( Link to Spanish National Honor Society)
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Moderators: Dr. Walsh and Mr. Collins
THE NHS SELECTION PROCESS
The qualities evaluated for selection to the National Honor Society are scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship criterion is examined first, as required by the NHS National Council. The scholarship standard is a minimum cumulative, weighted, numerical average of 90.00 at the start of the selection process. There is no “rounding up”, and this standard must be maintained throughout the selection process to retain eligibility.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
There is a residency requirement of a minimum of one semester as a student at SJHS.
TIMES OF SELECTION
Students who meet the scholarship standard and residency requirement at any of these times are invited to continue on through the selection process:
- Following the first quarter of junior year (Winter selection).
- At the start of senior year (Fall selection).
- Following the first quarter of senior year (Winter selection). *
Winter selection typically involves 30 to 40 students and runs from December through April. Fall selection usually involves 3 to 10 students and runs from September through November.
* Only for seniors who were not academically eligible for the fall selection, but are academically eligible at the start of the winter selection.
SERVICE
A strong record of service to our school is required, but consideration is given to outside service as well. Both the amount and the nature of service is considered. School activities may be categorized as major, intermediate, minor or “variable” activities depending on the amount of service they require. The following examples are not intended as a complete listing. Examples of major activities include Student Council and a varsity sport (in season). Examples of intermediate activities include Student Ambassadors and Campus Ministry Team. Minor activities include clubs that meet once or twice a month. “Variable” activities include school publications and involvement in school productions, where one’s involvement may depend upon (1) the position or role the student has, or (2) the seasonal nature of the event (as in a play).
The nature of service differentiates between activities performed mainly for personal or group enjoyment and those devoted to selfless service for our school community. Examples of activities rich in selfless service include Student Council, SADD, Campus Ministry Team, Student Ambassadors, and school publications. In reference to all activities, being a member is not enough. It is dedicated service as observed by the activity moderators or coaches that allows one to meet the service standard.
NHS Selection
NHS selection is not a subtractive process with eligible students being accepted unless there is some major reason to exclude them, but rather it is an additive one in which students will be accepted only if they furnish sufficient evidence that they have met each of the aforementioned criteria in the view of the selection committee. With that in mind the steps of the selection process are:
- Invitation to be considered based on the 90.00 average.
- A file is prepared for each candidate including a student activity list, essay, and other information submitted by the student; four letters of recommendation from teachers and activity moderators solicited by the student; and any unsolicited recommendations submitted by faculty.
- NHS Review Committee members independently read the files and score the candidates in each category (leadership, service, and character) using a system where 0=unqualified, 1= possibly qualified, and 3= well qualified.
- NHS moderators tabulate the scores, and present the results to the member of the NHS Selection Committee, which is a subset of the Review committee. Average scores of “2” or higher in each category suggest a student should be accepted, but this is simply a guideline and the final decision rests with the Selection Committee, as required by the NHS National Council.
- The Selection Committee meets, discusses each candidate and votes regarding acceptance. A student must receive a majority of “yes” votes to be accepted.
- Letter of acceptance and non-acceptance are sent.
Members of the Review and Selection committees are asked to base their decisions on as complete of a picture of the candidate as possible. This includes what is presented in the file, and any personal insight they may have from observing the student in class or at activities. Both committees contain a diverse cross-section of teachers, coaches, and activity moderators, likely to have observed many of the candidates "in action”.
NON-ACCEPTANCE
Non-acceptance should never be considered as failure of a student’s service, leadership, or character. The NHS standards in these categories exceed those required to make one a good person or a good member of our school community. What non-acceptance does mean is that in the opinion of the majority of the Selection Committee, the student did not clearly meet one or more of the standards. Any student not accepted who maintains academic eligibility (90.00 average) may be reconsidered at the next selection according to the timetable presented under “Times of Selection”.
SPANISH NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Moderator: Mr. Kevin Carey
We are the Iboamerican Chapter of the Spanish National Honor Society.
Students must maintain a minimum of a 90 average for 6 consecutive
quarters in order to be initiated and then maintain that average
over their involvement. Scholarships for travel and study are offered
by
the National Organization as well as the possibility to be published
in the National Organizations publication called Albericias.
The cover of this particular issue was drawn by one of our alumni.
