National Elementary Honor Society(tm)

April 7, 2008

 

NATIONAL ELEMENTARY HONOR SOCIETY™ LAUNCHED BY

SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATIONS

Program aims to recognize student accomplishments and foster greater student involvement.

Reston, VA – The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), in cooperation with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), is pleased to announce the official launch of the National Elementary Honor Society™ (NEHS). NASSP, which administers the National Honor Society™ (NHS) and the National Junior Honor Society™ (NJHS), created the new program in order to help schools give students in grades 4-6 national recognition for their accomplishments. 

NEHS is designed to recognize the accomplishments and academic achievements of the whole child—including the ability to be a responsible student at school, at home and in the community. The program is also designed to foster leadership development and to encourage the participation of elementary-aged students in service activities. “The National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society have done a tremendous job of giving outstanding students the recognition they deserve for excellence in some of the most important aspects of their lives. We are confident that the National Elementary Honor Society will enrich the education and the educational experience of younger students as well,” stated NASSP Executive Director Gerald N. Tirozzi.

“Whole child development is imperative for our schools to be successful,” said NAESP Executive Director Gail Connelly. “The National Elementary Honor Society is a great way for schools to focus on this development and to recognize our young students for their accomplishments in leadership and service. We are excited about providing schools with the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious program and to help develop our nation’s future leaders.”

The Honor Society network is one of the most time-honored and well-respected student recognition and service programs in the country. NHS and NJHS have a combined membership of more than 1 million students represented in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam—in addition to more than 536 chapters overseas. Currently, students in grade 6 can become members of NJHS in the second semester of a school year, but NEHS would expand their ability to participate in an Honor Society program for an entire school year. Any school containing grades 4-6 can establish an NEHS chapter. NASSP is in the process of taking applications from schools which will be designated as “Founding Chapters” if they are established before June 30, 2009.

For more information on NEHS, visit www.nehs.org where you will find a list of Frequently Asked Questions with answers for school administrators, students, parents, and the general public. Updates on the progress of the organization will be released throughout the year.

The National Elementary Honor Society joins the National Honor Society (NHS™) and the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS™) as the nation’s premier organizations recognizing outstanding students who demonstrate excellence in the areas of scholarship, responsibility, leadership, service, citizenship, and character. NHS™ and NJHS™ were founded by and are programs of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)—the preeminent organization and national voice for middle level and high school leaders. NASSP, founded in 1916, also administers the National Association of Student Councils (NASC), promoting and providing leadership development opportunities to prepare and empower students to serve their schools and communities. Visit www.principals.org for more information.

Established in 1921, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) serves 30,000 elementary and middle school principals in the United States, Canada, and overseas. NAESP leads in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle-level principals and other education leaders in their commitment to all children. Visit www.naesp.org for more information.

Contact: Shana Kemp, NASSP

703-860-7344

Raven Padgett, NAESP

703-684-3345