Students in West High School English Learners program honored for achievement

West High School educates 81 of the district's 1,660 English Learners.

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Muhammad Taking gets a round of applause from his friends as he heads to the stage for his certificate of honors. Photo/Carol Robidoux

MANCHESTER, NH – In a spirit of accomplishment, recognition and celebration, students enrolled in the West High School English Learners program were honored June 1 with a brief ceremony and lots of cake. Students assembled in the second-floor auditorium and were joined by family members. Each student’s name was called and certificates were presented to outstanding students by their teachers.

Screen Shot 2017 06 01 at 7.48.43 PMSchool Superintendent Bolgen Vargas urged the students to remember one thing in particular that has contributed to their success, whether it was advice from a teacher, or relationships forged with peers – or even just that good feeling you get for completing work on time.

“There are many lessons to be learned, but take the most special one, especially you seniors – think about it in the next 10 days or so that you have left–  and always remember if you have the courage to succeed, you always will, because the steps to success begin with you. Congratulations,” Vargas said.

West Principal Richard Dishard thanked all the parents and family members for joining the celebration, and took the opportunity to make a confession.

“I want everyone in the audience to know I’m very, very jealous, because you have a skill I don’t have. I only know one language; many of you know at least two or more, and in our world today, that’s an unbelievable asset to have as you go through life, to be able to communicate means everything in this world,” Dishard said.

FACT: The district’s English Learner (EL) Program supports students with instruction focused on the development of academic English. According to the most recent district report on English Learners, there are 1,660 students enrolled in the district as English Learners, representing 12 percent of the total student population. About 23 percent of students in the district say that a language other than English is spoken at home. 

EL teacher Liz Kirwan announced that 47 percent of West’s EL student qualified as “High Performers,” which is the highest achievable level of English language proficiency.

“You should all give yourselves a hand,” Kirwan said, before handing out certificates to the group. 

You can find more comprehensive data about the district’s English Learners program here.

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Julia Ferreira was among the 2017 High Performers honored at West High School.

FACT: The district’s English Learners represent 76 different countries and bring with them the multilingual assets of 62 different macro languages.The top 10 languages spoken in the Manchester district are:

Screen Shot 2017 06 01 at 8.45.37 PM

 

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Isaac Tshibal Munyanya, left, is congratulated by Superintendent Bolgen Vargas. Isaac, 19, lost his eyesight to cancer at the age of 1. He arrived in Manchester from the Congo in Feb. of 2016.

FACT: According to the most recent survey of students, 80 percent of English learners speak one of the top three languages. Newcomers (students who have arrived during the last year) come to the district from the following countries:

1. United States 

2. Dominican Republic

3. Puerto Rico

4. Congo

5. Kenya

6. Nepal

7. Pakistan

8. Iraq

 9. El Salvador

10. Honduras


Below are the students who received special honors during the EL ceremony:

Principal’s List

  • Beepana Gajmer
  • Karine Irihose
  • Luz Jimenez Molina
  • Ange Kalambay
  • Arjun Monger
  • Fenny Nekesa
  • Bethsaeda Silencieux
  • Leonardo Vasquez-Molina
  • Shan Zhang

High Honors

A student can receive “High Honors” for exceptional grades. Requirements: A student must be taking at least 5 classes; must not fail (or get an F) in any classes; must maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) GPA of 3.5-3.8499 . This means, the student received mostly A’s and B’s in all classes.

  • Sana Abdul Aziz
  • Ahed Ali
  • Beepana Gajmer
  • Ritika Ghaley
  • Franchesca Gomez-Acevedo
  • Karine Irihose
  • Luz Jimenez Molina
  • Ange Kalambay
  • Isnino Khamis
  • Cheng Xiong Lin
  • Victorina Lumona
  • Arianny Martinez
  • Delphine Mato
  • Fenny Nekesa
  • Genesis Nunez Melendez
  • Justus (Tee Jay) Ogunsuyi
  • Muna Tamang
  • Bhawana Thapa
  • Shan Zhang
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Jorgerid Torres was among the 47 percent of West EL students designated as a High Achiever.

