Honor Societies

The National Junior Honor Society is a national organization founded on five basic pillars: scholarship, citizenship, character, service, and leadership. Students become eligible by attaining a 3.8 grade point average (GPA) in 6^th grade and continuing to maintain 3.7001 cumulative GPA (in 7^th and 8^th) and demonstrating outstanding citizenship, character, service, and leadership. Conduct is evaluated by grades on report cards. Leadership, citizenship, and character are appraised by the student’s performance in the classroom, other school activities, and how they set an example in conduct and citizenship. Service is partially determined by participation in after school clubs or any Conservatory activity at CEA, service record in class and school, and volunteering in the community.
The society is solely governed by a Faculty Council made up of six faculty members, five of which are voting members. The society’s advisor is the sixth (and non-voting) member. Students who qualify academically are assessed in each of the basic pillars by the council at the beginning of each semester. After evaluating all the pertinent information, the council votes in each new member. Eligible students receive an invitation to join the society.

Inducted members are evaluated on a quarterly basis by the advisor to ensure that they continue to meet all the required criteria. When a student fails to meet even one of the five requirements, the council convenes to discuss a one quarter probationary period and a course of action to bring the student back to within the guidelines. In the unfortunate event that a student continues to fall below the standards after probation, the council meets to discuss and vote on permanent and irrevocable dismissal from NJHS.

National Honor Society for Dance Arts™ (NHSDA) is open to upper school students. To join NHSDA, dancers must maintain a 3.0 GPA and actively participate in dance related events (performances and competitions, fundraisers) and community service events (Parkinsons’s walk, general help at school events etc.) Through each of these activities, dancers gain points. Once they have reached a minimum of 30 points a dancer will be eligible. Induction into NHSDA is contingent on a dancer’s eligibility points, GPA, commitment, and overall character.

National Junior Thespian Honor Society is open to upper school students. To join the National Junior Thespian Honor Society, students must demonstrate an active interest in theatre and theatre-related activities. Members are expected to actively participate in the school’s theatre activities both onstage and offstage (performances and competitions, fundraisers). Some offstage activities include stage management, lighting design, and set production, among others. Through each of these activities, thespians and aspiring thespians gain points. Once they have reached a minimum of 10 points a student will be eligible. At least 5 points need to have been accumulated while at Conchita Espinosa Academy (if a student attended a different school and participated in a theatre related activity, it may count toward his or her point, as per the school and teacher’s discretion).

National Junior Art Honor Society is open to any 7th or 8th grade Mastery or Conservatory Art student. Student must show dedication to Art, and have exemplary behavior. NJAHS students participate promoting art throughout the school and supporting through various service and art-related events, including the annual Visual Arts Show.

The Tri-M Music Honor Society open to upper school students. The Tri-M Music Honor Society is designed to inspire music participation, create enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, and promote leadership in the music students. In order to be inducted Music participation, academic achievement, leadership, service, and character are taken into consideration.