Emmett Chapter

National Honor Society

721 W. 12 St. Emmett, ID 83617(208) 365-6323

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Purpose of the Organization: National Honor Society at Emmett High School is an honorary organization for students who have a 3.4 Grade Point Average and who have been chosen by a selection committee of teachers and administrators. According to the national organization's goals, NHS hopes "to recognize and encourage academic achievement while developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy." Once selected, the organization meets on a regular basis and is involved in numerous school and community activities.

History of the Organization. . .

In 1919 J.G. Masters, principal of Central High School in Omaha, Nebraska, proposed the formation of a National Honor Society to recognize students who had excelled in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and character. Edward Rynearson, principal of Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, supported the proposal which was later endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in Chicago. In 1921 the Society became a reality. Locally, the Emmett chapter of National Honor Society was established in 1946 with 21 members, and hundreds of members have been initiated since.

Benefits of Membership. . .

"College admissions officers often look for Honor Society membership as a valid indicator that the applicant will succeed at the collegiate level of post-secondary education. The Honor Society member has already proven that he or she is able to achieve with academic endeavors, leadership, honorable and admirable character, as well as service that demonstrates that the member is willing to use talents and skills for the improvement of society."

Taken from "The National Honor Society Handbook"

Becoming a Member. . .

Students who wish to become a members can effectively increase their chances of being selected by adhering to the following suggestions:

1. Maintain high academic standards at school.

2. Challenge themselves by taking advanced level courses.

3. Become a meaningful part of several high school extra-curricular groups.

4. Seek opportunities for leadership by running for offices, chairing committees, using leadership skills in the classroom, etc.

5. Maintain high moral and ethical standards at school and in the community. Be aware that cheating on tests, sharing homework, skipping class, etc. is often noted by teachers and may be brought up during the selection process.

6. Take part in community and church activities. Boy Scouts, 4H Club activities, church youth groups, volunteer work, etc. can all be listed on the application form for membership.

7. Seek opportunities to serve. Tutoring a student in need, helping on a volunteer basis at a retirement home, baby-sitting, raking leaves for the elderly, working at the public library, etc. can benefit both the student and the recipient.

Qualifications and Selection Process. . .
Membership in the local Emmett chapter of NHS is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is based upon the following criteria:

1. The student must have a 3.2 overall GPA (based on a 4.0 scale and effective as of Spring of 1997) to be eligible academically, must be a member of the junior or senior class, and must have been in attendance at Emmett High School for at least one full semester immediately prior to the invitation.

2. All eligible students will be issued an invitation to fill out an application for membership. The application is not a guarantee of membership and must be returned to the advisors by the stated deadline. Members are cautioned to fill out the entire application neatly in ink. Incomplete, messy or incorrect applications may affect the committee's decision.

3. A faculty committee will next review all applications that are returned by the deadline and will reserve the right to award membership based upon their assessments of the applicant's commitment to service, leadership and character. If necessary, disciplinary records will be consulted and additional faculty members may be contacted.

4. Candidates will be notified of their selection during a spring tapping ceremony conducted during the school day by the advisors and the members. At the ceremony, prospective candidates are informed about the activities of the organization and are advised of the 10 hour per semester service requirement of each member and the $5 initiation fee. Those students tapped have a final opportunity to decline membership at this time.

5. Candidates become members when inducted at a formal candlelight ceremony held in the spring. Dress to this occasion is semi-formal to church wear. During the ceremony, new inductees will sign the membership roster and will receive their NHS membership card. All senior members will also receive a gold tassel to be worn at graduation. Parents will be extended an invitation, and all guests and newly inducted members will be feted at a reception afterward.

6. A National Honor Society member who transfers to Emmett High and who brings a letter from the former principal or chapter adviser from their old school will be automatically accepted as a member in the Emmett chapter. If they like, they may also go through the local induction ceremony in the spring where they will be signed in as a member of the EHS chapter.

7. After being inducted, members will be known as active and graduate. Active members will become graduate members at graduation. Graduate members will have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.

8. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.

Current Officers and Advisors. . .

Duties of the President. . .

• Conducts all meetings by parliamentary procedure
• Clears his meeting agenda with the advisor one week prior to meeting
• Serves as a liaison with the advisors and school administration
• Is responsible for conducting the tapping and initiation ceremonies (includes making several speeches)
• Is responsible for scheduling meetings, etc. with advisor approval
• Attends all executive and regular meetings
• Serves as general chair for the formal initiation ceremony
• Participates as a good member throughout the year

Duties of the Vice-president. . .

