To allow for a more intensive route of learning, GlenOak recently introduced the French and Spanish honors societies for students who want to go more in-depth with their knowledge of their language class. 

The Spanish Honors Society, or Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, was established in 2020 by Spanish teacher Pam Dentler in efforts to allow students involved in the program to experience another level of not only the language but also the culture. 

The colors of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica are red and gold, and the insignia and seal are from the mother association.

“To be eligible to be in the program, students must meet a certain amount of criteria,” Dentler said. 

Some of the criteria mentioned would be taking Spanish III (or being a graduating senior), having a cumulative grade of a 90% or higher in Spanish, and having a 3.5 GPA or over.

As of right now, there are 12 students currently in the program, six of these students being new members as of the 2021-22 school year. 

One of the new members of the society, sophomore Katie Dentler, particularly enjoys the events that the society engages in throughout the school year.

“[Spanish Honors Society] is very fun. We meet once a month and do lots of “feel-good” service work,” Dentler said. “One of these includes cleaning a cemetery which we have been doing for years now. We leave feeling good and the cemetery looks very nice. Overall, it’s a great experience.”

This chapter of the society is called Golden Future, with the motto being “All Together”. 

Along with Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, the French Honors Society is another prominent chapter of GlenOak highschool. 

The French Honors Society, or more formerly known as Société Honoraire de Français, is advised by French teacher Madame Julie Filliez, and was established during the 2019-20 school year. 

The colors of Société Honoraire de Français are red, white and blue, and the insignia and seal are also from the mother association.

“My favorite part of the society is seeing students reach the higher levels of language development and truly understanding the power of knowing a different language,” Fillez said.

The criteria to enter Société Honoraire de Français are very similar, if not identical to the criteria of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica.

Currently, there are 10 members, seven of them being new members from the 2021-2022 school year. 

Being one of the seven new members of the 10 who are involved in the Société Honoraire de Français, junior Kate Weisbrod enjoys the company of other passionate students in French.

“I love [Honors French Society] because of how tight of a community it is,” Weisbrod said. “It is refreshing to be in a class with other students who are passionate about doing the same thing.” 

With the main goals of working together, both Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica and Société Honoraire de Français alike are using their programs to unite students and allow them to experience another level of their specified cultures.