L to R front row: Kylee Mason, Alyssa Townsend
2nd row: Jocelyn Lewis, Sarah Johns, Kylie Vandiver
3rd row: Laila Briseno, Arianna Denmark, Bryley Lee
4th row: Maria Papaioannou, Natalie Layfield, Marli Hemphill
top row: Ryder Thomas, Iolanthe Cushman, Phillip Knapp
Inductees holding candles: L to R Laina Briseno, Bryley Lee, Maria Papaioannou, Arianna Denmark, Phillip Knapp, Kylie Vandiver, Sarah Johns, Kylee Mason, Jocelyn Lewis and Iolanthe Cushman
BY JENN SAMSEL
A group of students master two languages and truly excel. Each year, only a few earn this prestigious honor, making it a remarkable achievement.
On Thursday, February 26, the Induction Ceremony of the French Honor Society, La Société Honoraire de Français, alongside the Inaugural Induction of the Spanish Honor Society, La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica: La Luz de Keystone Chapter, occurred at the Keystone Heights Junior Senior High School in Keystone Heights.
The ceremony inducted 22 students into both the French and Spanish Honor Societies.
During the event, previous inductees recited the motto in both French and Spanish before passing a candle to each new member. After receiving their candle, the new members recited the motto for the first time, which earned them a certificate and a pin. Additionally, graduating seniors were presented with a special medal.
“American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) is the National Organization for Oral Languages, and if the students achieve an intermediate mid, which ACTFL gauges that it might take seven years to reach that level. If they reach that level, they earn the silver Florida Seal of Biliteracy. Last year, in Spanish, I had two students earn that level after only two years of Spanish. We were super excited,” said Diana Scarborough, Spanish Teacher and Spanish Honor Society, Keystone Heights Junior Senior High School.
To be selected for this award and inducted, a student must have completed two years of the language, an A grade, be in the second year or second semester, and have an overall GPA of 3.2.
The French program began in 2003 and has continued since. The Spanish program has now become part of the induction, making this year their second year.
“When students finish 4, that makes them proficient enough to speak fluently. I love the fact that the students are taking my class for 4 years. That’s wonderful, and I’m glad that they get to earn it, and on a test, that’s a bigger deal. We are so proud,” said Madame Brenda Velez, French Teacher and French Honor Society, Keystone Heights Junior Senior High School.
Students who earn this type of achievement can receive scholarships, gain admission to prestigious colleges, apply for jobs, and demonstrate to employers that they can speak more than one language.
An array of various French and Spanish dishes was available for the families attending the ceremony to try and enjoy.
Standards-Based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP) is a proctored, computer-adaptive test that evaluates four skills: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. STAMP testing for the Biliteracy program will occur after spring break.
The Spanish program is working on a third-year Spanish course and hopes to make it available to students.
Front row: Christopher Gray, Schiley Starling, Joshua Blank, Hunter Sheppard, Gloria Gilmore, Lilli Zielinski, Aiden Kiser, Kyra Cogley, Owen Richards, Landon Spence
Second row: Katelyn Kruegar, Heather Jarzynka, Ryleigh Spivey, Kenly Chitty, Antonia McCormick, Kennedy Carlton, Savanna Hem, Braelyn Zurek, Skylar Brown, Veda Blumberg
Third row: Christian Boulet, Maddox Hay, Evie Hallberg, Kherrington Norman, Cammi Ackerman, Marijane Clark, Madisyn Wilson, Dominick Rodgers, Ammie Haast, Kayden Westberry
Fourth row: Rena Reddish, Olivia Griffin, Grace Gilmore, Zoey Showalter, Nicolyn Kubisiak, Bennet Scott, Virginia Baxter, Alivea McClure.
Missing from picture: Lillian Booth, Éthan Franklin, Tinleigh Gubics, Ava Herman, Briley Kendrick, Hailyn Knight, Alexis Mitola, Jensie Paddock, Wesley Poncher, Alexys Schleeter
