Honor Societies

Admission into the Blue and White Chapter of the National Honor Society is an honor bestowed upon seniors and juniors. A candidate for membership must have attended VMA for at least two semesters, carry the required GPA, have a conduct grade no lower than “P” for the two quarters prior to induction, and submit written  evidence substantiating  her character,  leadership and service. After review by the NHS Faculty Council, successful candidates will be notified of their acceptance. Induction into the National Honor Society takes place during the second semester. NHS members are expected to  participate in the organization’s primary service, which is tutoring, and to support visibly other school activities. Meetings for members are held on the second Wednesday of each month.

The purpose of the French Honor Society is to promote excellence in the study of French and to cultivate an interest in the history and culture of French-speaking countries. A candidate for membership must have studied French at  VMA for at least one year, have maintained a cumulative average of “A-” in French during the five semesters prior to induction with no semester grade below a “B+,” be currently enrolled in an honors level class, and generally have a conduct grade no lower than ”N” for the two quarters prior to induction. Members must maintain the standards that were used as a basis for their selection. A member who fails to maintain an “A-” average in any quarterly report will be issued a written warning and be granted one quarter to bring her grade to the minimum “A-“. In addition, any violation of the Academic Honesty Policy is grounds for immediate consideration for dismissal. Candidates and members must intend to study French for their four years at VMA. During the year, members are expected to attend monthly meetings and to participate actively in the planning and executing of the Society’s service projects, cultural activities, and periodic outings. Induction takes place during the second semester of junior year. The group meets on the second Thursday of the second full week of each month.

The purpose of the Latin Honor Society is to deepen the students’ understanding of the Latin Language and the Roman Civilization that is the foundation of our own. A candidate for membership must have studied Latin at VMA for at least one year, have maintained a cumulative average of “A-” in Latin during the five semesters prior to induction with no semester grade below a B+, be currently enrolled in an honors level class, and generally have a conduct grade no lower than ”N” for the two quarters prior to induction. Members must maintain an “A-” average each semester. A member who fails to maintain an “A-” average in any quarterly report will be issued a written warning and be granted one quarter to bring her grade to the minimum “A-“. In addition, any violation of the Academic Honesty Policy is grounds for immediate consideration for dismissal. Candidates and members must intend to student Latin for their four years at VMA. Members are expected to attend meetings, to participate actively in the planning and executing of the Society’s events, and to provide service and tutoring when needed. Special activities of the organization include the celebrations of the Winter Solstice in December and the Ides of March and a Spring Outing for all the Latin classes. Induction takes place during the second semester of junior year. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month.

Mu Alpha Theta, which is sponsored by Mathematical Association of America and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, is an organization which strives to promote scholarship, enjoyment and understanding of mathematics among high school and junior or community college students. Candidates for membership must have studied mathematics at an honors or AP level sophomore and junior year, maintained a cumulative mathematics average of A- during the five semesters prior to induction with no grade lower than B+, and have a conduct grade no lower than Needs Improvement (N) for 90 days prior to induction. Members must maintain the standards that were used as a basis for their selection. A member who fails to maintain an “A-” average at the mid-semester will be issued a written warning and be granted one-half semester to bring her grade to the minimum “A-”. In addition, any violation of the Academic Honesty Policy will result in dismissal. Candidates must intend to study mathematics at the honors or AP level senior year. Juniors and seniors are inducted after the completion of the first semester. Members must participate in meetings and service hosted by Mu Alpha Theta throughout the year.

The National Honor Society for Dance Arts™ (NHSDA) is a program of the National Dance Education Organization. Implemented in 2005, The Secondary Program (grades 9-12) provides the opportunity for students to work hard on academics and leadership while perfecting their dance craft not only at school but also outside of school. By recognizing outstanding dance students nationwide for their artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement and providing institutions with a way to promote their dance programs, NHSDA helps to advance the field of dance education centered in the arts.