• Takes over when the president is absent
• Attends all meetings and participates as a good member throughout the year
• May be expected to chair certain committees
• Serves as the general chairperson for tapping
• Keeps and updates files of all yearly projects

Duties of the Secretary. . .

• Takes formal minutes of executive and regular meetings. These should be kept in a notebook for reference and can later be submitted to the Historian for the scrapbook.
• Is responsible for securing purchase orders from the office when authorized by the advisors
• Is responsible for writing announcements for meetings and submitting these to the office at least two days before each meeting
• Is responsible for writing appropriate thank you notes throughout the year
• Is responsible for typing, sending, etc. the formal invitations for the initiation ceremony
• Is responsible for participating in all special ceremonies
• Attends all meetings and participates as a good member throughout the year

Duties of the Historian. . .

• Takes photos of special NHS events
• Is responsible for contacting the news media to take pictures for all special events throughout the year
• Clips newspaper articles about NHS members for the scrapbook
• Keeps the current scrapbook up-to-date so that it can be displayed at the formal initiation
• Helps maintain all past scrapbooks as much as possible
• Attends all meetings and participates as a good member throughout the year
• Is responsible for participating in all special ceremonies

Duties of the service chairperson. . .

• Is responsible for distributing the service hour forms and tabulating the members' hours of service on a chart
• Is responsible for locating possible service projects for the organization
• Updating the members of service opportunities at meetings
• Is responsible for notifying members in a timely fashion (in memo form) when the member is short of required service hours
• Attends all excessive board meetings
• Participates as a good member throughout the year

Yearly Activities and Traditions. . .

• Hosting Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Halloween Pumpkin Painting and Carving Project for Emmett Care Centers
• Recognizing Staff During American Education Week in November
• Christmas Service Project
• Scholarship Money-Making Project
• Creating an Original Tapping Ceremony Skit for New Members
• Formal Initiation Ceremony for New Members
• Students Speakers at the Formal Initiation
• Gold Tassels and Collars Worn at Graduation
• Gold Honor Cords Worn at Graduation by Members with a 3.75 or Higher GPA
• Ten Hours School or Community Service Required by Each Member Per Semester
• Monthly Excessive Board Meetings with Advisors
• Regular Meetings the First Wednesday of Each Month
• Scrapbook of Years Events Displayed at Formal Initiation

Scholarships. . .

"National Honor Society members who exhibit outstanding scholarship, leadership, service, and character may be eligible in their senior year to be nominated to compete in the National Honor Society Scholarship Awards Program. The chapter adviser each year receives information concerning the procedures for determining eligibility. Nominations are not based on need, nor on any one criterion. Rather, the nominating committee identifies students who are outstanding in the four qualities of scholarship, leadership, service, and character."

Taken from the NHS Handbook

Several local chapter scholarships are awarded on a yearly basis. Advisors can be contacted for more information.

Dismissal of Members. . .

"A member is never automatically dismissed for failing to maintain standards. But members should understand fully that they are liable for dismissal if they do not maintain the standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character that were used as the basis for their selection. They should also be informed that they are allowed limited warnings during their membership but that in the case of a flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws, a warning is not necessarily required. Furthermore, a student who is dismissed or who resigns may never again become an Honor Society member."

Taken from the NHS Handbook

Defining Leadership, Service, Character. . .

The student who exercises leadership. . .

• Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions
• Demonstrates leadership 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 efficiently and effectively, and without prodding, demonstrates reliability and dependability
• Demonstrates leadership in the classroom, at work, and in school or community activities
• Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted.

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
• Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school
• Is willing to represent the class in school inter-class and inter-scholastic competition
• Does committee and staff work uncomplainingly
• Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

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
• Observes instructions and rules, punctuality, and faithfulness both inside and outside of 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 to rid the school of bad influences or environment.

  Taken from NHS Handbook

Official Insignia and Colors. . .

When the National Honor Society was founded in 1921, the National Council authorized and approved an official emblem which consists of a shield displaying a torch of learning surrounded at the bottom by the letters CSLS. (character, scholarship leadership, service).

"The official colors of the organization are blue and gold, and the Society's motto is Noblesse Oblige, a French phrase literally meaning "nobility obligates." In broader terms, it signifies that those of high rank (or birth, in its original context) have the obligation to behave honorable, generously, and responsibly to others." (Taken from the NHS Handbook)

Each active, graduate, or honorary member is entitled to wear the emblem. The emblem and other insignia should always be worn with dignity and pride.

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