FRIDAY REFLECTIONS

Dear CDS,

It is my privilege this week to write about one of our honor society chapters. The Spanish National Honor Society ( Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica) is an honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and/or Portuguese and is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). The society was formally organized in 1953, and there are now more than 2,000 national and international chapters. The mission of the Spanish Honor Society is to recognize high school achievement in Spanish and Portuguese and to promote interest in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian studies. A student who has maintained an honor average in Spanish or Portuguese for a minimum of three semesters and is in at least 10th grade is eligible to be a member. The students appearing in this week's photograph are all members of the CDS chapter of the Spanish National Honor Society.

Levine Museum of the New South just launched a new exhibit, ¡NUEVOlution! Latinos and the New South. The exhibit is expected to have a strong impact on our community during its thirteen months in Charlotte before it travels to Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Atlanta History Center. CDS student Vanessa Scott, president of the CDS Spanish Honor Society, wanted our chapter to be involved with the exhibit in some way. Vanessa submitted her idea for involvement to chapter sponsor Mrs. Cordero, who approved it, and the students of our honor society chapter became involved through acts of service to those in attendance.

Our students represented CDS in an excellent fashion by greeting VIP attendees (among them Mr. and Mrs. Levine), helping usher guests when and where needed at different key moments of the evening, assisting catering by passing platters with Latin dishes and explaining to guests what each one was called and what country they were from. Our students further served the guests by helping pick up glasses and dishes, collecting nametags at the exit and handing out giveaways. I received a first-hand report that the Levine Museum of the New South was impressed by our students and was very grateful for their service.

On a personal note, I want to share with you my gratitude for the students and Mrs. Cordero for their faithful service unto the Lord on behalf of our community. Perhaps you will take the opportunity to visit the exhibit and gain an increased appreciation for relevant issues being introduced through ¡NUEVOlution!

Sincerely,

Mark Davis
Head of School