The Student Council is made up of 8th grade students elected to specific responsibilities, as well as elected homeroom representatives in 6th and 7th grades. Students who run and are elected to the position must maintain an average of 80 in all subject areas, a satisfactory grade in all enrichment areas and receive no negative comments inconsistent with the purpose and objective of the Student Council. Members must maintain a high standard of scholarship and citizenship. Student Council sponsors various activities throughout the year. One half of all monies realized from activities supports community or outreach programs.
Gwynedd-Mercy Academy National Junior Honor Society 2024-2025
National Junior Honor Society Chapter of Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary Selection Procedure Description
The National Junior Honor Society chapter of Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in five areas of evaluation: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Students are selected for membership by majority vote of a Head of School-appointed faculty council, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school each year.
Students in grade eight are eligible for membership. For the scholarship criterion, a student must have a cumulative grade average of 94 or better in the sixth and seventh grade academic years. This cumulative grade point average will be 95 for the Class of 2027.
Each spring, those students who meet this criterion are invited to complete a Candidate Form that provides the faculty council with information regarding the candidate’s leadership and service. A minimum of 15 hours, in both the sixth and seventh grade academic years, of documented community service as described on the candidate information form is required.
To evaluate a candidate’s character, the faculty council uses two forms of input. First, school disciplinary records are reviewed. Second, members of the faculty are solicited for input regarding their professional reflections on a candidate’s service activities, character, and leadership.
Any solicited faculty input and all Candidate Forms are carefully reviewed by the faculty council to determine membership. A majority vote of the council is necessary for selection. Candidates are notified regarding selection or non-selection according to a predetermined schedule.
Following the notification, a formal induction ceremony is held at the school in the fall to recognize all the newly selected members. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance (or better) in all four criteria that led to their selection.
Spring House Estates (SHE) Service Club takes place on Thursdays after school for students in 7th and 8th grades. Student volunteers visit the elderly at SHE on a bi-monthly basis and be expected to provide some type of individual entertainment such as playing an instrument, singing, reading poetry, telling riddles, doing magic act, etc.
Students walk to and from SHE via the GMA ball fields accompanied by moderator, Mrs. Linda Reeves. The group returns to the GMA green top by 4:15 PM each afternoon. A roster will be assigned once all sign ups have taken place. There is a limit of 14 students per visit.
Contact Mrs. Linda Reeves, Director of Mission and Faith Formation for additional information.
Gwynedd-Mercy Academy participates in the Montgomery County Reading Olympics program, sponsored by the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. The goal of the Reading Olympics is to increase students' reading for enjoyment. The Olympics are primarily a celebration of reading rather than a contest. All interested students in grades 4 -8 are invited to participate and the students are divided into teams of 10-14 students. Each student is required to read a minimum of 5 books, chosen from a list of 45 and submit a written summary on each book. The more books each team's members read, the better the chances are that the team will succeed. After an organizational meeting in the fall, teams begin meeting weekly or biweekly with parent leaders during lunch/recess periods in January. Faculty members will act as facilitators on the night of the Reading Olympics.
There are two levels of competition, elementary for grades 4 and 5, and middle school for grades 6 -8. A competition for each level is held in the spring and the GMA Reading Olympics teams' participation has been strong at both levels.
The GMA Today Broadcast team is composed of 8th grade students who write, produce and host a daily school news broadcast. This is a school-year long elective. The students video school events, interview teachers and schoolmates and produce special features.
After School Dance is an after-school (3:30-4:30 PM) recreational class for children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Lessons are designed to promote balance, coordination, rhythm, imagination and lots of fun! Dancers will participate in the Spring Dance Recital on Friday April 17 at 7:00 pm. Costume fees will be separate and may cost between $50 and $90. Ballet shoes are required.
Mrs. Regina Hober continues to serve as the Director of our After School Dance Program and is an instructor along with Mrs. Noreen Rose who is also an instructor for our kindergarten and grades 2-3 programs.
