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Recognizing Bluffdale Elementary School

Floor Speech

Date: May 20, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. OWENS. One of the Merit Caucus' core missions is to spotlight exceptional educators, and Utah is blessed with so many. My team recently visited Bluffdale Elementary, a dual language immersion school where students start learning Portuguese in the first grade and stick to it throughout high school.

Two inspiring classrooms were taught by Ms. Jessica Bell-Aver's first grade class and Edson Habelo's sixth grade class. Both teachers spoke exclusively in Portuguese, and the students rose to meet the challenge. First graders eagerly answered questions about the calendar and weather in Portuguese. Sixth graders tackled science concepts like ecosystems in fluent Portuguese.

This is what happens when we set a high bar. Bluffdale's students are thriving because dedicated teachers believe in their potential and push them to reach them. That is merit in action.

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