NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Transcription

1 LAKE ORION HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY STUDENT MEMBERSHIP CANDIDATE PACKET This packet is due by 3:00pm on September 20, 2013 or before this date!! Please deliver to: Mrs. Cureton s Classroom (208) Lake Orion High School *This packet is only available online*

2 LAKE ORION NHS SELECTION AND APPEAL PROCESS I. Scholastic records will be reviewed to determine those persons scholastically eligible for membershipmaintaining at least a 3.5 grade point average. II. III. IV. Students and parents/guardians interested in submitting a candidate form must attend a mandatory informational meeting conducted by an administrator and adviser in order to be considered for admittance. The meeting and the date, time, place will be in the invitation letter. Scholastically eligible students will be notified and informed that for further consideration for selection to NHS, they must complete the Student Membership Packet. The staff will receive the NHS Candidate Feedback Form, and will return completed forms to the NHS Adviser. V. The Faculty Council will meet to review the Student Membership Packet and Candidate Feedback Forms, and will award membership, based on the following general guidelines: 1. Eligible students will have completed at least 10 hours of community service, over a period of a calendar year, in at least two separate instances. 2. Eligible students will have no evidence of behavior suggesting a lack of good character, shown either by school documents, anecdotal information from staff, or public records. 3. Eligible students will have completed all portions of the Student Activity Information Form honestly and without exaggerating. 4. The eligible student will demonstrate at least TWO strong examples of service (ONE in school and One out of school) and at least TWO strong examples of leadership (ONE in school and One out of school), as determined by the faculty council. 5. Eligible students Student Membership Packets will include FOUR teacher recommendations. If a teacher recommendation is missing, the Faculty Council will seek out the teacher in question to get necessary feedback. Candidates must receive a total of TWO out of a possible FOUR. Eligible students comments and ratings on the NHS Candidate Feedback forms from the staff will indicate a pattern of behavior consistent with NHS membership criteria. 6. The Faculty Council, to the satisfaction of its members, will research information that is detrimental to the consideration of a candidate. 7. Candidates receiving a majority of favorable votes of the faculty council will be awarded membership. VI. VII. All candidates who sought NHS membership will be notified of their membership status. Candidates who have been denied membership will be notified, in writing, of the general reason for denial. Students who have been denied membership have two school days, from the date of notification of denial, to appeal the Faculty Council s decision according to the following appeals process: 1. Students and/or parents will contact the principal, who may explain the denial 2. The principal may review the selection process a) If the principal finds substantial technical or procedural errors in the selection process that caused unfair denial, he/she may ask the Faculty Council to reconsider their decision b) If the principal finds no substantial errors in the selection process, the denial will not be overturned 3. Students/parents still not satisfied may continue the appeal through the school district s regular appeals process

3 Congratulations on your excellent academic standing! Your GPA makes you eligible to be considered for membership into the National Honor Society. This member Candidate packet contains the materials you need to become a member of the Lake Orion High School chapter of NHS. Membership is based on the following criteria: SCHOLARSHIP LEADERSHIP SERVICE Juniors and Seniors meeting the scholastic eligibility requirement The ability to effectively move a group toward a common goal. Successfully directing the actions of a group to accomplish a series of tasks. Assisting others readily and willingly, without compensation. Voluntarily making sacrifices to help others. Minimum of 3.5 grade point average Demonstrating initiative Delegating responsibilities to others Successfully holding a voluntary or elected decision-making position Personally initiating action to address public or group needs Organizing, planning and carrying out a plan that serves to benefit others Ask questions + offer solutions Actively helping to rid the school or community of bad influences or environment Demonstrating courage to assert personal values in the face of adversity in order to preserve or promote common good Volunteering assistance Sacrificing personal time or resources Participating in community organizations Displaying courtesy to visitors, teachers, and students Mentoring persons in the community CHARACTER Demonstrating respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and citizenship Follow rules Willingly accepting criticism Exercising positive influence Inspiring others Maintaining a positive attitude Exemplifying cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, and stability Upholding morality and ethics Demonstrating the highest standards of honesty and reliability Serve in organizations Respect themselves/ Respect authority Take responsibility Volunteer to assist Earn your trust Serve as role models Are a positive influence Show fairness Care for others/ Value others opinions

4 In determining a student s eligibility in terms of leadership, service, and character, the Faculty Council will consider the following information: Presentation of candidate application (member) forms which must be typed or neatly hand written in blue or black ink Administrative records Service Learning records Citizenship/conduct/behavior grades on ratings, including comments on report cards Professional records on individual faculty members, including grade books and anecdotal information Comments based on the professional evaluation and actions, of individual faculty members on candidate evaluation forms *STUDENTS MUST MEET OR EXCEED THE HIGH STANDARDS OF ELIGIBILITY IN ALL AREAS*

5 NHS Member Candidate Packet Rubric This rubric will be used by the Faculty Council to determine your eligibility for acceptance into the National Honor Society, please read through the rubric carefully and use it to guide your process of completing the member packet. Quality of essay (Character Essay) Leadership two strong examples-at least one in school example and at least one out of school example Character (setting a positive example) (Character Essay) Service (commitment to helping others for free)-at least two strong examples-at least one in school and at least one out of school The paper is The paper is well written, typed and free typed, and free of spelling or of spelling or grammar errors grammar errors and is one page in length The paper is well written (considerable thought and planning are evident), typed, and free of spelling or grammar errors and is one page in length Applicant is a leader in several school environments such as academics, extra-curricular activities, or sports or out of school in a club, organization, church etc. Applicant specifically addresses how s/he demonstrates positive character within the school environment Applicant has specific examples of how s/he has helped others as a part of an organization Applicant has a leadership role(s) in a class in core academic classes and no out of school leadership experience Applicant addresses how s/he demonstrates positive character within the school environment Applicant has specific examples of how s/he has helped others Applicant lists previous leadership role(s) in school activities or classes and/or past examples of out of school leadership examples-not within two years Applicant addresses how s/he previously demonstrated positive character outside within the school environment Applicant has examples of how s/he has helped others The paper is typed and contains a few spelling or grammar errors Applicant does not list leadership roles Applicant does not list character roles Applicant does not address service

