Congratulations to Albany International Academy fifth-grader Wail Satouf, who took first place in a statewide multimedia contest celebrating the people and things that matter most to him at school.
Wail and his family arrived from Syria via Jordan just a year ago, and he’s already making incredible strides as he learns English. His project was selected by the New York State Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, which showcased his work at its annual November conference.
English as a New Language teacher Laura Abate encouraged all her students to participate in the contest, open to English Language Learners across New York. Out of hundreds of entries from pre-K through grade 5, Wail’s was chosen as the winner.
Wail’s project highlighted some of his favorite parts of school:
- Jake the yellow fish (the class pet);
- Mohammad, Adam, Yassmin and Reema (buddies also who play soccer or tag with him to cheer him up); and
- Kristen Backes (who teaches him English and math and is kind).
For his outstanding work, Wail received a $100 prize.
Fantastic job, Wail!