My Backyard

Dayspring Christian Academy Inducts 11 New Members

Into School’s Chapter of National Junior Honor Society

These nine middle-school students at Dayspring Christian Academy of Attleboro are second-year members of the school’s chapter of the National Junior Honor Society and recently participated in a formal induction ceremony honoring this year’s new inductees. Shown here, from left, are: 1^st row, Cherubin Manokaran, Marissa Machado, Tiffany Tong, Natalie Sorial and Josiah Boirard; and 2^nd row, Nicole Fontaine, Brandon Clark, Kearsten Lambert and Susie Udall. 

            ATTLEBORO – Dayspring Christian Academy recently inducted 11 new members into its fledgling chapter of the National Junior Honor Society during a formal ceremony at the adjacent South Attleboro Assembly of God.

            In front of a large gathering of family members and friends – as well as school faculty, administrators and staff members – the 11 sixth-grade, seventh-grade and eighth-grade students received certificates and pins indicting their inductions and endorsed a chapter registry signifying their status as new members. They joined the 16 charter members of the chapter who were inducted last year.

            The 11 new inductees included Ashwini Asirwatham, Victoria Iannelli, Olivia Phillips, Cassidy Theroux, Jordan Breen, Jacob Clark, Kristen Petagna and Dante Pires of Grade 6; Samantha Fayard of Grade 7; and Delia Calderon and Nicolette Nicholas of Grade 8.

            Joining the 11 new inductees at the recent installation were nine seventh- and eighth-graders who were charter members of the chapter one year ago and who read brief passages during a candle-lighting ceremony describing the five pillars of the NJHS – scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service and character – as well as performing musical solos. These included Josiah Boirard, Nicole Fontaine, Marissa Machado, Cherubin Manokaran, Natalie Sorial and Tiffany Tong of Grade 7; and Brandon Clark, Kearsten Lambert and Susie Udall of Grade 8. 

These 11 middle-school students at Dayspring Christian Academy of Attleboro were recently inducted into the school’s chapter of the National Junior Honor Society during a formal ceremony at the adjacent South Attleboro Assembly of God. Shown here, from left, are: 1^st row, Victoria Iannelli, Cassidy Theroux, Olivia Phillips and Ashwini Asirwatham; 2^nd row, Jordan Breen, Nicolette Nicholas, Jacob Clark and Dante Pires; and 3^rd row, Kristen Petagna, Delia Calderon and Samantha Fayard. (Photo courtesy of Dayspring Christian Academy)

Faculty Advisor Kimberly Theroux provided background information about the NJHS to the gathering and praised this year’s inductees for their personal and academic achievements.

“We at Dayspring are very excited to be here tonight to induct 11 new students into its chapter of the National Junior Honor Society,” Theroux said. “It is a special moment for all these students and one for which they have worked very hard to achieve.”

DCA Administrator Frank Rydwansky similarly lauded the contributions of this year’s induction class.

“In just our second year as part of the National Junior Honor Society program, we now have approximately one-third of our middle school students as members of our chapter,” Rydwansky said. “We are truly blessed to be able to recognize these students for their achievements both in and out of the classroom.”

Middle school teacher Meredith Gilbert – who has taught at DCA for 26 years – was extended an honorary member in the chapter for her contributions to the school. Introduced by a former student, Beth Binkiwitz, who is now also a teacher at the school, Gilbert was extolled as a “gifted genius as a teacher” and for possessing “the same admirable qualities today as a teacher as when I was her student.”

Gilbert, who has taught all of this year’s and last year’s NJHS inductees, said she was “humbled” by Binkiwitz’s acclaims. “I’m just so proud to receive this honor and just as proud of all these students and what they have achieved,” Gilbert said.

After reciting the NJHS pledge, this year’s inductees received their certificates and were pinned individually by their parents. DCA Spiritual Advisor Robert Lavallee concluded the one-hour ceremony with brief remarks and a closing prayer.

The National Junior Honor Society bills itself as “the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding middle-level students.” The society has honored thousands of students since its creation in 1929 and DCA officially earned its chapter status in 2009.

            To procure membership in a NJHS chapter, students must establish and maintain academic proficiency; make voluntary contributions to schools and/or communities; exhibit in-school leadership and problem-solving abilities; promote civic involvement and pride with their schools; and uphold principles of morality and ethics. NJHS chapters operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, several United States territories and Canada, and an estimated 1 million students annual participate in its activities and those of its high school counterpart, the National Honor Society.