On May 15th, Columbia Middle School hosted a Reclassification Celebration event to honor 14 students who achieved becoming fluent in the English language. These students who started their schooling designated as English Learners have successfully passed the testing requirements and teacher recommendations to be reclassified by the state of California. This is a huge accomplishment, and we are proud to celebrate and recognize these students!
Families of students arrived at the Columbia library, where tables were decorated with congratulatory signs. The evening began with a potluck style dinner coordinated by Roxana Portillo, bilingual outreach assistant, and families who helped to plan and set up for the evening.
After dinner, families were welcomed by Principal Daniel Poo and Assistant Principal Jamie Bradley. They were then treated to an inspirational message shared by a very special keynote speaker, Gianella Ordonez, a Policy and Advocacy Associate at the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits and Sunnyvale School District alumna!
Gianella delivered an inspiring graduation speech to the students, sharing her personal journey as a student who also completed an ESL program in middle school, just like them. She recounted how joining the AVID program in high school provided crucial support for navigating the college application process, ultimately leading to a full-ride scholarship to Santa Clara University where she studied Political Science. Gianella emphasized the importance of seeking help and community support, recalling how she overcame academic struggles during the pandemic by reaching out to professors and mentors.
She left the graduates with three key lessons: embracing failures as temporary setbacks, recognizing that they are not alone and should build a support system, and being brave enough to ask for help and pursue their goals. Finally, she advised them not to let financial worries hinder their education, highlighting how hard work and good grades can lead to scholarships and other supportive programs.
And then, the moment everyone was waiting for, each attending student was invited to receive their certificate of achievement from Assistant Principal Bradley. Students lined up across the room, holding their certificates as family members clicked pictures and applauded. Congratulations again to all of our students and their families!
