Foreign language students recognized

Several foreign language students were recognized at the Sept. 30 Board of Education meeting.

The students from Pizitz Middle School were commended for their high performance on national language tests. 

Kathy Rogers, a German teacher at Pizitz, commended her students for taking the first national level one exam for German. The test is recognized by the American Association of Teachers of German and is a high school-level exam.

“I’m here because of my students. I’m here because they deserve this moment to shine,” Rogers said. 

Out of more than 4,000 students nationwide, two Pizitz students received grades in the 90th percentile and were honored with gold medals. Several other students received medals or certificates for their scores on the exam.

“My babies are all grown up and look so spiffy, and I’m just so proud of them,” Rogers said. “And I thank you all for your willingness to come out this evening and just give them that recognition, that moment in the sun.”

Josh Wade, a French teacher at Pizitz, also had a few students to brag on. Last year, Wade encouraged his students to take a national level one exam for French as a way to show off their hard work.

“I knew that I had a group of kids who would compete very well,” Wade said.

Several of the students excelled on the test, Wade said, and two students placed in the top 10 of students nationally. 

Superintendent Sheila Phillips congratulated the students on their success and thanked their teachers for so much hard work.

“This is why we do what we do. The level of work that the teachers and the students and parents supporting that – this is the incredible work that is going on every single day,” Phillips said. “Our students aren’t just placing in the state, but nationally.”