National Honor Society (NHS)Information Meeting

Welcome!

Congratulations!

You have been invited to attend this meeting

because you have a

4.35 or higher grade point average.

This is the first step in the selection process!

What is National Honor Society?National organization founded in 1921 by the

National Association of Secondary School Principals

Four objectives

1. to create enthusiasm for scholarship

2. to encourage development of character in the nation’s secondary school students

3. to promote leadership

4. to encourage service

Over 12,500 chapters across the nation

Masconomo Chapter established in 1939

Present school membership, 2014-2015:

66

No quotas or membership cap

Is NHS for you?If you become a member, you must:

1.attend monthly meetings, 7:00 am on Tuesdays

2.participate in at least 2 NHS-sponsored activities per semester (not including tutoring)

3.Participate in the school-wide tutoring program when assigned

4.Complete the 5 hours of required service activities each quarter

5.participate in a Spring Chapter Service project

6.attend the induction ceremonies

Please note and remember…..

There are no inactive memberships!

EVERYONE who is inducted into the membership

of NHS is required to attend meetings and

participate in NHS activities.

Now…..what’s next?

Becoming a member of the Masconomo Chapter of the NHS

The Four Pillars of NHS

Pillar: a strong principle or belief

Scholarship

Character

Leadership

Service

I. Scholarship

You are here at the Info Meeting, so…..

you have already completed the first step toward NHS membership by earning a 4.35 (or higher) GPA

Congratulations!

II. Character

Character is who you are, how you treat others,

how you act when no one is watching…….

it’s already established.

MERHS teachers comment on your character based on classroom, extra curricular activity,

participation and personal observation

The NHS paperwork requires that you provide evidence/examples of your character. Recommendation letters are not to be

submitted.

A short essay on the application will also provide opportunity to demonstrate your character.

How is “character” validated?

III. Leadership

class officer club officer chairperson for a committee representative on church, parish, or school council captain of team or activity/sports club concert band section leader choir officer Student Council representative Peer leader Scout patrol leader Other, as approved

The NHS paperwork requires that you provide evidence/examples of your leadership. Recommendation letters for leadership are not to be

submitted.

Being elected or selected to serve as:

IV. ServiceService includes volunteer activities for which you DO

NOT receive any type of compensation, such as

payment of a wage, school credit, Scout’s credit, or other obligations of your

service requirements. The NHS paperwork requires that you provide evidence/examples of your service. This can include service forms from Guidance for application only.

Recommendation letters for service are not to be submitted, however signatures are required.

Service includes:

teaching Sunday School volunteering at Nursing Home working at a Habitat for Humanity house volunteering at the public library, animal

shelter unpaid peer tutoring hospital volunteer church related mission trips volunteering at elementary school after

care helping with Eagle Scout projects Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America Other

A Final Note

Membership in the NHS is a privilege, not a right.

Only candidates whose applications demonstrate exemplary

scholarship, character, leadership and service are considered for

induction.

The FC determines exemplary levels of each of the NHS pillars.

And now,

on to

the Student

PacketDue 2:30 pm on Friday, March 6. Deadline is firm for all applicants.

The NHS Student Activity Packet

gives you the opportunity to document and provide evidence for

1.examples of your leadership abilities

2.examples of your own service to the school and community

3.examples of your consistently strong character

Tips about the Packet The Student Packet must be placed in Dr. Burgess’s mailbox.

Plan and start the packet NOW!

Contact people for signatures ASAP! This usually takes the longest

amount of time.

Lack of signature is not considered an excuse for a late application.

You are one of several eligible students…present yourself in the BEST way possible.

Watch for grammatical and spelling errors.

Use complete sentences.

Be concise and don’t ramble.

And remember, it is YOUR application!

Thank you for attending.

Good luck with your NHS Packet!The NHS Packet

is available on the NHS link on Dr.

Burgess’s website.

Access this site via

Mersd.org Academics Teacher Websites Maria Burgess National Honor Society

NHS Yearly Chapter Project

Super Service Saturday Project

Chapter-wide service day for all members

Includes: ceiling tile painting…public library service…

building clean-up…Humane Society visits… Project Linus

blanket making…volunteering at Food Pantry…fund-raising

for chapter charity…Activities at area nursing homes …

The SSSP is an entire day of volunteering culminating with dinner and evening service activities.