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National Honor Society

 

Mu Kappa Delta Chapter of the National Honor Society
 

Handbook
 

Introduction to the Mu Kappa Delta Chapter of the National Honor Society at BMC Durfee High School

The National Honor Society is a prestigious organization which honors outstanding students throughout the country on the basis of scholarship, leadership, character, and service. Each local chapter must set forth guiding principles by which to operate in order to uphold the rigorous standards of the national organization. The regulations set forth in this manual have been formulated to ensure that members of the Mu Kappa Delta Chapter uphold the rigorous standards of the National Honor Society and serve as models of excellence to other students. This handbook has been approved by both the Durfee High School NHS Faculty Council and the Principal. Each member of the Honor Society will receive a handbook upon acceptance into the Honor Society and should acquaint themselves with the contents of this booklet.

 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Jessica Stephens, Principal,  John P. Saurette Jr., NHS Co-Advisor, Christopher DeLuca, NHS Co-Advisor

 

Faculty Council

Each year, the adviser solicits members for the purpose of approving members to the National Honor Society.

 

Application 

The Faculty Council of the National Honor Society considers the application to be of utmost importance. Acceptance into the NHS depends, for the most part, on the information conveyed in the application. Therefore, the faculty council advises that each applicant take great care when completing the application. The information presented as evidence should be able to be validated and should span your high school years..

 

The committee reminds the applicant that his or her application must:

● show evidence of forethought and planning

● exhibit neatness, consistency, and clarity

● contain correct spelling and grammatical structure

● include a typed essay (no handwritten essays)

● include both a teacher recommendation and a personal statement

● contain all necessary signatures and contact information

 

Ineligible Applicants: Students may be denied acceptance into the NHS for the following reasons:

● Handing in an application after the designated deadline

● Omitting sections of the application

● Having no contact information or verifying signatures

● Missing the required recommendation

● Violating a school policy as determined by the B.M.C. Durfee High School administration

 

NOTE: You must be clear and thorough in your explanation of service and leadership in order to earn points for your work

 

**If you participated in an activity that you believe fulfills the service or leadership requirement, but does not cover the high school time period, you may still include that activity. The faculty selection committee may give credit for work that is concentrated over a shorter period of time.

 

BMC Durfee High School National Honor Society Selection Criteria

The selection criteria for NHS will be based on a point system that evaluates students’ performance according to the four criteria: scholarship, character, leadership, and service. In addition, points are awarded for students’ extracurricular activities, paid or unpaid work, and the personal statement. The NHS Faculty Council will examine students’ applications and score the applications using the point system. In order to be accepted, applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.9 on the weighted scale and obtain a total of 14 points with at least 1 point in service and 1 point in leadership. The selection committee will use the following criteria when applications are read and evaluated.

 

**Leadership: The student who exercises leadership...

• Is resourceful in addressing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions

• Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities

• Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideals

• Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school

• Is able to delegate responsibilities

• Exemplifies positive attitudes

• Inspires positive behavior in others

• 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

 

Students who demonstrate defined leadership roles and/or responsibilities in a school-related activity, such as a sport or club, or in a community organization or a project, will receive a maximum point total of:

        Points

Student demonstrates outstanding and varied leadership experience for 1 or more years 

  

4

The student demonstrates more than one leadership experience for 1 year

  

3

The student demonstrates one leadership experience for one year

2

The student demonstrates leadership experience for less than one year

1

The student demonstrated no leadership experience 

0

 

**YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST 1 POINT IN LEADERSHIP FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE APPROVED

 

**Volunteer Service: The student who serves...

•A volunteer hour is defined as a non-required, non-obligatory, non-compensated hour in service of others.

• Volunteers dependable and well organized, are gladly available and are 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 interclass and interscholastic competition

• Does committee and staff work without complaint

• Shows courtesy by assisting advisors, teachers, and students

 

Students who demonstrate examples of substantial voluntary contributions made to the school or community without compensation will receive a maximum of:

Points

The student has completed 20 hours or more of volunteer service per year

4

The student has completed 15-19 hours of volunteer service per year

3

The student has completed 10-14 hours of volunteer service per year

2

The student has completed 5-9 hours of volunteer service per year 

1

The student has not completed the volunteer service

0

 

**YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST 1 POINT IN SERVICE  FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE APPROVED

 

**Character: The student who shows 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 and plagiarism in written work, and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others

• Actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment

 

Students who demonstrate character by upholding morality, ethics, and honesty, while showing courtesy and concern for others will, receive the following points:

         Points

Student has no conduct infractions on record, including excessive absences or tardies, and teacher writes a strong statement that highly recommends the student.

4

Student may have minor conduct infraction, such as tardiness, teacher writes a strong recommendation and student addresses infraction in statement; or student has no conduct infractions and the teacher recommendation is only slightly positive.

3

Student has no, or one minor, conduct infraction and teacher writes a less than convincing recommendation.

2

Student has more than one minor conduct infraction and/or teacher writes a less than convincing statement and student addresses all infractions in statement

1

No teacher recommendation and/or major conduct infraction that led to disciplinary action 

0

 

**Any student with a serious breach of academic or personal ethics that is documented in their school record that has led to disciplinary action MAY be in jeopardy of not being admitted to NHS.

 

Paid or Unpaid Work Experience: Students who have a job for which they received a salary or any other form of payment, or who have performed any unpaid work for family members will receive the following points:

        Points

Students performs over 10 hours per week of paid or unpaid work at one or more jobs for more than 1 year

4

The student performs over 10 hours per week of paid or unpaid work at one or more jobs for 1 year

3

The student performs between 5-10 hours per week of paid or unpaid work at one or more jobs for less than one year or two summers.

2

The student performs either paid or unpaid work consistently during one summer

1

The student has no work experience

0

 

Extra Curricular Activities: Students involved in a school extracurricular activity, such as a club or sport, or in a community-related activity will receive the following points:

          Points

2 or more activities with excellent attendance

4

2 or more activities with moderate attendance

3

1 activity with good attendance

2

1 activity with moderate attendance

1

No extracurricular activities

0

 

Personal Statement: Students who explain how scholarship, leadership, character and service relate to his or her life will receive the following points:

          Points

The student writes an excellent personal statement. The statement clearly demonstrates the importance of scholarship, leadership, character, and service to the student. The essay demonstrates care and thoughtfulness and contains correct spelling and grammatical structure.

  

2

The student writes an adequate personal statement. The statement somewhat demonstrates the importance of scholarship, leadership, character, and service to the student.

1

No personal statement included OR statement fails to address all four of the NHS core values.

0