Hop Brook Recognizes the Accomplishments of English-Language Learners

Hop Brook Elementary School celebrated some of their most-improved English Language Learners on Thursday. Tesol teacher Mary Johnson recognized five students who are exiting the program because they have passed the rigorous LAS Links testing that is administered every winter at the elementary level.

Johnson, who has been teaching for 28 years, described the testing as very difficult, taking hours broken up over time. The bilingual student is tested on their English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

Five Hop Brook students are exiting the ELL program at the end of this school year. Each dual language student was presented with a colorful certificate, a stole in the colors of the flag of their native country, and a Mylar balloon to take home. The family of the five students attended the recognition ceremony to appreciate their achievements.

Congratulations to fourth grade student Yousef Abdalqader, Gionmarco Alvarez, fourth grader Maria Rodrigues, third grade student Joao Lukas Dias Ludig, who is an avid reader, and Asande Msowoyo, a first grade student with boundless energy who was celebrating her birthday on the same day.

Certificates were also presented to ten students that had made significant gains in their scores. They were delighted to celebrate their improvement with their Hop Brook classmates.

Hop Brook staff members that stopped by to congratulate the students included paraeducator Melissa Borunda, Reading Specialist Rachel Maher and the school’s principal, Kathryn Taylor.

Kindergarten Teacher Sophia Karistinos called the classroom and asked Johnson to convey her congratulations to all of the students that were recognized.

Assisting with the event were Kelly Janowitz, the Bilingual Teacher at Hop Brook and Margarida Rodrigues, who works with the students as the Native Language Tutor.