Originally published on Marshalls News Messenger – October 27th, 2023
The Hallsville ISD school board celebrated the record number of students who were bilingual program exits across each campus at a school board meeting on Monday.
The acknowledgment went to bilingual program exits across each campus where the program is available for the 2022-23 academic year, including nine students from brick and mortar schools and 21 from the Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville met the criteria needed.
“This is the first time that we’ve gotten to do this for this team, so we are really excited about getting to recognize these people,” said Hallsville ISD Special and Federal Programs Director Amy Whittle.
The students from brick and mortar schools at Hallsville ISD who were recognized included Natanael De La Rosa from second grade, Gabriel Ravadan Olivares from fourth grade, Brisseida Montealvo and Ivet Vargas Mora from sixth grade, Keila Chacon and Anai Gavina from ninth grade, Jesse Parra Moreno from 10th grade, and Laia Vargas Moral from 11th grade. Mia Cruz from the sixth grade was also recognized who had withdrawn.
“These students not only had to pass their STAAR assessments, but also had to score Advanced High in all domains of the TELPAS assessments; Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking,” read the announcement at the board meeting.
The students from the Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville Chloe Brown of the fifth grade in San Antonio, Makenzi Diosdado of the fifth grade in Kerrville, Roberto De Leon of the fifth grade in Terrell, Daniela Fierro of the sixth grade in El Paso, Ashley Garza of the eighth grade in Austin, Lana Issa of the eighth grade in Tomball, Timothy Alvarado of the ninth grade in Houston, Jordal Lopez of the ninth grade in McKinney, Jocelyn Lemus of the 10th grade in Dallas, Zareth Celaya of the 10th grade in Houston, Maritza Sanchez of the 11th grade in Waxahachie, Evelyn Torres-Turrubiartes of the 11th grade in Austin, Xavier Garza of the 11th grade in San Antonio, Zahraa Chames Elddine of the 11th grade in Houston, Alan Garcia of the 12th grade in Winnsboro, Rogaya Almatar of the 12th grade in Houston, Andrew Munoz of the 12th grade in Manor, Bryan Escolero of the 12th grade in Dallas, Yarely Najera of the 12th grade in Houston, Alejandra Bazaldua of the 12th grade in Pharr, and Adriana Flores of the 12th grade in Whitesboro.
The Hallsville ISD bilingual program is intended to develop English speakers of other languages into fluent listeners, speakers, readers, and writers of English. It consists of English-taught classes with researched-based methodology and sheltered instruction strategies for intensive instruction in second-language acquisition.
“Even though they’re all a little sad because they don’t get to hang out with their teachers a couple of times a week anymore, we are really proud of them and all that they have accomplished,” said Whittle.
To learn more about Texas Virtual Academy, please visit https://tvah.k12.com.
