Last Friday night the St. Regis Mohawk School hosted a New York, New York Trivia night complete with hot dogs, the Bronx Zoo and a Derek Jeter imposter to help raise money for the St. Regis Mohawk National Elementary Honor Society.

Being a member of the St. Regis Mohawk National Elementary Honor Society is more than just being on the honor roll. It gives students another reason to work hard to earn recognition for their accomplishments and involvement in leadership and service. The establishment of NEHS was a result of the St. Regis Mohawk School's PTO looking at ways to improve academic success and personal responsibility. St. Regis Mohawk principal Sharlee Thomas stated that "the PTO wanted to look at academic success and how we can help students be more successful. The National Elementary Honor Society's pillars are Leadership, Citizenship and Responsibility. This encompasses a lot and the PTO supported it and sponsored the Chapter Charter and we inducted our first group of fourth and fifth graders in April of last year. We inducted 25 students but right now we only have 13 since the fifth graders graduated to sixth grade. We will be inducting new members again this spring. It will be our first full year."

The NEHS fits perfectly into the St. Regis Mohawk School's college initiative program according to Home School Coordinator Ellen Cook. "All you have to do is go into a classroom and ask 'who's going to college' and everyone screams 'I am.' Ask any student what that means and they can tell you." Ms. Thomas added, "They know what we expect. It's important to get them thinking about higher education and their future now."

When walking around the St. Regis Mohawk School visitors will encounter the words Sken:nen Ratiha:wi posted on the walls. This is the school's motto, and translated it means "we carry the peace or we are all peacekeepers." The characteristics of NEHS also help to promote the school motto. A project that the NEHS members have been doing this year is called 'Branching out with Books.' The fifth grade students mentor second graders by reading with them, doing cultural projects, crafts and posters.

St. Lawrence University students come in each week to work with the SRMS students. There is a new theme each semester and last semester's theme was the Environment. "It helps the students to think about what they can do, especially when they are older, to help protect and save the earth," explained fifth grade teacher Michelle Bailey. This semester the theme is multicultural, 'See culture through the Olympics'.

Tsiakoseriio David is a fifth grader and says that he feels good about being an NEHS member. "We plan fun stuff for school, we try to go on field trips and we visit the elderly at Iakhihsohtha." Another member Marissa Hopps says that she helps show second graders how to write and read and build relationships. When asked what she likes the best, and she simply says "reading with the second graders."

Students are recommended for NEHS by teachers and the principal. Recommendations are based on achieving honor roll grades for two consecutive marking periods as well as demonstrating service and responsibility within the school and community. Once in NEHS, members need to continue achieving good grades, complete a group and individual project. Public speaking is also part of the NEHS experience. During the monthly assemblies two NEHS members research and present to the student body a college of the month. Later this month the St. Regis Mohawk NEHS members will presenting their program to the Salmon River Board of Education.

Some group projects planned for this year are planting a garden at the walking trail and participating in the community cleanup day to celebrate Earth Day in the spring.

"Parents appreciate that we have this organization," sated Ms. Cook. "It is definitely a good thing," added Robin Mitchell whose daughter, Sophia, is a member of NEHS. "Sophia enjoys school and wants to come. She has a lot of pride in her school. She loves the public speaking part. It's pretty amazing how comfortable she is talking in front of others. I still get nervous when I speak in public."

Ms. Thomas would like to take the NEHS students on a trip and to purchase items for the upcoming induction ceremony this year and that was the reason for the trivia night. Reen Cook did an excellent job hosting and asking the questions for the night. Mary Giasson worked hard at tabulating team scores while Roger Mitchell supplied the music. Runners for the night were six members of the NEHS, Marissa Hopps, Sophia Mitchell, Levi Pyke, Ronald Wood (president), Tsiakoseriio David and Casey Sawatis.

The Usual Suspects team consisting of Hilary Pyke, Peggy Pyke, Nathan Sunday and Cactus Cook-Sunday helped out the St. Regis Mohawk Elementary National Honor Society by playing Trivia. They were the first place winners and each team member won a $50.00 gift card to Twin Leaf.

The winning team for the night was the 'Usual Suspects'. The brains on this team were Nathan Sunday, Cactus Cook-Sunday, Hilary Pyke and Peggy Pyke. Each player won a $50.00 gift card to Twinleaf. The second place winners were David Wood, Vicky Wood, Barbara Montour and Justin General from 'State Road's Finest' team. The prizes were two $25.00 gift cards to Walmart and two $25.00 gift cards to BJs. Third place honors went to Michelle Lazare, Shelby Bero, Layla White and Deanna Lauzon of 'The Giants' team. The prize was $40.00 cash, which the team donated back to the NEHS.

"I have to say that we could not have these programs for the students if it were not for the staff," said Ms. Thomas. "We are very fortunate that our custodians, teachers, aides and cafeteria workers go above and beyond to put on activities such as this trivia night for our students. Some staff have been here since 7:00 a.m. and some in full Yankees uniform. We are also grateful for the help and support we receive from our parents."