National Honor Society

National Honor Society (NHS) members uphold its mission “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 is one the nation's premier organizations and was established to recognize outstanding students. More than just an honor roll, NJHS serves to distinguish those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the NHS since its respective beginnings in 1921.

At Norfolk Collegiate, community service activities and volunteerism are valued, and students are encouraged to participate in activities that benefit others. Students in the grades 10, 11 and 12 who meet the academic and service requirements may be eligible for membership in the National Honor Society.

 

Requirements for Membership Eligibility

The selection process for membership in the senior division of the National Honor Society begins at the end of the first semester of each school year. Students will be notified by mail in February if they meet the academic eligibility requirements for membership consideration. Students may then decide to pursue membership in the National Honor Society by submitting the additional required documentation as described below. The completed files of eligible students will then be reviewed by the faculty advisory committee for membership consideration.  It is important to note that membership in the National Honor Society is not based solely on academic achievement and review of submitted materials does not automatically result in an invitation to membership. Students must also demonstrate the attributes of good character and citizenship, as well as a desire to render service and to provide worthy leadership.  

 

Academic Requirements

Candidates eligible for selection in the senior division of the National Honor Society (grades 10, 11, 12) must be enrolled in at least four courses in the core curriculum areas of English, foreign language, social studies, mathematics, and science. Students must maintain a cumulative overall average of at least 88.0, as well as a cumulative average of at least 88.0 in the core curriculum courses.  

Grades in advanced placement courses and those advanced level courses eligible for weighting in the calculation of the cumulative GPA may receive bonus points in the calculation of eligibility determination. The Honor Society faculty advisory committee will have final determination concerning any questions regarding weighting. 

Eligible students must have been in the NCS Upper School for three complete semesters; transfer students who were already NHS members should notify the NHS adviser who will contact the previous school. If it is verified that the student left in good standing, that student may be eligible for membership during first semester. 

 

Documentation Required from Eligible Students Seeking Membership 

1. Completed Community Service Hours Form (at least 10 hours documented)
2. Completed Student Information Form
3. Three letters of recommendation (two from core teachers, one from a school or community reference)

 

Community Service Requirement

Students seeking membership in the National Honor Society must have completed ten hours of qualifying community service. This service may have been performed at any time during the previous summer (beginning in June) through the end of first semester (usually mid-January). The Community Service Hours Form must include signatures of supervising personnel at the community service sites

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Student Information Form

The Student Information Form is designed to gather information directly from students about their activities, service, leadership roles, and perspectives concerning the honor society and its values. The student information form is not an application for membership. Instead, the purpose of the form is to support the student’s candidacy by providing relevant information for use by the faculty advisory committee.  

 

Letters of Recommendation

Prospective members must submit two letters of recommendation from current core subject teachers and one letter from another school or community reference.  

 

Selection Process

The documentation provided from students will be reviewed by the faculty advisory committee based on the following personal attributes: leadership, service, and character. Students’ academic, disciplinary, and attendance records will all be taken into consideration by the faculty advisory committee to aid in making sound decisions regarding membership. The faculty advisory committee will consider many aspects of each of the essential characteristics embodied by a National Honor Society member. The following are examples of the traits that may be considered: 

The faculty advisory committee will carefully consider all aspects of a student’s candidacy for membership in the National Honor Society. Students will be notified by mail of the faculty advisory committee’s decision regarding acceptance or non-selection.  In the event of non-selection, any questions regarding the faculty advisory committee’s decision should be presented to the National Honor Society adviser within one week after notification of non-selection. 

 

Induction and Membership

The induction ceremony for the senior division of the National Honor Society is held at the end of March. Full membership responsibilities for students who are inducted in March will begin during the next full academic year. Members of the National Honor Society are required to perform 25 hours of community service each school year from June through May. In the induction year, however, the ten hours of community service performed as a requirement for eligibility will fulfill the service requirement for inductees. Likewise, annual dues for the National Honor Society are to be paid in the first quarter of the school year following induction.

Students who are invited to join the National Honor Society must maintain the high standards by which they were selected for membership. A student should be confident, therefore, that he or she can maintain satisfactory grades and community service hours once a member. It is possible for a student to be accepted into the National Honor Society and decline membership during a given academic year without penalty. The student may be considered for eligibility again the following year according to the criteria established for the new school year. 

Any questions regarding the eligibility and selection process for the senior division of the National Honor Society should be directed to Rebecca Zborowski, National Honor Society adviser, at 480.2885.

 

Requirements for maintain membership:

Once inducted into the National Honor Society, students must maintain the same high standards in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character that were the basis for their selection.

