1. NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

2. From Honor Society Terminology National Honor Society. A program of NASSP that operates in high schools with members from grades 10 through 12. Established in 1921. –www.nhs.us.

3. The Honor of the Society More than just an honor roll, NHS and NJHS serve to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character and Citizenship. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organizations since their beginnings in 1921. Today, it is estimated that more than one million students participate in activities of the NHS and NJHS. NHS and NJHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. Territories, and Canada.

4. Once an Honor Society Member.. Four main purposes have guided chapters of NHS from the beginning: "To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools." (from the NHS Constitution) These purposes also translate into the criteria used for membership selection in each local chapter. Unless dismissed, all past members of Honor Society continue to be held to the standards throughout their lives.

5. Officers pass on to Membership The Pillars upon which Honor Societies stand: outstanding scholarship impeccable character proven leadership Meaningful service.

6. Governance Local chapters of the Honor Society are governed by two sets of documents: The National Constitution and the local chapter bylaws. The National Constitution was developed and is monitored by the National Council that serves as the governing body of the national organizations All chapters must adopt and abide by the provisions of the National Constitution, per their chartering agreement with the national organization. organizations.

7. Membership By-Laws Section 1. Membership in local chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by a Faculty Council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities. Section 2. Membership shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate. Section 3. The Faculty Council shall reserve the right to award honorary membership to school officials, principals, teachers, NHS advisers, adults, students with disabilities, or foreign exchange students in recognition of achievement and/or outstanding service rendered to the school in keeping with the purposes of the National Honor Society. Honorary members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.

8. Membership By-Laws Section 4. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony. Section 5. Members who are seniors in good standing are eligible to be nominated by their chapters to compete in the National Honor Society Scholarship Program. Section 6. An NHS member who transfers to another school and brings a letter from the principal or chapter adviser to the new school adviser shall be accepted automatically as a member in the new school's chapter. Transfer members must meet the new chapter's standards within one semester in order to retain membership. Section 7. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.

9. Membership Eligibility Section 1. To be eligible for membership the candidate must be a member of those classes (sophomore, junior, senior) designated as eligible in the chapter bylaws. (Freshmen [ninth graders] are not eligible.) Candidates must have been in attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester. Section 2. The national minimum standard for scholarship shall be a cumulative scholastic average of at least 85 percent, B, or 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or the equivalent standard of excellence. Candidates shall then be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, and character

10. Membership Eligibility Section 3. The selection of each member to the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council. Prior to notification of any candidates, the chapter adviser shall review with the principal the results of the Faculty Councils deliberations. Section 4. A description of the selection procedure shall be published in an official school publication that is widely available in a timely fashion to all students and parents of the school. The selection procedure shall be determined by the Faculty Council and shall be consistent with the rules and regulations of NHS.

11. Faculty Council The committee of the chapter, made up of five faculty members appointed by the principal; charged with selection and discipline and the creation and administration of official chapter guidelines. The FC is facilitated by the Chapter Adviser who serves as the sixth but non-voting member of the FC. No principal or assistant principal can serve as a member of the FC. See Article VII.

12. Services for Students and Families Through these award and scholarship programs, students can obtain scholarships and gain recognition for their academic efforts, service, and leadership. National Honor Society Scholarships Principal's Leadership Award Prudential Spirit of Community Award http://www.nhs.us/s_nhs/sec.asp?CID=139&DID=5294

13. Services for Students and Families Every year, thousands if not millions of American teenagers engage in meaningful service projects in their schools and communities. The national office hears from hundreds of schools and student leaders each year about the great projects they're doing. Here is a sampling of some of the best ideas. Information and Resources for Parents of Current and Prospective Honor Society Members Welcome to the Parent Zone on www.nhs.us – a collection of links and resources designed for parents of high school and middle level students who are either members of the Honor Societies or are interested in becoming members.www.nhs.us

14. Semester of Service A high-impact, strategic service-learning curriculum designed to link Martin Luther King Day of Service with Global Youth Service Day. GYSD 2010 will be April 23-25 Lasting three days, April 24-26, thousands of events around the world celebrated and recognized the contributions young people make to their communities every day of the year.

15. Leadership for Student Activities Magazine Leadership for Student Activities is a monthly magazine for advisers who work with student councils or Honor Society chapters. Each month during the school year, Leadership focuses on a topic of interest to student leaders and their advisers in student activities at the middle level and high school. It is published by the National Association of Secondary School Principals for members of the National Association of Student Councils, the National Honor Society, and the National Junior Honor Society. An NHS/NJHS edition and an NASC edition are published monthly from September through May.

16. National Leadership Conferences LEAD Conferences offer national-level leadership training at an affordable price. NHS supports a link to a free Fundraising Guide that may assist you in raising funds to cover expenses for your participation in a LEAD Conference. Washington, DC February 5-7, 2010Washington, DC February 5-7, 2010 Chicago, Illinois February 19-21, 2010 Phoenix, Arizona March 19-21, 2010 http://www.nhs.us/s_nhs/sec.asp?CID=433&DID=47785