly displayed the pride he felt.
The certificate he held in his hands stated that he was no longer classified by the district as an “English learner,” but was fully proficient in English.
“I was nervous walking up, but I feel very proud,” said Vallejo, a third-grader at Sunnyslope School.
The Hollister School District recognized 123 students Tuesday for becoming fully proficient in English throughout the course of the year. The students – the vast majority of which come from Spanish-speaking homes – were initially classified as being English learners by the district.
The reclassification ceremony, which is conducted in English and Spanish, is a proud moment for many of the families, who see it as the first step toward academic success for their children.
Timoteo Melendez cheered on his 10-year-old daughter Kimberly.
“We’re very happy that she already speaks full English,” Melendez said. He said he and his wife occasionally spoke in English with her at home, but they were proud to see that she has taken such strides in her education.
The Hollister School District has 1,941 students who are classified as English learners, 33 percent of the overall student population. The district is hoping to decrease this number by making sure that English proficiency is a priority.
“The state wants students to get to a point where the English language is not an impediment to their learning,” said Antonio Vela, who heads the English learners program at the district.
This year marks an increase in the number of students who have been reclassified as English proficient – up from 88 students last year.
“The district has given a lot of attention to the reclassification rate, so we see (the increase) as a positive sign that we’re doing a better job,” Vela said.
In order to become reclassified, English learner students must get a basic score on state tests and perform well on other standardized exams, receive passing grades, and display grade-level proficiency in writing.
“You have worked so that you can study side-by-side with your counterparts who speak English as their only language,” said Vela, addressing the students. “We have given you the tools to be successful in English, and we hope that you’ll continue to be successful.”
The students will now have the same expectations as students coming from English-only families.
Most of the students seemed excited by the challenge.
“I’m proud because I finally get to do what other kids get to do,” said Vanessa Gutierrez, 10, a fifth-grader at Cerra Vista.
