Student Activities
The National Honor Society chapter of LaGrange Academy is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of the national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in four areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Standards for selection are established by the national office of NHS and have been revised to meet our local chapter needs. Students are selected to be members by a 5-member Faculty Council, appointed by the Headmaster, which bestows this honor upon students on behalf of the faculty of our school each spring.
Students in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, who are enrolled at LaGrange Academy for a minimum of one semester, are eligible for membership. For the scholarship criterion, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale. Those students who meet this criterion are invited to complete a Student Activity Information Form that provides the Faculty Council with verifiable information regarding the candidate’s leadership and service.”
From the National guidelines:
“The student who exercises leadership: exemplifies positive attitudes; inspires positive behavior in others; demonstrates reliability and dependability; is a leader in the classroom, at work, or in other school or community activities. Service is generally considered to be those actions undertaken by the student which are done on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation, as well as the student’s attitude toward service.”
In other words, the absence of disciplinary action is not all that is expected. Chapter members are to demonstrate positive, active attitudes of leadership, service, and character that are perceived by others in their daily actions.
These four criteria are carefully reviewed by the Faculty Council to determine membership. A majority vote of the Council is necessary for selection. Candidates are notified regarding selection or non-selection. Attendance at the Induction Ceremony is a requirement for membership in NHS. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance (or better) in all four criteria that led to their selection.
Each year our students attend the National Conference, which has been held in Washington, D.C, Atlanta, and Orlando. At the 2006 Conference, we were awarded 1 of 10 national “Outstanding Service Awards.” This was for the chapter’s efforts with “Project SOS” – Support Our Soldiers.
In 2007, the chapter’s service project was “SKOOLZ” – Supporting Kids Outside Our Local Zip. This was a school-wide effort to collect books and magazines for the children of the Ukraine learning English. Lauren Johnson, a LaGrange Academy alumna, was in the Peace Corps teaching children the English language, and she used the materials sent to them to establish an English library.
In 2008, the NHS members hosted a “Senior Prom” for Senior citizens. It was held in the school’s Commons, in a prom format, with all students included.
In the 2008-2009 school year, the students honored WWII Veterans on Veterans Day with a luncheon. It was on this day that LaGrange Academy’s “Warrior Wall” was dedicated as a tribute to our military.
Officers for the 2009-2010 year are as follows: President: Molly McGowan; Vice-President: Betsy Trotter; Secretary: Ashlee Moody; Treasurer: Mary Catherine Wilder
Beta club and Junior Beta: The purpose of The National Beta Club is to promote the ideals of character, service and leadership among middle and high school students, to reward meritorious academic achievement, and to encourage and assist students in continuing their education after high school. It is a student centered organization that develops and nurtures individuals by providing opportunities and experiences enabling them to demonstrate the ideals of character, achievement, service and leadership in a global community. (Faculty Sponsor: Miles)
Interact Club: A boy’s service club that is dedicated to the idea that civic responsibility and moral development are important parts of a good education. Interact performs several service projects each year both for our school and within the community. (Faculty Sponsor: Petite)
Latin Club: Provides students with the opportunity to practice the language in a related and fun environment. We aim to make foreign language studies exciting for students. Latin is an important part of education at the Academy. (Faculty Sponsor: Miller)
Student Government Association (SGA): the governing body for all student clubs and organizations at LaGrange Academy. SGA works to ensure community service opportunities throughout the clubs and allows for interactions among students and faculty. SGA strives to encourage student, faculty, and family participation by sponsoring events and activities at LaGrange Academy. (Faculty Sponsor: Lockman/Thrasher)
TNT A Girls service club for school and community. Fundraisers include lollies at Fall Festival, Valentine's Day extravaganza, and Earth Day T-shirts. We provide a yearly Christmas party which includes food, fun, and gifts for the underprivileged children. We give a Puppet show for lower school on playground safety, and organize a canned food drive to restock the Food closet in November. We support the March of Dimes walk in May and Pennies for Patients for children with Leukemia disorders in the spring. This fall we are working with Troup County recycling to promote a county wide recycling project by painting their "money meter". (Faculty Sponsor: Rachmuth)
Mu Alpha Theta: The National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Honor Society with over 75,000 student members in more than 1,500 schools. It is dedicated to inspiring keen interest in mathematics, developing strong scholarship in the subject, and promoting the enjoyment of mathematics in students.
Mu Alpha Theta achieves these goals by:
● Providing a method for schools to recognize and encourage those students who enjoy and excel in mathematics. Organizing a National Convention for teachers and students to participate in math-related events and interact with others from across the county.
● Rewarding outstanding extracurricular achievement by offering special awards to students.
● Providing Mathematics Competitions to participating members at their own school through the Log 1 Contest and the Rocket City Math League.
High school students, who have completed Algebra II and are enrolled in a still more advanced course, are eligible for full membership providing their mathematical work was done with distinction. On the 4-point grading scale, this shall mean at least a 3.0 grade point average in their mathematics courses.
Members have been competing in the Georgia Math League Competition, as well as the Kennesaw State University Mathematics Competition. Upcoming projects will include collecting mathematics supplies for children in the Dominican Republic. (Faculty Sponsor: Smith)
Spanish Club of LaGrange Academy
Mission/Mision
• SPACLA is a group that works to develop and promote Spanish and Latino Culture in LaGrange Academy and in our community in general.
• SPACLA es un grupo que trabaja, desarrolla y promuebe el español y la cultura Latina en LaGrange Academy y en la comunidad en general.
Vision/Vision
• We, as group, want everybody know and comprehend the Spanish language and Latino Culture through activities that the group will promote and present.
• Nosotros, como grupo, queremos que todos conozcan y comprendan el idioma Español y la cultura latina a traves de las actividades que el grupo promovera y presentara.
Membership/Membresia
• To become part of SPACLA, the person should be related to LaGrange Academy or LaGrange College and to have an honest interest in developing and comprehending the Spanish language and the Latino culture in general.
• Para ser parte de SPACLA, la persona debe estar relacionada con LaGrange Academy o LaGrange College y tener un genuino interes en desarrollar y comprender el idioma español y la cultura latina en general.
Meetings/Reuniones
• Mondays at Lunch time (1:10 to 1:30pm) in Miss Armendariz’s classroom (17) or by e-mail.
• Los lunes a la hora del almuerzo (1:10 to 1:30pm) en el salon de la Srta. Armendariz (17) o por correo electronico.
Recycling Club
RECYCLING CLUB OF LAGRANGE ACADEMY
This is a new club because of student interest and desire to recycle.
It is open to all students, teachers, and family members of our community.
Objectives are continually changing but to date include the following:
1) Coordinating recycling activities with other LGA clubs;
2) Composting with “Rolypig;”
3) Providing bins in the school to receive bottles and cans for recycling;
4) Providing boxes for paper waste;
5) Collecting aluminum cans in the month of October to support the city of LaGrange and Keep Troup Beautiful;
6) Applying to Interface for a Recycling Grant;
7) Creating “Green With Envy” or “It is (not) Easy Being Green” t-shirts.
The club will meet on “as-needed” basis.