National Honor Society Candidate Packet

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National Honor Society Candidate Packet

Selection Procedures for Induction into National Honor Society

Membership in the National Honor Society is both an honor and a responsibility.

To ensure that only those who are qualified are accepted into National Honor Society, the faculty selection committee follows these national rules and procedures:

1. The student’s academic records are reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. The GPA, which includes all high school credits, is determined from the most recent cumulative GPA calculation.

2. Students who have a 3.5 GPA or higher will be notified by letter that they are eligible for candidacy, scholastically, and will be considered further for selection into NHS, provided they complete the Blue and Gold Chapter of NHS Candidate Packet and return it on or before the specified deadline. This approved packet must be either downloaded from the website or picked up in the SAC office. The packet cannot be redesigned by the candidate and must be signed by the candidate and parents/guardians.

3. The High School Principal will appoint five faculty members to serve on the faculty council. The five appointed members of the faculty council will review the Candidate Packets and rate each student individually on his/her leadership skills and service contributions. In considering the character component, the student’s discipline records will be reviewed. The student must have no more than one discipline referral on their FHS record at the time of the candidate’s review.

4. Only those candidates who complete and submit the Blue and Gold Chapter National Honor Society Candidate Packet by the deadline and meet the requirements of Service, Leadership, and Character (as determined by the Faculty Council), will become members of the Blue and Gold Chapter of National Honor Society.

Please Note: The criteria of LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND CHARACTER, are EQUALLY evaluated in selecting potential members.

Completed packets are DUE by Friday, October 13 in the Counseling Center office.

Revised 9.14.17

The following guidelines are used to define service, leadership, and character from the National Honor Society Handbook:

SERVICE

A person who serves:

· Volunteers and provides dependable and well-organized assistance, is available, and is willing to make sacrifices to provide assistance for others.

· Performs a documented service project outside school or inside school. Examples could be a service project within Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, religious groups, volunteer services for the elderly, poor, or disadvantaged. The specific service project must be verified by the adult supervisor. Service is performed without material compensation of any kind.

· Service is considered to be those actions undertaken by the candidate, which are done with or on behalf of others.

· Service must include at least two different service projects with different groups or individuals, for a minimum of fifty (50) hours.

· Housework/family chores are not considered service.

· Participating in a school activity/group/sport is not service. However, hours spent performing a specific service project within the group would be included, providing your participation is verified by the adult supervisor.

LEADERSHIP

A person who is a leader:

· Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities.

· Exercises positive influence in promoting 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.

· Could be an extrovert or introvert, making a positive contribution that fits their personality style.

CHARACTER

A candidate with character will be able to demonstrate an outstanding record of conduct and behavior with regards to school and community rules, guidelines, and policies.

· If there is a character issue documented on a candidate’s HS Student Record, the candidate must demonstrate growth and improvement for previous character issues

· The following are examples of character issue. Please note: this is not an exhaustive list.

o Fighting

o Cheating/Plagiarism

o Theft

o Insubordination

o Drug/Alcohol Use

o Vandalism

Part 1: PERSONAL INFORMATION

1. CANDIDATE INFORMATION

NAME - LAST: / FIRST: / MI:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
ADDRESS:
BIRTHDATE: / SCHOOL I.D. #
GRADE:
(check one) / JUNIOR
SENIOR / HOME/CELL PHONE #: / SHIRT SIZE:

2. PARENT INFORMATION

NAME / ADDRESS / EMAIL / HOME/CELL PHONE #
MOTHER:
FATHER:
WORK / WORK PHONE (IF WE MAY CALL THEM AT WORK): / AVAILABLE HOURS:
MOTHER:
FATHER:

3. SCHEDULE – INCLUDE ALL ROOM NUMBERS

PERIOD: / COURSE: / TEACHER: / ROOM:
1
2
3
4
5A
5B
5C
6
7
8

Part 2: SERVICE

A – PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

List all Service Projects that you have participated in, time spent completing that service, and a brief explanation of how it meets the described definition of service below.

