Fifty-six Long Beach High School seniors successfully completed all the requirements necessary to receive the Seal of Biliteracy from the New York State Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages. They were honored on May 21, World Day of Cultural Diversity, during a ceremony that presented them with Certificates of Excellence.

This accomplishment reflects students’ success on exams and projects completed as part of their language classes. They will also receive seals and medallions to wear for graduation to signify their proficiency in language studies.

This is the third year that the school offered this opportunity to students enrolled in French, Italian and Spanish. According to the New York State Seal of Biliteracy, its intent is to encourage the study of languages, to identify high school graduates with language and biliteracy skills for employers, to provide universities with additional information about applicants seeking admission and placement, to prepare students with twenty-first century skills, to recognize the value of world, classical and home language instruction in schools, and to affirm the value of diversity in a multilingual society.