WEST ORANGE, NJ – World Languages students at West Orange High School celebrated several successes at the annual Honor Society Inductions, where new students were inducted into Chinese, French, Italian, and Spanish societies and graduating seniors received cords for graduation.
World Languages Supervisor Felix Plata welcomed students, staff, family, and friends to the packed event, which not only featured the Honor Society Inductions, but the distribution of medals for students achieving the Seal of Biliteracy, and in several cases, the Seal of Triliteracy. Parents who worked throughout the year with ESL teachers to learn English were also recognized.
“This evening is another demonstration of our program’s mission to develop globally competent, culturally responsive, and multilingual citizens; and we are excited to celebrate that mission with all of you,” Plata began.
In addressing students, Plata continued, “You are the best of our Language students, and you are the leaders of tomorrow. So while today we recognize you for your work and efforts to receive this recognition, I also challenge you to practice and continue to live by the tenets of our program:
- Practice your global competence by actively listening to others to attain a meaningful understanding of their perspectives.
- Be culturally responsive, so that, with that understanding, you can effectively interact, communicate, and share ideas with others, especially those whom you may consider to be different or with whom you disagree.
- Never forget that the ability to be multilingual grants you a window to the world and to those who live in it. So open that window, continue to grow, and share all that you have to offer, because each of you possesses qualities and attributes that can make our world a more wonderful place.”
In a particularly poignant moment, Kathleen Finn Kay spoke in memory of her niece Jane Francis Wagner, who passed away in Taiwan in 2024 while teaching due to diabetic complications. Jane was a graduate of WOHS Class of 2017 and had a passion for language, particularly Chinese (Mandarin).
In her memory, her family has created the Chinese Excellence Award. Moving forward, it will be given out at the annual Senior Awards Night. The inaugural award was presented to Alvaro Quequejana by Kay.
Read more about the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy Award, given by the New Jersey Department of Education, and earned by a record number of West Orange High School students this year, HERE.
SEE THE PHOTOS FROM THE WOHS MULTILINGUAL CELEBRATION HERE.
SEE THE PROGRAM FROM THE MULTILINGUAL CELEBRATION HERE.
Chinese Honor Society Officers Andrew Chan, Nicole Ng, Sam Lewis, Karissa Rivers
Seal of Biliteracy and Triliteracy recipients
Felix Plata with parents that studied English
Felix Plata, Alvaro Quequejana, and Kathleen Finn Kay
Jane Wagner, WOHS Class of 2017