· At minimum service must include: At least two different service projects, with different groups, or individuals, as defined:

· Service is considered to be those actions undertaken by the candidate, which are done with or on behalf of others, without any material compensation. (For additional clarification see section under guidelines for service).

· A minimum of 50 HOURS

Sample Examples for Part 2:

Example 1:

SERVICE YEAR: / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
GRADES COMPLETED SERVICE:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Mulch Delivery
TIME SPENT: / 4 hours
PARTICIPATION DATE(S): / April 24, 2015
EXPLANATION OF SERVICE: / As a member of the FHS Football team, I was able to work with my teammates to volunteer our time to hand deliver mulch to families in the Findlay area.
SUPERVISOR PRINTED NAME: / PRINTED NAME
SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE: / SIGNED NAME

Example 2:

SERVICE YEAR: / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
GRADES COMPLETED SERVICE:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Canned Food Drive
TIME SPENT: / 8 Hours
PARTICIPATION DATE(S): / November 5, 2014- November 6, 2015
EXPLANATION OF SERVICE: / As a member of my church youth group we collected canned food items and delivered them to area families in need.
SUPERVISOR PRINTED NAME: / PRINTED NAME
SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE: / SIGNED NAME

PART 2: SERVICE, CONTINUED

Example 3:

SERVICE YEAR: / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
GRADES COMPLETED SERVICE:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Babysitting
TIME SPENT: / 38 Hours
PARTICIPATION DATE(S): / October 5, 2014-November 26, 2015
EXPLANATION OF SERVICE: / I babysat (with no pay) for my single parent neighbor’s children while she left for cancer treatments three times/week.
SUPERVISOR PRINTED NAME: / PRINTED NAME
SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE: / SIGNED NAME

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

· In listing services, there is NO NEED to attach additional sheets but you may do so if you wish. If you need additional sheets to document your service, you may print multiple copies of pages 6 and/or 7.

· Be as specific as possible when describing the service.

· YOU MUST OBTAIN SUPERVISORS’ SIGNATURES

· At minimum, your activities must include at least two different services that total at least 50 hours of service

· Household chores will not be considered as service hours.

PART 2: SERVICE, CONTINUED

SERVICE YEAR: / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
GRADES COMPLETED SERVICE:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
(time spent, participation dates, explanation of service)
TIME SPENT:
PARTICIPATION DATE(S):
EXPLANATION OF SERVICE:
SUPERVISOR PRINTED NAME:
SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE:
SERVICE YEAR: / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
GRADES COMPLETED SERVICE:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
(time spent, participation dates, explanation of service)
TIME SPENT:
PARTICIPATION DATE(S):
EXPLANATION OF SERVICE:
SUPERVISOR PRINTED NAME:
SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE:
SERVICE YEAR: / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
GRADES COMPLETED SERVICE:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
(time spent, participation dates, explanation of service)
TIME SPENT:
PARTICIPATION DATE(S):
EXPLANATION OF SERVICE:
SUPERVISOR PRINTED NAME:
SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE:

PART 2: SERVICE, CONTINUED

PART 3: LEADERSHIP

Identify three leadership roles at school or in the community that you have held/ served since enrolling in the 9th grade (this does not have to be an elected position). Please indicate the role, grades completed, a brief description of the role, and the name and signature of the adult who supervised the role.

Leadership Role: / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
Grades Completed Role:
Brief Description of Role:
Supervisor:
Supervisor Signature:
Leadership Role: / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
Grades Completed Role:
Brief Description of Role:
Supervisor:
Supervisor Signature:
Leadership Role: / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
Grades Completed Role:
Brief Description of Role:
Supervisor:
Supervisor Signature:

PART 3: LEADERSHIP, CONTINUED

In 250 words describe a situation in which you demonstrated leadership, since you started high school. You may refer to the leadership attributes in this packet.

