National Honor Society

NHS Member Responsibilities

Sponsor: Ms. Kathryn Kirk

2007-2008 Officers
Congratulations and thank you to all of the well-qualified candidates.

List of 2006-2007 Inductees

Selection Criteria for NHS Membership

Criteria: (Note: The criteria described below operate in conjunction to give a picture of the student in terms of the nature and goals of the National Honor Society, and are given equal weight. All must be met for a student candidate to be considered.)

GPA (calculated as described below) -- 3.5 unweighted: 4.0 weighted

Five teacher evaluations in which comments are elicited regarding an applicant's character, scholarship, leadership and service to the extent that the teacher can comment on each area specifically and knowledgeably.

Three service verifications. These could be from in or out of school, and need to include specific examples of service to the school/community. NHS emphasizes school-related service, so that tutoring in an elementary school, working with at-risk students, etc. would "count" more than working with service projects outside the B-CC community, worthy as they may be. Participation in extracurricular groups that are not specifically service oriented (sports, theater, music) does not count as service unless the coach/sponsor indicates specific examples of the student's service to the school/community.

Two leadership verifications. Again from in or out of school with specifics. Coaches and sponsors will receive special instructions about this. Students who are elected officers/captains may not be the only or even the best leaders in an organization. Leaders make themselves known through their positive effects on the mission of the organization and through their example. Therefore specific examples of leadership need to be cited.  

Time line:

• Applications available to students in late March.
• Completed packets returned to Mrs. Kirk by April.
• Faculty character evaluations at the May faculty meeting.
• Faculty committee meeting to review applications at the end of May.
• Decisions announced in late May/early June.
• Induction ceremony in October.

Other Issues:

Publicity: the corresponding secretary will be responsible for getting the above information to the publishers of the Banter and any other publications that go to the parents and students. I will post the information on B-CC First Class, on flyers in the hallways, and place on morning announcements

Contested Decisions: The faculty committee will deal with any complaints or challenges to our decisions and be available to discuss any aspect of the decision-making process.

NHS Member Responsibilities

MEMBERSHIP:

Consideration for NHS membership is given to current sophomores or juniors in the spring of the year. Basic membership criteria are announced and posted, and the invitation to apply is extended to all students who feel that they meet the criteria. The faculty does not select students directly, nor do we automatically induct all students who have a certain GPA. It is important that the student be the active agent in initiating the application.

The criteria in the areas of service and leadership are somewhat vague. This is done of necessity, since there is such a broad range of ways in which our students demonstrate these characteristics. We depend a great deal on the judgment of the individual who supervised the activity to inform us as to the degree to which the student has "accomplished something for the betterment of the school or community" (for service), or has been "directly responsible for directing and motivating others" (for leadership). These quotes are from the NHS national handbook. There is no maximum number of students whom we will accept - we set a standard and offer induction to all those who meet or exceed that standard.

RESPONSIBILITIES: (The following is from a document given to all members of NHS at the beginning of the year.)

Committees: NHS committees have been formed, and additional ones may be formed as needed to conduct the ongoing business of the organization. Members are not required to join committees, but are encouraged to accept the challenge of leadership and service to the school community. When committees announce events or work they've organized, members should participate if possible. It is not only the committee members who do the committee's work!

Recycling: This committee helps organize and advertise the recycling efforts at B-CC. We recycle after school and need at least six people each week for about half an hour to do it. If you can help, please do!

Fundraising: This committee plans and organizes events to raise funds for NHS programs and for the school. Again, it's not just the committee members who do the work; all members need to assist if possible.

Membership: This committee helps keep the records of service hours and attendance at meetings for present members, and records of past members. They plan the Induction ceremony and organize the application process.

Mentoring: This committee coordinates the efforts of NHS members to tutor students within B-CC and to mentor students at our cluster elementary schools. These activities may be during the day or after school, and can vary in the length of the commitment.

Each committee elects a chairperson who presides over the meetings and lets the sponsor know what's going on. For all these committees, members can choose the event, the time commitment, and how often they can participate. These are services NHS has chosen to provide to the school community, and members need to support them.

COMMUNICATION: General meetings will be held monthly at about the middle of the month at lunch. These meetings will be announced on the PA system. Committees meet as often as the members of that committee decide. Committee meetings will be announced on the PA system. Mr. Soboslay is available before and after school most days, and at lunch or by email to First Class.

We also could use student volunteers to maintain the NHS web page on the B-CC homepage.

MEMBERSHIP: NHS is a lifetime membership organization and your involvement may continue into and beyond college.

Conditions of Membership: During your high school time your membership will be reviewed from time to time (usually at the end of each semester) as to your grades, discipline record (if any), and participation in activities. If, at any time, your performance in the areas of scholarship, character, leadership, or service falls below the standards of the NHS, your membership will be placed in a probationary status. This will last for one semester and be reviewed by the faculty advisory committee at that time.

Volunteer Hours: Members are required to perform twenty hours of service in the name of the NHS during each year of membership at B-CC. These hours include attendance at NHS meetings and committee meetings participation in NHS sponsored event, and service hours done in the school and community that are not counted for any other purpose.

Dues: Membership dues are set at $10 per year. This is to be paid by the middle of October each year by check or money order made out to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, memo to NHS, and turned in to the NHS sponsor.

NHS membership is an honor, an advantage, and a responsibility. Please take it seriously!

If there are further questions, please contact Mrs. Kirk or an officer by phone or email.
I look forward to a large number of very qualified applicants who will continue to strengthen our chapter and enhance its reputation as "meaning something."