6 IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES The information on this form will be used to determine your eligibility in terms of LEADERSHIP and SERVICE for in school activities. Activities that you have participated in after 8 th grade until the present should be considered. BEFORE YOU BEGIN, you should: Review the NHS Membership Criteria Read over the form to help you organize your thoughts Complete a rough draft on a separate sheet of paper Students are encouraged to seek help from parents and advisors as they complete this form. Do not limit your written description to the space provided. You are encouraged to elaborate all details, using additional paper if necessary and give several examples. Remember that the purpose of you filling out this form is to sell yourself as a quality candidate for the NHS service organization. LEADERSHIP: Title / Description of Role The ability to effectively move a group toward a common goal 1) What was the goal of the group? Include the service to others that was specifically provided. 2) What were your actions as a leader in organizing, planning and delegating in order to accomplish the goal? Include the amount of time given to the overall accomplishment. 3) What was the outcome? Supervisor / Contact Person

7 IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES SERVICE: Assisting others willingly and readily, without compensation Description of Role / Activity 1) Describe the activity. 2) Explain who benefited from your actions. 3) What sacrifices did you make for others? Supervisor / Contact Person

8 OUT-OF-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES The information on this form will be used to determine your eligibility in terms of LEADERSHIP and SERVICE outside of school. Activities that you have participated in after 8 th grade until the present should be considered. BEFORE YOU BEGIN, you should: 1. Review the NHS Membership Criteria 2. Read over the form, to help you organize your thoughts 3. Complete a rough draft on a separate sheet of paper Students are encouraged to seek help from parents and advisors as they complete this form. LEADERSHIP: Title / Description of Role The ability to effectively move a group toward a common goal 1) What was the goal of the group? Include the service to others that was specifically provided. 2) What were your actions as a leader in organizing, planning and delegating in order to accomplish the goal? Include the amount of time given to the overall accomplishment. 3) What was the outcome Supervisor / Contact Person

9 OUT-OF-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES SERVICE: Assisting others willingly and readily, without compensation Description of Role / Activity 1) Describe the activity. 2) Explain who benefited from your actions. 3) What sacrifices did you make for others? Supervisor / Contact Person

10 CHARACTER ESSAY Please write an essay on what character means to you. The essay should be typed, and approximately one page in length, or 350 words. You may use the following quotes to focus your writing, or choose a theme/quote of your own. You may attach your essay on a separate sheet. Character is much easier kept than recovered. Thomas Paine The best index of a person s character is how he treats people who can t do him any good, and how he treats people who can t fight back. Abigail VanBuren Without discipline, there is no life at all. -Katherine Hepburn Responsibility is the price every man must pay for freedom. Thomas Paine The willingness to accept responsibility for one s own life is the source from which self-respect springs. Joan Didion Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking. -H. Jackson Brown Jr.

11 LAKE ORION NHS FACULTY EVALUATION TEACHER: Please return to Mrs. Cureton s mailbox or in person by Friday, September 20, 2013 (You need four evaluations from four different teachers-please copy/print this form four times) Teacher s Name (printed): Teacher s Signature: (candidate s name) has demonstrated outstanding scholarship by achieving a 3.5 grade point average, and could be eligible for membership in the National Honor Society. To be awarded membership, each candidate must also demonstrate outstanding leadership, service, and character. Please read the criteria summary of each category carefully, and circle your choice, based on your firm, professional opinion. Please note: Comments are most helpful in the selection process; therefore, you are encouraged to make at least some notation about the student. Negative comments about a student may require documentation in that student s file of the behavior/problem in order for the faculty council to use the information as part of their decision. This form is a working document and will not be shown to candidates or parents. The faculty council will destroy this document after it has made its decision. Character: Students with good character: Follow rules Willingly accept criticism Exercise positive influence Inspire others Maintain a positive attitude Exemplify cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, and stability Uphold morality and ethics Demonstrate the highest standards of honesty and reliability Serve in organizations Respect themselves Take responsibility Volunteer to assist Earn your trust Serve as role models Are a positive influence Show fairness Care for others Respect authority Value others opinions Circle one: Low High Comments (required for a score of 0 or 1): Leadership: Students with leadership qualities: Demonstrate initiative Delegate responsibilities to others Successfully hold a voluntary or elected decision-making position Personally initiate action to address public or group needs Organize, plan and carry out a plan that serves to benefit others Ask questions + offer solutions Actively help to rid the school or community of bad influences or environment Demonstrate courage to assert personal values in the face of adversity in order to preserve or promote common good Circle one: Low High Comments (required for a score of 0 or 1):

12 NHS INFORMATION CHECKLIST Check off items as they are completed. When you turn your student membership packet in (in person!), The officers and I will go through the checklist with you. NHS Officers Candidate Item Candidate Checklist sheet complete Teacher Recommendation forms given to: Student Activity Information form complete (Parts I and II) Character Essay complete Parent and Student signatures complete (below) I, the parent/guardian have read and agree with the accuracy of the information provided by my child in this application. Parent/guardian signature Date Student Signature Date