NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETYPARENT-STUDENT ORIENTATION

TIMBER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTER

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY (NHS)

The National Honor Society was established by the National Association

for Secondary School Principals (NASSP) in 1921. The goal was to create an

organization that would recognize and encourage academic achievement

while also developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a

democracy. The ideals of scholarship, service, leadership, and character

became the pillars of the NHS and remain as relevant today as they were in

1921. As we prepare future leaders for global citizenship, the opportunity to

support these ideals becomes even more important.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to create enthusiasm for

scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote

leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary

schools.

NHS CONSTITUTION

All policies and procedures for NHS chapters are based on the

provisions stipulated in its constitution. The NHS Constitution delineate

all the national guidelines which govern ALL chapters of

the NHS.

Control of the NHS organization is vested in the NASSP.

Student Leadership Advisory Committee- made up of 14 members who

serve to advise the NAASSP and Board of Directors on NHS policies

and regulations.

State Organizations- Organized by local chapters to represent NHS

organizations at state level.

Local Chapters- Established by schools for affiliation to the NHS.

CHAPTER BY-LAWS

Chapter Bylaws are the regulations for NHS membership established by

each local chapter.

Chapter Bylaws must align with NHS Constitution.

Bylaws establish the guidelines for local chapter members to follow in

meeting the pillars of scholarship, leadership, service and character.

Bylaws are annually by the school’s appointed Faculty Council and

approved by the school principal.

NHS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

School Principal

Dr. Kelly Paduano, Principal

Approves all activities and decisions of the

chapter

Appoints Advisers and Faculty Council

Receives appeals, disciplining or dismissal

of members

Chapter Advisers and Co-advisers

Dr. Maritere Cardona, Adviser/ Mrs.

Jennifer Marcinko, Co-Adviser

Responsible for the day-to- day

supervision of the chapter/ Liaison among

students, parents, administration/Review

appeals

Ex-officio, non-voting member(s) of the

Faculty Council

Elected officers

Nathalie Chowdry- President

Olivia Metzeger-Vice-President

Jessica Boyette-Treasurer

Sophia Hwang- Secretary

Gretchen Snider- Historian

FACULTY COUNCIL

Five (5) appointed Faculty Members.

Responsible for establishing the Chapter’s selection process and

evaluation criteria for potential members and for revising Chapter’s

Bylaws.

Appointed annually by the school principal; may serve consecutive terms.

Responsible for the selection or non-selection of members.

Responsible for hearings on disciplinary actions; dismissals; referrals.

Remain anonymous

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the local chapter is an honor bestowed upon a student.

Students do not apply to join the NHS. Candidates for membership to the

NHS are invited to submit a Student Information Form if they meet the 3.5

unweighted GPA criteria and will be upcoming juniors or seniors. Invitation for

membership letters are distributed during the beginning of the second semester

of each academic year.

Selection for membership is by the Faculty Council, and it is based on the

evidence students’ present regarding their outstanding scholarship, character,

leadership, and service. (Refer to the Selection Process slides for a

comprehensive description of the process).

Membership can be active, honorary, and alumni. Active members become

alumni members at graduation. Alumni members shall have no voice or vote in

chapter affairs. An honorary member is any junior or senior who does not hold

membership to the NHS but has demonstrated outstanding leadership, service,

and character in and outside of the school and the community.

Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.

MEMBERSHIP

Members who are seniors in good standing are eligible to apply and compete in the National Honor Society Scholarship program. (Information about NHS Scholarship program can be found a www.nhs.us)

An NHS member who transfers to or from another school and brings a letter from the principal or chapter adviser to the new school adviser that he or she had been duly inducted as an member of the NHS, conforming he or she meets the grade requirement, shall be accepted automatically as an active member in the new school’s chapter. Transfer members must meet the new chapter’s standards within one semester in order to retain membership.

Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits in any school with NHS affiliation.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for membership to the TCHS NHS chapter, the candidate

must be going into 11th (junior) or 12th (senior) grade.

Freshmen (9th) and sophomores (10th)

are not eligible for membership.

Candidates must have been in attendance at the school the equivalent of

one semester.

The TCHS standard for scholarship shall be a cumulative scholastic

average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. (The GPA standard may vary among local

chapters and may be revised by the Faculty Council and/or Principal

prior to the selection process.)

SELECTION OF MEMBERS

The selection of each member to the chapter is by a majority vote of the Faculty Council. Prior to notification of any candidates, the chapter adviser reviews with the principal the results of the Faculty Council’s deliberations.

The selection procedure is determined by the Faculty Council and shall be consistent with the rules and regulations of the NHS Constitution and the Chapter’s Bylaws.