Honors

A student can receive “Honors” for strong grades: Requirements: A student must be taking at least 5 classes;  must not fail (or get an F) in any classes; must maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) GPA of 3.0-3.499.

  • Sana Abdul Aziz
  • Maytham Al Mhesin
  • Marwah Al Thuwayni
  • Ali Alfarra
  • Ahed Ali
  • Zainab Ali
  • Hema Basnet
  • Bal Basnet
  • Anjea Beda
  • Ritika Ghaley
  • Alondra Gomez-Acevedo
  • Natalie Henriquez
  • Bishnu Homagai
  • Isnino Khamis
  • Geeta Khanal
  • Cheng Xiong Lin
  • Nelson Marwanga
  • Delphine Mato
  • Ganga Monger
  • Jamuna Monger
  • Manita Neorala
  • Genesis Nunez Melendez
  • Dinesh Rai
  • Kathiria Ramos Montalvo
  • Claribel Rodriguez Martinez
  • Luz Rodriguez Martinez
  • Bethsaeda Silencieux
  • Isaac Tshibal Munyanya
  • Norvin (Vinny) Tozaj
  • Nayelli Vizcaino Romero
  • Prajina Wagley

2017 High Performers

Students who qualify for Tier C have the highest English language proficiency in the EL Program. They demonstrate academic rigor in all subject matters: English, Math, Science and Social Studies. This year 47 percent of EL students qualified for the highest tier (Tier C).

  • Maytham Al Mhesin*
  • Ali Al Megdad
  • Ahed Ali
  • Zainab Ali
  • Hema Basnet
  • Bal Basnet
  • Anjea Beda
  • Kianaly Carpio
  • Tyana Cruz
  • Francis Echeverria
  • Danny Encarnacion
  • Julia Ferreira
  • Ritika Ghaley*
  • Jennifer Granados
  • Natalie Henriquez
  • Robin Kami
  • Lin Cheng Xiong*
  • Delphine Mato
  • Ibrahim Mohamed
  • Arjun Monger
  • Fenny Nekesa
  • Prusutam Nepal*
  • Keith Nguyen
  • Genesis Nunez Melendez*
  • Justus Ogunsuyi
  • Janpaul Ortiz
  • Subeksha Pulami Magar*
  • Yamilette Quinones Santiago
  • Nayeli Quinones Santiago*
  • Dinesh Rai*
  • Kathiria Ramos Montalvo
  • Sarmila Rasaily*
  • Angel Rivera*
  • Richard Rosario
  • Bethsaeda Silencieux***
  • Muna Tamang
  • Bhawana Thapa
  • Natasha Torres
  • Leonardo Vasquez-Molina
  • Thiik Yai

As of Oct. 2016 the following languages were spoken by 2,120 students enrolled in the Manchester School District:

991 Spanish; 207 Arabic; 156 Nepali; 104 Vietnamese; 86 Maay; 64 Bosnian; 60 Swahili; 58 French; 43 Somali; 41 Urdu; 40 Yoruba; 30 Portuguese; 27 Dinka; 16 Albanian; 15 Rwandan; 13 Turkish; 12 Russian; 10 Chinese; 10 Haitian Creole; 10 Kirundi; 9 Lingala; 8 Tagalog; 7 Farsi; 7 Liberian English; 7 Telugu; 6 Creole; 6 Khana; 5 Bantu; 5 Pashto; 5 Rundi; 4 Burmese; 4 Krahn; 4 Tamil; 3 Alaba; 3 Croatian; 3 Hindi; 3 Krio; 3 Kurdish; 3 Ukrainian; 2 Amharic; 2 Greek; 2 Igbo; 2 Kannada; 2 Nyanja; 2 Pakistani; 2 Panjabi; 2 Romanian; 1 Akan; 1 Akposso; 1 Bengali; 1 Cantonese; 1 Cebuano; 1 Filipino; 1 Indonesian; 1 Italian; 1 Jamaican Creole; 1 Khmer; 1 Konkani; 1 Korean; 1 Ma’di; 1 Polish; 1 Twi; 1 Zulu. 

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!