News Release
April 24, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lauren Manary
[email protected]
415-933-9975
Vernon Middle School students inducted into National Elementary Honor Society

LEESVILLE, La--Vernon Middle School honored a handful of its top students on Thursday for their consistent academic achievement and stellar citizenship.

 

The 13 students were recognized by the National Elementary Honor Society, a school-based program that celebrates high-achieving students that also demonstrate leadership skills and an understanding of service and responsibility. Each student recognized received a certificate and a membership card to the Society, joining ten sixth grade students who are already members.

 

In order to qualify, 4th-6th grade students must have maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average for three consecutive semesters and had no disciplinary issues. The students also were required to be recommended by one of their teachers or administrators for the recognition.

 

Principal Cassandra Wilson said the National Elementary Honor Society was one of her favorite organizations offered by the school because of the excellence it demands of her students. She said the students who were selected consistently went above and beyond what was expected of them, and that this recognition helps puts Vernon Parish students on the pathway to success.

 

"This one of our major organizations at the school where we stress academics and student achievement," she said. "This is the beginning where they are challenged to excel academically, along with enjoying the benefits of their academic prowess because it affords them opportunities beyond the school site."

 

"This is truly what school is about. We want them to enjoy school and have fun, but (the Society) does stress academics. We expect more from these students. We're not going to allow them to work at a mediocre level -- we want them to strive to do better. Having this in their portfolio, this will help them strive for excellence down the road."

 

Wilson said the students selected for this year had a particularly difficult challenge as the new Common Core State Standards were implemented over the last two semesters.

 

"These students were still able to maintain, even with the new challenges. So this was quite an achievement for them," Wilson said.

 

Vernon Parish District Attorney Asa Skinner was the keynote speaker for the event. He told the students that pathway to success is one characterized by a refusal to give up when times get tough. 

 

"If you ever fail, if you've ever been rejected or made mistakes, that's okay," Skinner said. "The reason that that is okay is, all of those are perfect stepping stones to success. Because anyone who had success will tell you that before they got there, they had bumps in the road and they also had some failures along the way."

 

VMS has been a National Elementary Honor Society charter member since 2008. The designation helps let parents know that this is a school that takes academics seriously, and will always promote students who want to go above and beyond.

 

Wilson said VMS is proud to help cultivate students who want to work hard and do well in school. These kinds of students, she said, are the kind that help make the future brighter.

 

"Our world is so challenging right now, so we need these students because they can think outside of the box," Wilson said. "That's a benefit to ourselves and the world to come."

 

VMS is a Louisiana Department of Education "A" rated school, earning 104 points for the 2013-2014 school year. Ninety-five percent of middle school performance scores is based on assessments with the final five percent based on credits earned by students through the end of their ninth grade year. At VMS, 85 percent of all students perform at or above grade level.

 

VMS was also recognized as a "Top Gains School" for 2014, a title given to schools that performed better than expected on predetermined growth targets. That designation makes schools eligible for more funding from the state for academic endeavors for students.

 

Vernon Parish School District has consistently ranked among the top public school systems in the state. Last year, it earned a 105.1,  its highest district performance score since the Department of Education began collecting the data.

 

The VMS National Elementary Honor Society members are:

 

Six Grade Inductees:

Andrew Finch, Kyley Lindsay, Na'Riah Matthews, Camry Whitekiller, Mya Wrisper and Abigail Young.

 

Fifth Grade Inductees:

Hailey Allman, Bailee Bennett, Jayden Cortez, McKayla McIntosh, Angelica Perez, Kevin Schoeber III and Shelby Stafford.

 

Sixth Grade Members:

Sarah Kinnison (President), Taylor Cook (Vice-President), Hayley Edmonson (Secretary), Brooklyn McGhee (Treasurer), Skylar Clark, Ella Doane, Sophia Huson, John Langs III, Madison Ransinki and Cayle Wheeler.

 

They are lead by Advisor Lea Kimbrell.

 

Click here for photos of the event on our Facebook Page. 

 

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