The selection procedure is published in the school’s quarterly Newsletter and other social media apps widely available to all students and parents of the school.

Non-selected members can appeal their non-membership within 10 days of being notified. Appeals received after 10 day period will not be reviewed. Parent e-mails or other forms of communication do not constitute an appeal. On behalf of the candidate. The appeal is made in writing by the candidate and submitted to the Chapter Advisers. Advisers are responsible of submitting appeal letter to Faculty Council and/or principal for review.

NASSP shall not review the judgment of the Faculty Council regarding selection of individual members to local chapters.

SELECTION PROCESS

Students who attend Timber Creek High School for at least one semester and meet the

TCHS NHS Scholarship criteria for having a 3.5 GPA or higher are notified by letter of

their candidacy and are asked to complete and return a Student Activity Information Form

and essays by an established date. The Student Activity Information Form and essays are

returned to Chapter Advisers.

The TCHS NHS Faculty Council is notified during the third quarter of the current year of

potential NHS candidates who met the scholarship criteria as a prerequisite for eligibility

for the upcoming academic year.

The Faculty Council is provided with a list of National Honor Society criteria as defined in

the NHS Constitution and NHS Handbook to help evaluate a candidate's qualifications in

the areas of leadership, character, and service.

Chapter Advisers attach each candidate’s Student Activity Information Form and essays

together and assign the sheets a number. The front cover page with candidate’s information

and assigned ID number is detached from packet. (Blind process)

SELECTION PROCESS

The Faculty Council is given the Student Activity Information Forms and essays to evaluate using a scoring rubric with the established criteria for each pillar. They are asked to complete a confidential evaluation form for each potential candidate, review the forms, and deliberate on their decision based on scoring and consensus.

The final selection of members to the Timber Creek High School Chapter of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools is done by a majority vote of the Faculty Council based on a student's quantitative and/or qualitative evaluations in each of the following areas: Leadership, Scholarship, Service, and Character as defined by the NHS Constitution and required by Chapters’ Bylaws.

The Faculty Council submits a list of selected and non-selected candidates to the Chapter Advisers appointed for the upcoming academic year.

The TCHS NHS Chapter Advisers for upcoming academic year generate and distribute letters of selected and non-selected members during the month of May. Selected members are inducted in a ceremony at the beginning of the new academic year (Fall Induction).

WHAT CAN I DO TO

BECOME A MEMBER?

1. Maintain your GPA at 3.5 on a 4.0 scale to meet the scholarship

requirement.

2. Get involved in school clubs, organization, and activities.

3. Get involved in the community for service and volunteer work.

4. Keep a record of your service and volunteer hours (validation form and

signature required), certificates, and recommendation letters. Take pictures

of what you do and how you get involved in and out of school. Service

Hours Validation Form can be

5. Do no miss out on the opportunity for membership. If you are invited, fill

out the Student Information Sheet in a timely manner.

LEADERSHIP

Holds three (3) or more primary leadership roles (office member, group or section leaders, team captains, committee chairs, etc.) at school or in the community since the ninth grade;

Resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles and making suggestions;

Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities;

Exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideals and spirit;

Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school;

Is able to delegate responsibilities;

Inspires positive behavior in others;

Demonstrates academic initiative;

Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility;

Conducts business effectively and efficiently;

Demonstrates reliability and dependability;

Is a leader in the classroom, at work, or in other school or community activities;

Is dependable in any responsibility accepted.

SERVICE

Volunteers and provides dependable and well-organized assistance, and is willing to make sacrifices to offer assistance;

Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities;

Enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school;

Is willing to represent the class or school in interclass and interscholastic competition;

Does committee and staff work without complaint;

Participates in some activity outside of school, for example: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, religious groups, volunteer services for the elderly, poor, or disadvantaged;

Mentors in the community or students at other schools;

Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

CHARACTER

Demonstrates sufficient growth and improvement to compensate for previous

weaknesses;

Consistently exemplifies positive and desirable qualities of behavior

(cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability);

Cooperates by complying with all school policies and regulations and codes of

student conduct;

Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendation graciously;

Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty, academic integrity, and reliability;

Exhibits concerns and respect for others.

Teacher recommendations, Faculty input, and/or essays are used to determine if

candidate meets this criteria.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Maritere Cardona- Adviser

Maritere.cardona@ocps.net

Mrs. Jennifer Marcinko- Co-Adviser

Jennifer.marcinko@ocps.net

ADDRESSING QUESTIONS

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETYPARENT-STUDENT ORIENTATION

TIMBER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTER