Do you want to be part of making Waukesha History?

Do you want to be part of making Waukesha History?

The School District of Waukesha is looking for faculty advisor/mentors for our scholars pursuing academic honors.   

The role of the faculty advisor/mentor is to support a student, or small group of students to meet deadlines and ensure that they are developing evidence to meet the criteria to earn the Waukesha Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy (see below).  

ANY staff person could be a valuable faculty advisor/mentor no matter your role.

An Information Session for interested faculty will be held on Monday March 6th at 3:30PM, in room 203D at Lindholm.  The session will be recorded for your convenience if you cannot attend but would like to get involved or are interested.

First cohort to graduate with biliteracy credential

By Lauren Anderson

Freeman Staff

WAUKESHA — This spring, a few dozen Waukesha high school seniors will graduate with a credential that shows colleges and employers they are able to communicate in more than one language.

About 40 students in the Waukesha School District are poised to earn the Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy, a recognition given to students who have demonstrated achievement in bilingualism, biliteracy, and multicultural competence in and through two or more languages.

This is the first year students are eligible to receive the biliteracy endorsement, which will be reflected on their diplomas and transcripts.

“The purpose of the award is to communicate to the community, to future employers and universities that we have bilingual, biliterate and globallycompetent students,” said Deirdre Garcia, director of multilingual and global education for the Waukesha School District.

The award was first offered in 2008 in California and has since spread in recent years to 23 states, Wisconsin among the most recent. So far, the Waukesha and Verona school districts are approved to offer the recognition, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

To earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students have to demonstrate proficiency in English on the ACT, as well as in a partner language by scoring proficiently on an AP test in Spanish, French,or another language; or on the SAT in that language; or on the Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages test.

Other requirements include writing an essay in both English and their partner language that demonstrates they are able to examine their own perspective, as well as the perspectives of others. Finally, they must develop their own service project and complete it.

Garcia said families of participating students are enthusiastic about the award, recognizing it could give their children an advantage as they enter college and the workforce.

And for many students coming from Spanishspeaking homes, she said, it’s a validation of their upbringing.

“These parents never expected they would be publicly recognized for a skill they gave (their children),” she said. “They’ve never heard ‘Your kids are scholars. Look at what they can do.’ So it’s been really validating for all kinds of kids, but validating for different ways.”

Those interested in learning more about pursuing the Seal of Biliteracy can contact Garcia at dmgarcia@waukesha.k12. wi.us.