71 North Thurston Public Schools Students Earn Seal of Biliteracy This School Year

Seventy-one students from North Thurston Public Schools earned the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy this school year, recognizing their proficiency in various world languages. Students can achieve this distinction through two pathways: earning four class-time credits and passing an approved proficiency assessment or achieving proficiency through competency-based credits. Timberline High School contributed 23 of these earners, including Hoang Tran, who excelled in Vietnamese after moving from Vietnam in 2012. Megan Kipp, who initially enrolled in French due to class availability, found her passion for the language and completed the requirements for the Seal. Eli Andino Herrera also earned the Seal through competency testing in Spanish, showcasing his bilingual upbringing from Honduras.

The program encourages students to demonstrate their language skills, with languages represented including American Sign Language, German, Japanese, and more. Notably, Ashley Cardenas earned the Seal in both French and Spanish, emphasizing the district's diverse linguistic accomplishments. This achievement not only enhances students' resumes but also prepares them for diverse career opportunities in a globalized world.