 

Academic Standards

To maintain membership, students are required to maintain the academic standards stated in the bylaws effective at the time of induction. Students must maintain a cumulative overall average of at least an 88.0, as well as a cumulative average of at least 88.0 in the core curriculum courses.

 

Service Requirements

Members of the National Honor Society are required to perform twenty-five hours of community service each school year (June to May). All hours performed during the summer will count towards the requirement. To receive credit for community service hours, a member must complete the Community Service form which must be signed by an adult supervisor, and turned in by the deadline set by the chapter adviser.

Community service hours may be turned in to the adviser at any time during the year as they are completed. Certain deadlines for turning in hours must be observed, however, in order to ensure that students are on track for completing hours by the end of the school year. Failure to turn in service hours by the deadlines posted for the National Honor Society will result in a warning in accordance with the warnings and dismissals policy.

 

Dates for Community Service Hours Completion

All summer hours completed after June 5 count for the upcoming school year if submitted on time. If you have completed summer hours, your community service form with appropriate authorized signatures, must be submitted by the end of October.

If your hours were not completed over the summer, at least half of the hours (13 hours) must be completed during the first semester and submitted by January 16.

Students interested in the U.S. Presidential Award of 100+ hours of volunteer activity must submit their hours by March 17, 2017 to allow for government processing. Those submitting more than 100 hours after that date will receive a certificate from Norfolk Collegiate School.

• Seniors must have a total of 25 hours submitted by May 1.
• Juniors must have a total of 25 hours submitted by May 15.

  

Character and Honor

In addition to providing school leadership in the areas of academics and service, members of the National Honor Society are models for character and honor among the student body. Members are expected to demonstrate the same high standards of conduct and attendance as those required in the selection process. Members who receive disciplinary action for conduct or attendance resulting in an in-school detention will receive a warning from the National Honor Society faculty advisory committee in accordance with the warnings and dismissals policy. Members’ disciplinary and attendance records should continue to reflect a commitment to upholding the ideals of character and honor as set forth by the National Honor Society. According to the National Honor Society Handbook, 2005, members of the National Honor Society should: 

• Demonstrate the highest standards of honesty and reliability 
• Consistently observe school rules and regulations
• Be punctual to school and to classes
• Consistently exemplify desirable qualities of behavior
• Avoid cheating in written work

If a member of the National Honor Society is found to be in violation of the Norfolk Collegiate School Honor Code, then the faculty advisory committee will hold a hearing to discuss the case. The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the warnings and dismissals policy. An honor violation is always a serious matter and immediate dismissal may be recommended by the faculty advisory committee.

 

Warnings and Dismissals

Members are expected to maintain the same high standards in the areas of academics, character, and service by which they were selected. Members who fall below the standards which were the basis for their selection are promptly warned by the chapter adviser.

Students who fall below membership standards receive a verbal warning for the first occurrence followed by a written warning for the second occurrence. If a student should fall below standards for a third time, he or she will receive written notification of a hearing to consider dismissal. A parent/guardian may be present with the member at the hearing. The primary focus of the hearing is to allow the member to present his/her case.

Members who are found in violation of the Norfolk Collegiate School Honor Code, or civil law, or those who commit a major offense as stipulated in the Norfolk Collegiate School Parent/Student Guide, do not necessarily have to be warned. Instead, they may be called immediately before the National Honor Society faculty committee for a hearing to consider dismissal.

If the NHS faculty committee votes for dismissal, written notice of the decision is sent to the member, his/her parents, and the Head of the Middle and Upper School. The dismissed member may still appeal: first to the Head of the Middle and Upper School, then to the Headmaster.

If a Junior NHS member is dismissed, the student may be eligible for membership in the senior division in his/her sophomore year if he/she meets the requirements.

In the Senior NHS, however, once dismissed, a student may not be a member again.

Any questions regarding the rules for maintaining membership in the senior division of the National Honor Society should be directed to Rebecca Zborowski, National Honor Society adviser.

 

Community Service Hours

All NHS students (grades 10-12) must perform 25 hours of community service for the entire year. The time frame for this service is June 5 through May 29. All 25 hours may be performed in the summer. Seniors should have all of their hours completed by May 1.

Additionally, if students in grades 9-12 are interested in qualifying for a service award, Mrs. Zborowski must receive service hours by April 17. All ninth-grade students must submit a copy of their service to Mrs. Zborowski if they wish to qualify for any of the Upper School service awards.

To print, please click: Community Service Form

To receive credit, you must include all of the following information:

1. The name of the non-profit organization you worked for
2. The dates you worked 
3. The number of hours you worked 
4. A brief description of the work you performed (sorted books or served meals)
5. A signature from a member of the organization verifying the work performed