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 NEHS chapter at PrepaTec Eugenio Garza Sada in Monterrey, Mexico, shares details about their chapter initiative. Submissions to the Chapter Spotlight program will be open April 15 – 29, 2024.
The NEHS Chapter at Eugenio Garza Sada is committed to fostering the creation of recreational and learning opportunities for young people and hosted a community engagement project with around 40 kindergarten students.
The project took place on December 11, 2023, at the Alexander Fleming kindergarten school close to the PrepaTec campus. Five NEHS members were involved in the activities, which aimed to provide students with a fun-filled arts and crafts session, English language learning activities, and an enjoyable end to the semester. Organizing materials, crafting, and planning began two weeks prior via Zoom meetings, with the NEHS student members ensuring that the plan aligned with the kindergarten school’s schedule.
On the event day, the NEHS team arrived at 8:30 a.m. to set up and prepare the activities for the students. The student members swiftly split up into different classrooms at 9:00 a.m. The joy and excitement of the children spread enthusiasm among all the participating NEHS students as they led the first activities.
The Christmas-centered activities, like a memory game, were an amazing experience for the children, and they rapidly became very competitive. The bilingual memory cards featured Christmas objects, and the NEHS students, with help from the teachers, took time to ensure students comprehended the meaning and pronunciation of the words in English. The importance of following rules and taking turns was also stressed. Simultaneously, in the other classroom, students were taking part in an activity named “What are you grateful for?” This activity encouraged students to draw and write the things they value the most at Christmas, emphasizing the importance of remembering valuable things go beyond simply material possessions.
The NEHS student members also implemented an activity called “Stolen Gifts at Christmas,” in which students had to decide which player had stolen Santa’s gifts. This fostered critical thinking and problem-solving skills and included clues and instructions in both English and Spanish. NEHS student members focused on explaining to the students what those English words meant and awarded prizes to the winners.
NEHS students asked the teachers for their feedback on the activities that they had planned. Ms. Yadira Leal said, “The activities that you shared with us today were very important and had a big impact on the students. They learned new words, they learned how to play new games, and they learned how to react to the challenges you set them: respecting rules and waiting for their turn.” Ms. Erika Aguilar shared that “the children were all interested in the activities; they liked it a lot. The activities were very motivational.”
The entire NEHS student team was satisfied with the results of this social engagement project, mostly because the children happily participated and were excited to learn. The team left at 12:00 p.m. after giving the children bags of Christmas candies. For the NEHS team, it was a meaningful activity that encouraged us to look forward to engaging with our community through different projects in the future.
Manuel Alejandro Martínez Morales is a junior at PrepaTec Eugenio Garza Sada in Monterrey, México, and is currently the Vice President of the NEHS Chapter at his high school. He views literature not merely as a means for expressing oneself through a text, but also as a way of conveying emotions, unveiling new horizons, and immersing oneself within complex worlds and realities. For him, literature plays a pivotal role in shaping individuals.
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.
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.
Applications for the winter 2023-2024 Chapter Spotlight cycle will be accepted April 15 – 29, 2024, with acceptances announced May 23.
Learn more about contributing a Chapter Spotlight!
Past Chapter Spotlights
Danbury High School
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