Members of Chelmsford High School’s Class of 2026 receiving the Seal of Biliteracy were celebrated during Senior Awards Night.

by Jen Oemig

CHELMSFORD – Chelmsford High School is proud to recognize members of the Class of 2026 who participated in and were honored through the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy program.

The Seal of Biliteracy was established through the Language Opportunity for Our Kids (LOOK) Act, which was passed in 2017 to honor and recognize Massachusetts students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English and another language. Students earn these recognitions as they graduate.

“The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy is a real highlight of the work we do here in Chelmsford,” said Dr. Danja Mahoney, World Languages and Cultural Exchange Coordinator for Chelmsford Public Schools. “Chelmsford was among the first districts that joined in [the LOOK Act] initiative.”

Languages represented by those receiving awards included French, Spanish, American Sign Language (ASL), Telugu, Chinese, Portuguese, Hindi, Haitian Creole and Polish.

“It’s worth noting that our achievement awards are largely represented by our taught languages,” Mahoney said. “So, it’s not just home languages that are represented.”

This year, CHS honored:

• 13 students who earned the Language Opportunity Coalition Achievement Award, earned for Intermediate Mid proficiency.
• 35 students who earned the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy, earned for Intermediate High proficiency
• 21 students who earned the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction, earned for Advanced Low proficiency.

“We are pleased to announce that five students earned the Seal or Seal with Distinction in more than one language, showing a high level of language proficiency in English and two additional languages,” Mahoney said.

Among this year’s many successful foreign language students, Mahoney said senior Maria Godinho de Gois was a standout.

“She earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, the Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction in Portuguese, and she was recognized by the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association (MAFLA) with the Past Presidents’ Scholarship for $500 that she can use for her work as she matriculates to Merrimack College to student International Relations,” Mahoney said. “She’s a very deserving candidate.”

Students earning these honors were acknowledged at Senior Awards Night in the Carl J. Rondina Performing Arts Center at CHS on Thursday, May 28. Mahoney shared news of these achievements with the School Committee on Tuesday, June 16.