Events & Briefs
Seated from left is Fazilet Tokel, Superintendent Richard Tardalo, Assemblyman Thomas Giblin and Supervisor of World Languages, Christine Belli. In the back, standing, from left: Alicja Banning, Luciana Camarniero, Andres Navas, Ellen Francess, Reman Mustafa, Thea Landesberg, Jory Samkoff, Filomena Viscardi, Liliana Habedank, Inna Caploon, Jean Sogorka, Tracey Engle, Jacqueline Cohen,Debra Guerriero and Francine Scocozzo.
Clifton High School’s ESL program was one of ten districts that received recognition from the State Department of Education at an awards ceremony at Rutgers University on May 15. In honor of this achievement, Assemblyman Thomas Giblin visited the high school on June 20 and presented the ESL department with a proclamation. It is estimated that a total of 72 languages are spoken in Clifton, which has roughly 700 ESL students district
102 July 2012 • Clifton Merchant
wide. Christine Belli, Supervisor of World Languages, has been at the helm of the program for 20 years. This is the third time that the Clifton ESL program has been recognized for its achievements since the state began recognizing ESL cirriculums in 2004. Clifton’s curriculum was designated as a model program for the 2012-2014 school years. Other districts will have the ability to visit CHS and witness the ESL program first hand.