This year, Coronado High School awarded a record of 66 students with the State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB)— an honor given to high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.
The high school offers language classes in Spanish, French and American Sign Language, and administers tests to students in a variety of other languages.
Senior Rafael Roos was the first Coronado High School student to earn a seal in Dutch. According to the district’s kindergarten through 12th grade world languages teacher, Maylen Sullivan, the school has never specifically tested for Dutch before.
“Rafael’s father, Roelof, was the one who identified a testing company who could help us administer the Dutch test,” Sullivan said.
According to Roelof Roos, Rafael has worked on his Dutch language certification for years, and during that process, found out that he would qualify to get his SSB if the school supported it, which CHS did.
When they found out that the official Dutch exam was administered in Anaheim during advanced placement testing, the high school’s language department found another Dutch exam, which was administered on campus.
“It was excellent; we are incredibly grateful to the staff and administrators,” Roelof Roos said. “CHS is clearly at the forefront with its support for biliteracy, and I am sure many other schools will follow in the future.”
Rafael was able to meet the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands while celebrating Kings Day, a national holiday in Holland, with his family in San Diego on April 27.
The Consul General, Dirk Janssen, hand-delivered a letter congratulating Rafael on receiving the SSB in Spanish and Dutch.
“This recognition is a testament to your dedication and commitment to mastering these languages in addition to English, and it is indeed a remarkable achievement,” said Janssen.
Janssen believes Roos may be the first San Diego student to earn the SSB in Dutch, and he expressed “gratitude to Coronado High School for organizing the Dutch language examination, which has made the achievement possible.”
Information courtesy of CUSD Public Information Officer Maria Simon.
