National Junior Honor Society Joan Craver 8 th Grade English teacher on White Team Adviser and Co-founder of Arcola Chapter Copy of power point on Craver website

Purpose of National Junior Honor Society  “ To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, to develop character, and to encourage citizenship” as established by NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals)  The NJHS is an opportunity for the faculty to bestow membership “as a student privilege, not a right.”

Faculty Council  The Faculty Council is made up of five voting members.  One major subject area teacher from each of the three academic 7 th grade teams  Two expressive arts teacher  Chapter adviser is not a voting member – organizes faculty council information, meets with candidates, distributes and collects paperwork, heads NJHS club & projects  7 th grade counselor and adviser offer suggestions to candidates not selected for membership

NJHS is a Service Organization  Operate school store  Collect pictures for Veterans’ Day assembly and display  Serve Thanksgiving dinner to senior citizens  Organize and collect food for needy in our community  Read to the first graders in several elementary schools  Sell flowers and candy for spring musical - profits donated  Guides for All About Arcola, Back to School, and 6 th grade tours  Contribute to charity: Make-A-Wish, March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society, etc.  Always looking for new ideas! (last year worked with NHS at Methacton ~ collected schoolwide ~ baby clothing, toys, diapers, etc. & NJHS donated 20 baskets to new moms needing assistance)

Membership Selection Process  (1) Scholarship qualifications  (2) Must complete Student Information Form  (3) Must participate in brief interview  (4) Faculty input is gathered regarding the candidate’s character, leadership, service, and citizenship  (5) Candidates selected for membership are inducted into the Arcola Chapter in a formal ceremony in May. Students serve during their 8 th grade year.

Membership Consideration Scholarship Qualifications  7 th grade students must attain a minimum 93% final weighted average for the first three marking periods  Grade weights are as follows and grades are not rounded:  major subject grades are multiplied by 4  health/phys. Ed. by 2  expressive arts by 1  Seminar classes are not part of this portion of the evaluation process - not all students receive such a grade

Membership Consideration (2) Student Information Form  This is an opportunity for the student to showcase his/her participation in service & leadership in school & community.  Be sure answers are complete.  Only information from 7 th grade can be considered for membership ~ as NJHS is a secondary school organization.  Be sure to fully explain involvement in service & leadership activities to give faculty council details of level of involvement and time on task  Can only evaluate what is written on the paper.

Membership Consideration (3) Student Interview  To be considered for membership, each candidate must participate in a brief interview with 2/3 members of the faculty council.  Students are given the questions in advance.  First, students select one question to answer.  Panel of teachers select second question.

Evaluation of Information  Student Information Form - ranked on scale of 0 to 3  Items considered  Time necessary to complete events  Variety of activities  Number of activities  Interview - ranked on a scale of 0 to 3  Depth of responses, relevance of questions asked by candidate  Articulation  Eye contact

Evaluation of Information (continued)  Teacher input - ranked on a scale of 0 to 3  All teachers ~ major-subject area, health & phys. ed, expressive arts, coaches, etc. complete an evaluation sheet focusing on items listed for each candidate.  is responsibility  shows initiative  is conscientious  demonstrates willingness to help others  displays leadership  Vote taken after members of Faculty Council carefully review all information provided by each candidate

Leadership  A student exercises leadership when he/she  Inspires positive behavior in others  Is able to delegate responsibilities  Demonstrates academic initiative  Successfully hold school offices or positions of responsibility  Is resourceful in proposing new solutions and making suggestions  Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities

Service  The student who serves  Volunteers and provides dependable and well-organized assistance without any direct financial compensation  Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult responsibilities  Enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school  Does committee and staff work without complaint  Participates in some activity outside of school ~ scouts, religious groups, volunteer services for the elderly, poor, disadvantaged  Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students

Character  The student of character  Consistently exemplifies positive and desirable qualities of behavior  Cooperates by complying with school policies and regulations and codes of student conduct  Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously  Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty, academic integrity, and reliability  Regularly exhibits courtesy, concern, and respect for others  NJHS is a member of the Character Counts Coalition and recommends the use of the Six Pillars of Character. A person of character demonstrates the qualities: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship

Citizenship  The student who demonstrates citizenship  Demonstrates mature participation and responsibility through involvement with such activities as scouting, community organizations, or school clubs, activities, and classroom events  Has a high regard for freedom and justice  Respects the law for all citizens