The NEHS Chapter Spotlight project shares examples of outstanding literacy work being undertaken by chapters around the world. Categories for submission are Academic Focus; Community Engagement; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Collaborative Projects. In this edition, the Danbury Hatters Chapter at Danbury High School in Danbury, CT, shares details about two new programs they have established this academic school year. Submissions for Chapter Spotlights will be open December 11, 2023 through January 8, 2024.
Hayestown Extended Learning Program & Broadview Creative Writing Club
The Danbury High School NEHS chapter was able to implement two new ideas that have run successfully throughout the 2022-2023 academic year. We established connections with our local elementary and middle schools through these outstanding programs.
Hayestown ELP Program
NEHS students in grades 10-12 signed up to become tutors for students in the Hayestown ELP program and have been working with them every Tuesday afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30 since the beginning of the academic year.
Traveling with the same group of students established an amazing connection for both the elementary kids and NEHS volunteers and proved to be extremely effective in working with them on various topics surrounding reading, writing, English, and more.
Each student volunteer was paired up with 1 or 2 kids from Hayestown at the start to ensure that a comfortable relationship was established and learning became efficient. Homework help included support with topics like grammar, punctuation, spelling, subject-verb agreement, and playing the syllable clap games. In addition to homework, we often have crossword puzzles, word searches, and other matching word activities that are linked to coloring or stickers to develop interest in learning and participating.
We always have a wide variety of books and activity books in various genres and levels to ensure that a good amount of reading is completed within the time we are there so the children can be pushed to read challenging pieces. Drawing and coloring are great opportunities to link artistic skills with literacy, reading, and writing to keep the students engaged and ensure they are having fun as they learn.
Other than playing the role of a tutor to help the students, the ultimate goal is to act as a partner or “buddy” for the students to help create healthy learning habits and good discipline when it comes to school and work.
Broadview Creative Writing Club
Another new idea that was implemented this year is “The Creative Writing Club” at Broadview Middle School. This targeted an older group of students who were more independent and capable of learning advanced subjects within English literature.
Each week a new topic is chosen and an agenda/slideshow is created to present to the students at Broadview. Some topics taught include dialogues in narratives, collaboration, poetry, and memoirs. Four stations are set up with about 15-20 minutes given at each station before students transition to the next. One station is always homework help so students can get help with writing assignments, learning new vocabulary, or completing weekly reading assignments. The other stations are designed by NEHS students with activities that surround the goals of the unit being taught that week. This often includes activities where examples are presented, interactive lessons to learn the nuances of a particular unit, and then a station where students can create their own piece of work to showcase new skills and try a new writing strategy.
Sreeja Terala is a senior at Danbury High School and a dedicated member of NEHS. She works incredibly hard to develop a love for reading and writing within the DHS community.
Chapter Spotlights
NEHS encourages chapters to participate in the Chapter Spotlight opportunity, sharing outstanding literacy work being done at the chapter level across the society. Chapters are asked to send information and documentation in any of the categories listed below. The NEHS Advisory Council will select the best of the submissions as “spotlight” chapters that will be recognized through NEHS social media outlets and the NEHS Museletter blog; selected chapters will receive a $50 award and a certificate.
All chapters submitting documentation of their excellent work automatically become eligible for the Outstanding Chapter Award presented in the spring. Chapters are limited to three submissions in a year, and each submission should be from a different category. Chapters must submit evidence of their work by attaching documents, including pictures and/or videos, to the submission form. Submissions may only be made during designated periods throughout the year (see schedule below). Only active chapters may send submissions; inactive or suspended chapters must become current with fee payments and members enrollments before submitting projects. Members of the NEHS Advisory Council will review submissions and select the “spotlight” chapters.
Categories
1. Academic Focus
This category will demonstrate how a chapter works to establish or maintain a project focused on supporting the academic growth of a target audience within their school or local community.
2. Community Engagement
The purpose of this category is to demonstrate how NEHS chapters are focused on promoting life-long learning and the celebration of reading, writing, film, and the arts in their local community.
3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
This category will demonstrate how NEHS chapters are promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in various forms within their school or local community.
4. Collaborative Projects
The purpose of this category is to demonstrate how NEHS chapters are working with other NEHS chapters, other high school Honor Societies, or Sigma Tau Delta and Sigma Kappa Delta chapters on collaborative projects impacting their school or local community.
Application Dates
Applications for the winter 2023-2024 Chapter Spotlight cycle will be accepted December 11, 2023 through January 8, 2024, with acceptances announced February 29.
Learn more about contributing a Chapter Spotlight!
Past Chapter Spotlights
QSI International School of Shenzhen
The Woodlands College Park High School
Socastee High School
Instituto Blaise Pascale
Livonia Churchill High School
Heritage High School
Bear Creek High School
Best-Shirey-Little Chapter
