Written by Meryl Dillman Pacific Sunday News
On Friday, the first National Elementary Honor Society was inducted on Guam. Twenty-six fourth- and fifth-grade Machananao Elementary School students are now part of the society that promotes academics, leadership and service.
"It creates an opportunity for the kids to start developing their leadership skills as early as elementary (school)," said Kimberly Edusma, the faculty adviser for the school's chapter.
Robert Malay, who is currently serving as the acting deputy superintendent of the Guam Department of Education, said he started researching the organization while he was serving as the school's principal after becoming aware of it through professional memberships. "From there, we simply filled out an application and paid the membership fees," he said.
Edusma said the school paid the annual membership fee of about $100 over the summer. She said for the first induction, all fourth- and fifth-grade students who met enrollment requirements, which is to be enrolled at the school for at least one semester, were evaluated. They also had to meet the cumulative grade-point average requirement, which is 90 percent or higher. From there, students were evaluated on leadership, responsibility and service.
Teachers were asked to give their input on topics such as the student's level of responsibility, Edusma said. Students were also asked to complete an application with their families where they were to list all home, school and community activities they participated in. This information was then presented to the faculty council where members evaluated student packets and determined which ones to accept into the chapter, Edusma said. Benefits of having the National Elementary Honor Society at Machananao Elementary will be a way to promote students who are excelling. "A number of programs exist to help students that are struggling, but there is not a large offering of programs to promote those that are excelling," Malay said in an email. "We want to create those opportunities while at the same time we are continuing to roll up our sleeves and work with our students that may be struggling."
Edusma hopes the elementary honor society is successful. She said striving to be a member of the group will give students a goal to set from a young age so they will do "the best that they can in school and become involved in the community."
On Friday, the first National Elementary Honor Society was inducted on Guam. Twenty-six fourth- and fifth-grade Machananao Elementary School students are now part of the society that promotes academics, leadership and service.
"It creates an opportunity for the kids to start developing their leadership skills as early as elementary (school)," said Kimberly Edusma, the faculty adviser for the school's chapter.
Robert Malay, who is currently serving as the acting deputy superintendent of the Guam Department of Education, said he started researching the organization while he was serving as the school's principal after becoming aware of it through professional memberships. "From there, we simply filled out an application and paid the membership fees," he said.
Edusma said the school paid the annual membership fee of about $100 over the summer. She said for the first induction, all fourth- and fifth-grade students who met enrollment requirements, which is to be enrolled at the school for at least one semester, were evaluated. They also had to meet the cumulative grade-point average requirement, which is 90 percent or higher. From there, students were evaluated on leadership, responsibility and service.
Teachers were asked to give their input on topics such as the student's level of responsibility, Edusma said. Students were also asked to complete an application with their families where they were to list all home, school and community activities they participated in. This information was then presented to the faculty council where members evaluated student packets and determined which ones to accept into the chapter, Edusma said. Benefits of having the National Elementary Honor Society at Machananao Elementary will be a way to promote students who are excelling. "A number of programs exist to help students that are struggling, but there is not a large offering of programs to promote those that are excelling," Malay said in an email. "We want to create those opportunities while at the same time we are continuing to roll up our sleeves and work with our students that may be struggling."
Edusma hopes the elementary honor society is successful. She said striving to be a member of the group will give students a goal to set from a young age so they will do "the best that they can in school and become involved in the community."