HARLINGEN — “A whole new world, a new exciting point of view …”
Those words from the animated movie “Aladdin” are just as fitting for a group of kids who have just formed up the Harlingen school district’s first elementary National Honor Society.
“I feel really good about this opportunity,” said Brylee Duron, a fifth grader at Bonham Elementary.
Brylee, 10, is one of 34 students at Bonham who were inducted Thursday night into the school’s new National Honor Society.
“I know it’s one thing I can do in Bonham that makes it special,” Brylee said.
The new NHS is made up of fourth and fifth graders, said Jessica Davis, chapter advisor.
“We wanted to give students another opportunity to give back to the community,” Davis said. “We wanted to share with them the importance of academic achievement and really stress leadership in the classroom.”
The criteria for joining and remaining in the organization was rather simple yet impressive. Members must have a high grade point average. They must demonstrate leadership in the classroom and be dedicated to the community. Furthermore, they must be willing to participate in service events.
Recently, the fifth graders in the group helped with H-E-B’s annual Feast of Sharing.
“It was really fun decorating,” Brylee said. “I would like to help decorate other places.”
Fellow NHS member Aaron Del Rio, 9, and other fourth graders in the group spent a day helping teachers with errands.
“I hope to be in the honor society in middle school and high school,” he said.
He also looked forward to the more life-long benefits of being in NHS.
“I hope it carries on in college,” he said.
Davis said she and the two adult council members consider Bonham NHS as the beginning of much bigger things.
“We really see this as a stepping stone,” she said. “The hope is that they start off here at the elementary and will continue in the junior honor society and then of course the high school honor society. This is sort of a preview of what they can expect.”
Chapter officers haven’t been named yet. This first step has been taken, and more will follow.
