Students showcase Brazil abolition project and AP class 'Enlightenment Salon'; principal presents Seal of Biliteracy

Mr. Greg Rowe, History Department Chair, introduced a set of student projects during a Rockland High School curriculum segment. Student Alice De Oliveira presented a research project on the abolition of slavery in Brazil and explained her choice: "I chose Brazil because it also represents my culture and Brazilian slavery is a very deep and very long process because it was the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery."

Students Isabella Florenco-Ramos and Aaliyah Pinto described their participation in an "Enlightenment Salon," a classroom activity tied to AP European History in which each student researches a historical figure and presents in costume. AP European teacher Kara Frazer said she applied for a REF grant to fund the student costumes and added, "They do just such a great job with it and I'm super proud of them."

Separately, Principal Ms. Schipper presented a slide show explaining the district's Seal of Biliteracy program to the committee and audience; the transcript records the presentation but does not include further detail about eligibility or issuance criteria. The curriculum segment was presented to the committee and attendees without formal actions attached.