PART 4: CANDIDATE AND PARENT AGREEMENT

Being inducted into National Honor Society is an honor bestowed from the faculty. Membership, however, is more than an honor. It incurs a responsibility and an obligation to demonstrate those outstanding qualities that resulted in your selection. Your membership also carries responsibility to the chapter. If our chapter of the National Honor Society is to be effective and meaningful, each member must become involved. We challenge you to live up to your obligations by participating in all of our chapter meetings and projects.

As a member of the Findlay High School’s Blue and Gold Chapter of the National Honor Society, it is expected that you will demonstrate excellence in each area of Service, Leadership, and Character. Additionally, the following required criteria must be met at all times during your membership within the organization:

· Maintain a 3.5 GPA or greater

· Obtain, document, and turn in the required form listing at least 15 service hours by the last meeting or earlier for each semester.

· Attend monthly meetings and recognize that being tardy three times will result in an unexcused absence

· Pay annual $15.00 dues

Note: You have two weeks from the date of notification of non-acceptance, to appeal the decision that the selection committee made concerning acceptance into The Blue and Gold Chapter of National Honor Society. You may appeal according to the appeal process that is included in this packet or view the process on the Findlay High school website (http://fhs.findlaycityschools.org/nhs.html).

Revised 9.14.17

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National Honor Society Candidate Packet

Help session dates: (check one):
Tuesday, Sept. 26 7am – Room 145

Thursday, Sept.28 2:45pm - Room 145

Please check one:

I used a help session.
I chose not to use a help session.

Revised 9.14.17

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National Honor Society Candidate Packet

I/we, the undersigned, have read and completed this candidacy packet. Our signatures on this page indicate that we verify that the information provided is accurate and complete.

I / we have read and agree to the appeal process, as stated in this packet.

I/we have read and agree to the dismissal appeal process as stated within this packet.

Candidate Signature (Required) / Date
Parent Signature (Required) / Date

Findlay High School NHS Appeal Process

The description below describes the process for requesting an appeal in cases of non-selection to NHS and dismissal from NHS.

Each year, the Findlay High School NHS chapter undertakes a process to select new members. Selection to NHS is a privilege bestowed upon students by the faculty of the school, and not considered a right inherent to any student. Technically, students do not apply for membership in the National Honor Society. Instead, they await an invitation to provide more information to be used by the local selection committee to support their candidacy for membership. Membership is granted only to those students selected by the Faculty Council on the condition of their having met the standards for selection established at the local level, and based on the provisions of the national constitution (Article IV, Section I, NHS Handbook, 17th Ed., NASSP).

The Findlay High School Blue and Gold chapter has the authority to establish local requirements above the minimum requirements established by the national NHS organization. Inevitably, some student candidates are not selected. Parents, in an effort to understand this non-selection, often contact the national office. While the national office is willing and able to confer with parents regarding the disappointing news of non-selection, they are limited as to how they can respond. The national office does not hear appeals of non-selection or discipline of individual students.

In seeking to understand the reasons for non-selection, a parent or student may request a meeting for clarification. Below is the proper procedure that must be followed when seeking clarification, or before an appeal can be granted. A total of two weeks will be allotted when questioning a decision for this process.

Consult first with the chapter advisor. Your first inquiry should always be with the faculty members assigned to serve as the advisors of the chapter at your school. These advisors facilitate the selection process (but do not vote) and may be able to clarify the nature of the selection process or the decisions that were made regarding your student. These advisors can also inform you on the formal process for appeals based on local chapter guidelines.
Consult with the Supervisor of Student Activities. The Supervisor of Student Activities is your second resource, should you feel your concerns were not answered or addressed. This person can supply you with the criteria for selection, a copy of the Chapter guidelines, and answer other questions you may have. This should be your second avenue for inquiry.
Filing a formal appeal.

Non-induction: