1. National Junior Honor Society
Hello, Princess Anne Panther. I am a member of the Panther Pride Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. You have been invited here today because you are academically eligible to apply for membership in the NJHS. I would like to give you a little more background as to what NJHS is and how you can join this prestigious group here at Princess Anne Middle School.
Panther Pride Chapter
Princess Anne Middle School
Virginia Beach, Virginia

2. What is the NJHS?
The National Junior Honor Society is more than just a 3.5 grade point average. It is evidence of exemplary:
scholarship
citizenship
leadership
service
character
The National Junior Honor Society is more than just having a 3.5 or better grade point average. It is evidence of outstanding scholarship, citizenship, leadership, service, and character.

3. Evidence for all five of these pillars is necessary to be accepted into NJHS. We would like to go through each of these pillars with you so you know what the faculty members of the Selection Committee are looking for when they review your application, and we want to make sure that you know what is expected of those who are chosen to be members.

4. Scholarship
Seventh and eighth grade students who have a cumulative grade point average of for this school year meet the scholarship requirement for membership. These students are then eligible for consideration for membership in the NJHS on the basis of service, leadership, character, and citizenship.
The very first criteria is scholarship. Seventh and eighth grade students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 for this school year meet the academic requirement for membership. However, scholarship is more than good grades. It is a demonstrated desire for knowledge and to achieve beyond regular classroom expectations. It is attempting to go beyond “the minimum effort to slide by”—it is to accept academic challenges and be willing to put forth the necessary effort to excel in the classroom.

5. The very first criteria is scholarship
The very first criteria is scholarship. Seventh and eighth grade students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 for this school year meet the academic requirement for membership. However, scholarship is more than good grades. It is a demonstrated desire for knowledge and to achieve beyond regular classroom expectations. It is attempting to go beyond “the minimum effort to slide by”—it is to accept academic challenges and be willing to put forth the necessary effort to excel in the classroom.

6. The NJHS is looking for students who exemplify the characteristics of top students in their seriousness toward education, and they should demonstrate a sincere desire for academic learning and achievement above expectations on a regular basis. Do you exhibit a seriousness toward education and learning and NOT “Just tell me what I have to do to get an A”?

7. The NJHS is looking for students who exemplify the characteristics of a top student in their seriousness toward education, and they should demonstrate a sincere desire for academic learning and achievement above expectations on a regular basis. Do you exhibit a seriousness toward education and learning and NOT “Just tell me what I have to do to get an A”?
Is that you?

8. Citizenship
The student who demonstrates citizenship understands the importance of civic involvement, has a high regard for freedom, justice, and democracy, and demonstrates mature participation and responsibility through involvement with such activities as scouting, community organizations, and school clubs.
Being a good citizen is more than waving the flag and learning about the Constitution. The student who demonstrates citizenship understands the importance of civic involvement, has a high regard for freedom, justice, and democracy, and demonstrates mature participation and responsibility through involvement with such activities as Scouting, community organizations, and school clubs.

9. Being a good citizen is more than waving the flag and learning about the Constitution. The student who demonstrates citizenship understands the importance of civic involvement, has a high regard for freedom, justice, and democracy, and demonstrates mature participation and responsibility through involvement with such activities as Scouting, community organizations, and school clubs.

10. Being a good citizen means that you put the needs of your community ahead of your own.

11. Is that you?
Do you demonstrate the characteristics of excellent citizenship?

12. Leadership
Student leaders are those who are resourceful and dependable. They are good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, and persons who exemplify positive attitudes about life. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities while working with or for others.
Student leaders are those who are resourceful and dependable. They are good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, and persons who exemplify positive attitudes about life. Leadership experiences can be drawn from your participation in school or community activities while working with or for others. Positive leadership is also demonstrated in the classroom in group projects, on the playing field, in the band room and even in the hallways and cafeteria.

13. Positive leadership is also demonstrated in the classroom in group projects, on the playing field, in the band room and even in the hallways and cafeteria.

14. NJHS offers you the opportunity to develop your leadership skills through being an officer or a committee chairperson in charge of one of our events.
NJHS offers you the opportunity to develop your leadership skills through being an officer or a committee chairperson in charge of one of our events.

15. Is that you?
Leaders can be the ones at the head of the line, but they can also be quiet ones, as well--the idea generators and the ones who make things happen.

16. Character
The student of good character upholds principles of morality and ethics, is cooperative, demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability, shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others, and generally maintains a good and clean lifestyle.
Someone of good character earns his or her reputation by being honest, reliable, respectful of, and cooperative with others. Someone with good character does not cheat on homework or tests, spread gossip, lie, or bully others.

17. Someone of good character earns his or her reputation by being honest, reliable, respectful of, and cooperative with others. Someone with good character does not cheat on homework or tests, spread gossip, lie, or bully others.
A person with good character does what is right even if it is not popular. Someone with character “stands up for the little guy”. Are you that kind of person?

18. Is that you?

19. Service
This quality is defined through the voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit.
NJHS here at PAMS prides itself on our service to others. Members have a requirement of fulfilling a minimum of five service hours per semester as well as taking an active role in our chapter’s service projects.

20. NJHS here at PAMS prides itself on our service to others
NJHS here at PAMS prides itself on our service to others. Members have a requirement of fulfilling a minimum of five service hours per semester as well as taking an active role in our chapter’s service projects.

21. Everyone has talents that can be used to help others.

22. Is that you?

23. What does the NJHS do?
Some people do not know what the NJHS does here at PAMS. Every school does things a little differently. Here, service is our most important goal. This year we planned, organized, and completed two major service projects and are in the midst of planning our third, an activity to help beautify our new school. We also help out with peer tutoring, sixth grade orientation, and end-of-the-year assistance for teachers. At our meetings, we work on our service projects, sometimes have speakers come in to talk to us, eat, and socialize. Officers and heads of service projects meet more often for planning. You can be as active as you have time to be.

24. What does the NJHS do? Service projects Social events
Samaritan House Personal Items Collection Drive
“Soup”er Bowl of Caring
Holiday cards for US soldiers in VA Hospitals
Mentoring Program at PAES
Peer tutoring
Teacher and Staff Appreciation
School Beautifications (Yes, we scrape the gum off of the cafeteria tables each year! Gross fun!)
Social events
Leadership opportunities

25. Samaritan House Collection Drive
This year our service efforts began with the Samaritan House Collection Drive where we were able to send over 50 grocery bags full of personal items, like shampoo, soap, lotions, and toothbrushes to the battered women’s shelter. The director was overwhelmed with what we were able to accomplish!

26. Christmas Holidays Adopt-a-Family
When the economy hit a sour note, we worked with social services and adopted an anonymous PAMS family and provided them with gifts for the children for the holidays.

27. Benefit for the FoodBank and St. Luke’s Church Pantry
"Soup"er Bowl of Caring !
Benefit for the FoodBank
and St. Luke’s Church Pantry
When the Super Bowl rolled around, the NJHS sponsored the “Soup”er Bowl of Caring. We helped collect over 700 cans of food to donate to the FoodBank of Southeastern Virginia, enough for several hundred meals for hungry families in our region.

28. Panthers Helping Seagulls
Mentoring Program
Panthers Helping Seagulls

29. Guest Speakers at Meetings
Colonel Bill Davis, US Army, Ret. Former Special Forces Green Beret, spoke to us about leadership and is our community adviser. We love him!
James Tallmadge is the Dean of Students at South University. He tries to see us every year and talks about developing our inter-personal & communication skills.

30. Why should an eighth grader apply?
While it is true that eighth graders who are selected for membership at the end of the school year will be moving on to high school, it is good practice to learn how to “put your best foot forward” in a safe environment.
You have worked hard and deserve to be recognized.
It is good to do something positive.
You will make your parents very proud—don’t they deserve that special treat to see you dressed up and the focus of attention?

31. Do you have what it takes?
If so, the Princess Anne Middle School Faculty would like for you to apply for the honor of selection into the Panther Pride Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society!

32. IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT!
There is no right to membership; it is a privilege bestowed upon a student by the faculty of the school.
Completion of the application is not a guarantee of selection into NJHS.

33. How do I apply?
In order to apply for consideration, you will need to download the application In In order to apply for consideration, you will need to download the application and teacher recommendations from this wikispace ( . Then, complete the packet and turn it in to Ms. Bartley, the guidance department secretary, by the due date (May 8, 2014). You should complete it electronically, but you will need to print out the final copy to turn in. Ask your four favorite teachers to complete a recommendation for you.
Because the selection process is a blind review, make sure that the only place that you have your name is on the cover sheet. When you give the teachers their recommendation forms, your student identification number will be all that identifies you when the committee reviews your packet.
See important details in the application packet about where to place your name and student identification number.
When you give the teacher recommendation forms to the teachers, put your name on a sticky note so the teachers know whose form is whose!

34. THURSDAY, MAY 8 The due date is to Ms. Bartley in Guidance!
Late applications may impact selection.
The Selection Committee meets on
Monday, May 12.
Warning: Due dates are CLOSER than they appear!
Again, the due date is FRIDAY, MAY 13. Turn in your application to Ms. Bartley, the guidance department secretary.
Late applications may impact selection. The Selection Committee meets on Monday, May 16. So beware! Due dates are closer than they appear!

35. completed application!
Thank you!
We look forward
to receiving your
completed application!
Congratulations on being scholastically eligible to apply for this prestigious honor. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Peterson in Room 300 or Mrs. Solheim in Room 561.