National Honor Society Expectations and Criteria

August 2017

Greetings,

The purpose of this letter is to communicate to all students and parents the expectations and criteria of the National Honor Society (NHS) at Kennett High School. With the new school year underway, it is essential that you are familiar with the most important information related to membership with the NHS.

The NHS is an organization founded by the National Association of Secondary Principals in 1921. Membership in the NHS is an honor bestowed upon a student that recognizes students who possess the qualities of good character, service to the school and community, leadership, and scholarship. To be eligible for membership in the Kennett High School NHS, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. Students must be in their junior or senior year.
  2. Students must have attended Kennett High School for the equivalent of at least one semester.
  3. Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.75.
  4. Students must demonstrate involvement in at least two school activities prior to and during the time of selection. Future activities are not eligible for consideration. Activities consist of co-curricular and extra-curricular sports and clubs associated with Kennett High School.

Student who meet these qualifications will be considered candidates for selection. Selection of seniors will be conducted following the first marking period. Selection of juniors will be conducted following the second marking period. If a student wishes to pursue his or her candidacy, he or she must complete an activity information form which documents his or her high school co-curricular and community activities and leadership positions.

Every faculty member will be given a ballot to evaluate those who seek membership. Each faculty member is asked to give a number value from 1 to 5 to evaluate the student’s leadership, service, and character as it is perceived in the classroom and in school-related activities. A rotating Faculty Council, representative of the faculty and selected by the principal, will review the results of the faculty balloting and Student Activity Resume in order to make the final selection. The Faculty Council will base their selection on the results of the faculty data, with the greatest weight placed on the leadership component of the student evaluation.

Students will be notified by mail as to whether or not they were selected for NHS candidacy. A student is not considered an official member until he or she participates in NHS Induction which occurs in the spring, but he or she will be able to participate in activities once the candidacy has been approved.

Students who are selected for membership in the NHS will be inducted in a formal ceremony held in March. Parents and faculty members will be invited to attend. To remain a member, a student must maintain all of the standards used in selection. Students who do not maintain these standards may be removed from the organization or put on probation.

The detailed guidelines used by Kennett High School to define leadership, service, and character in the students evaluation process for NHS membership are below. Please be sure to review this information to be aware of how to earn this prestigious honor.

If you have any questions regarding any information related to membership with the NHS, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 610-444-6620, or through e-mail at jhritz@kcsd.org. You may also contact our coordinator for the NHS program at Kennett High School, Dr. Alicia Tamargo, by emailing her at atamargo@kcsd.org.

Thank you very much for your time in reading this letter. I look forward to those potential NHS members working hard and dedicating themselves to leadership in their pursuit of this distinguished honor.

Sincerely,

Jeremy M. Hritz, Ed.D.

Principal, Kennett High School

National Honor Society Guidelines

LEADERSHIP

The student who exercises leadership:

  • Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions.
  • Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
  • Exercises influence on peers in up-holding school ideals
  • Contributed ideas that improve the civic life of the school
  • Is able to delegate responsibilities
  • Exemplifies positive attitudes
  • Inspires positive attitudes
  • Demonstrates academic initiative
  • Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility, conducting business effectively and efficiently, and without prodding demonstrates reliability and dependability
  • Is a forerunner in the classroom, at work, and in school or community activities
  • Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted
SERVICE

The student who serves:

  • Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude
  • Participates in some outside activity: Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts; church groups; volunteer services for the aged, poor, or disadvantaged; family duties
  • Volunteers dependable and well-organized assistance, is gladly available, and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance
  • Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities
  • Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the School
  • Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition
  • Does committee and staff work without complaint
  • Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students
CHARACTER

The student of character:

  • Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
  • Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability)
  • Upholds principles of morality and ethics
  • Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office, halls, etc.
  • Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
  • Shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others
  • Observes instructions and rules, punctuality, and faithfulness both inside and outside the classroom
  • Has powers of concentration and sustained attention as shown by perseverance and application to studies.
  • Manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written work, and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others
  • Actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment