A multi-year commitment to language will culminate in the New York State Seal of Biliteracy for 11 Wantagh High School seniors. They will receive the prestigious designation on their diplomas when they graduate in June. 

 

Students earn the Seal of Biliteracy by demonstrating proficiency in English and at least one other world language. Wantagh offers French, Italian and Spanish beginning in seventh grade and students can continue their studies through senior year with college-level courses. 

 

This year’s Seal of Biliteracy recipients are: 

 

French: Analise Keym and Shannon Mills.

 

Italian: Victoria Ferraro, Keira O’Brien and Brady Wolken.

 

Spanish: Matthew D’Amico, Liam Fields, Reese McCarthy, Evan Mostransky, Madison Rodriguez and Madison Spar.

 

“I wanted something to encapsulate how much work I’ve put into Italian over the past few years,” Brady said. “It’s been one of my constant favorite classes.”

 

Director of Humanities Julie Rosslee said that the process is very rigorous, as students have to complete projects in both English and a world language. For the world language research project, they do a cultural comparison between the United States and a country where that language is spoken. 

 

Keira project was on the differences between concussions in two popular sports – football in the United States and soccer in Italy. She said she has enjoyed learned another language and culture over the past several years and gaining the ability to communicate with more people. Pursuing the Seal of Biliteracy gives her a tangible result of her hard work, Keira added.

 

Ms. Rosslee commended the Seal of Biliteracy recipients for their hard work and dedication, as well as the world language teachers for the time, insight and support they have provided to help their students achieve success. The names of all recipients are added to a plaque on the second floor near the world language classrooms.