Induction into the NHSDA Secondary Program is earned through the accumulation of at 30 points awarded for dance activities such as dance classes, rehearsals, performances, research, workshops, or community service activities, alongside a minimum GPA of at 3.0. Students track their points and provide the Chapter Sponsor with a record of points earned through worksheets, portfolios, or other agreed-upon methods. In addition, the prospective student’s demonstration of collaborative teamwork, motivation, and leadership in the many aspects of dance like choreography, performance, mentoring, and production are factors in the determination of eligibility for induction. 

Members of the Quill and Scroll Writing Honor Society are chosen from sophomore, junior and senior students. To qualify for membership into the VMA chapter of the Society, the student must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the most recent semester; achieved superior work in some phase of high school journalism; published twice in the current school year; been recommended by the VMA Quill and Scroll committee; and, been approved by the Society’s executive director.

The purpose of the Spanish Honor  Society  is  to promote excellence in the study of the Spanish language and to encourage interest in the culture and history of Spain and Latin America. Candidates for membership must have studied Spanish at VMA for at least one year, have maintained a cumulative average  of  “A-”  in Spanish during the five semesters prior to induction with no semester grade below B+, be currently enrolled in an honors level class, and  generally  have  a conduct  grade no lower than “N” for the two  quarters  prior  to induction. Members must maintain the standards that were used as a basis for their selection. A member who fails to maintain an “A-“average in any quarterly report will be issued a written warning and be granted one quarter to bring her grade to the minimum “A-“. In addition, any violation of the Academic  Honesty  Policy is grounds for immediate consideration for dismissal. Candidates and members must  intend to study  Spanish for their four years at VMA. Members are expected  to attend  monthly  meetings  and to take part in activities. Members offer tutoring in Spanish and participate in “Adopt-a-Family”  at Christmas time. Induction takes place in during the second semester of junior year. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month.

The purpose of the Student Integrity Committee is to promote and to encourage integrity, honor and VMA’s core values. This select and diverse group is comprised of members from all four classes. While membership on this committee is open to the entire student body, candidates must generally have a conduct grade no lower than ”N” for the two quarters prior  to induction. Interested students must submit an application, which includes an essay. Finalists are interviewed by current members of the committee. Members must exhibit the highest level of honor and work to encourage an atmosphere of academic integrity; any violation of the Academic Honesty Policy is grounds for immediate consideration for dismissal. Members act as liaisons between the student body and administration, assist with Freshman Orientation, and serve as leaders in the Freshman Seminar classes. Members are expected to attend all meetings, which are held two times a month on Friday mornings.

Tri-M Music Honor Society recognizes secondary school music students for their accomplishments in music, academic excellence, school involvement and community service.  Villa Maria’s Tri-M Chapter 1227  is the primary sponsor of ALL music department activities.  All concerts and musical services on campus are sponsored by our chapter. Villa Maria’s Chapter 1227 has garnered numerous state and international awards for their outstanding service to school and community.

Students are eligible for consideration for Tri-M as juniors and seniors. Candidates for the student membership in Tri-M International Music Honor Society are selected by fulfilling the following requirements.

• Only juniors or seniors who have been responsible members of a school-sponsored music ensemble for at least one school calendar year prior to the year of induction are eligible.
• Students must exhibit exemplary rehearsal conduct and attendance in school ensembles, be present at all concerts, and exhibit a good attitude toward teachers and fellow students.
• Only students who study music privately on a weekly basis will be considered.
• Candidates must have maintained a grade of “A” in music (or the equivalent grade from an outside teacher) for the year prior to induction, be in good standing in other academic subjects, and have a conduct grade no lower than Needs Improvement (N) for 90 days prior to induction.

The Tri-M sponsor will receive recommendations from music ensemble directors, private teachers, the Director Curriculum and Instruction and the Dean of Students to assess the above qualifications. Members must maintain the standards that were used as a basis for their selection. In addition, any violation of the Academic Honesty Policy will result in dismissal. Meetings are held each month on the first Friday that school is in session.