The National Honor Society is designed to honor students who have distinguished themselves in the area of scholarship, service, character, and leadership. The following criteria will be used for consideration of any student for membership in the National Honor Society.
Students will be considered for membership in the Bernards High School Chapter of the National Honor Society in their junior year if they meet the following criteria:
Scholarship: A student must have a minimum of 3.75 cumulative grade point average up to and including Marking Period 2 in his/her junior year in order to meet the scholastic requirements for the National Honor Society. Once selected, if the cumulative grade point average falls below this mark, the student will be given a warning and one marking period to raise that average. A student whose grades for the second consecutive marking period are such that they cause his/her cumulative grade point average to drop below 3.75 will be removed from the Society.
Service: A student must have accrued a minimum average of 5activity points (as subsequently listed) for each year he/she has attended high school and must currently be enrolled in activities that will maintain at least that minimum average. Once admitted, students must maintain this average in order to remain in the
Society: Only school-sponsored athletics or activities will be considered for activity points. Community service activities outside of school will be considered.
Character: A student who exhibits any of the following violations will NOT be eligible for consideration for the National Honor Society:
1. Has lost credit for a course because of cutting, absence,
or tardiness
2. Has a verified incident of cheating in school work,
including homework
3. Has a record of violation(s) against school regulations
that results in a suspension (OSS). ISAP (In-School
Alternative Placement) suspensions are subject to review
by the BHS NHS Faculty Council.
4. Has received an unsatisfactory grade “U” that remains
outstanding in Service
Learning: In addition, each faculty member will consider each eligible
student in the following areas of character based on personal contact:
1. Accepts criticism or evaluation in a positive manner
2. Accepts discipline positively
3. Shows a sense of responsibility to school property
4. Conducts oneself in an appropriate manner
5. Meets obligations
6. Shows tolerance
7. Is courteous
Leadership: Each eligible student will be reviewed in the
following areas of leadership:
1. Holds school offices or positions of responsibility
2. Shows leadership in school activities
3. Leads by word and deed
4. Encourages others toward positive behavior
5. Emerges as a leader in small groups
6. Is sought out by other individuals for guidance
7. Initiates classroom discussion.
8. Takes a constructive lead in classroom.
9. Is courteous.
There will be one annual selection process in the spring for current juniors and a separate selection process in the fall for seniors. Selection to the NHS is approved after the review of the NHS Faculty Council.
All scholastically eligible students will be notified by means of a letter that will be provided to the student in school. The letter will outline the eligibility standards and the procedures for selection. Students who wish to be considered for selection MUST obtain and submit a completed application by the specified date on the application. The student’s parent(s) will also sign the application
form indicating that they are aware of the procedure and of the child’s decision. Students who do not meet all application requirements by the established deadlines will not be considered for membership at that time and will not be
eligible to participate in the induction ceremony.
Application for membership will include a listing of all current and past activities and service to assure that the minimum standards are met. This must be verified and initialed by the advisor to that activity who will also determine the number of points to be awarded in areas where a range is possible. Affidavits from outside-of-school organizations will be accepted as proof of community service.
The BHS NHS Faculty Council will review applications and make the final selection. In order to be considered for membership in the National Honor Society, a student must have accumulated a minimum average of five (5) activity points for each year of attendance in high school, as determined by the schedule which follows:
Athletics (per season)
Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Cheerleading (per season) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Publications
Editors: Crimson, Bernardian, Pinnacle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Other Staff Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Music
Marching Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Color Guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Musical/Pit Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Drama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Stage Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Other Extracurricular Activities
Student Government Officer (including class officers) . . . . . . . . 2
Student Council Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Clubs/Academic Teams (officers)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Clubs/Academic Teams (active members)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Peer Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Service to School (Media Center, Guidance Office, Main Office,
Attendance Office, Health Office, Announcers, etc)** . . . . . . . . 1
Service to Community (Hospital, Church, etc)** . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
(*Note: Volunteer Clubs/Activities will be awarded by discretion of the faculty council and/or principal.)
(** Note: A single day of service does not count. Service must beongoing)
Point values have been determined by estimating the number of hours involved in this activity:
10-30 hours = 1 point
31-59 hours = 2 points
60+ hours = 3 points
For activities above in which a range of points is provided, the advisor to the specific activity involved shall determine the number of points earned by each particular student who participated in the specific activity. Any student who is not accepted into the Society will be given reasons, if so requested by the student and/or his/her parent(s). Pending a review by the BHS NHS Faculty Council, students may be issued a warning of removal from the NHS for the
following reasons:
• Failure to maintain a minimum 3.75 cumulative GPA
• A record of school disciplinary violation(s) resulting in a suspension (ISAP (In-School Alternative Placement)
• Failure to attend mandatory NHS meetings unless legitimately absent from school
• Failure to complete NHS obligations by the specified dates
• Failure to pay NHS dues by the specified date Pending a review by the BHS
NHS Faculty Council, students may be permanently removed from NHS for the following reasons:
• Failure to raise the cumulative GPA to 3.75 in the marking period immediately following falling below 3.75
• A verified incident of cheating and/or plagiarism in schoolwork, including homework
• A record of school disciplinary violations that result in a suspension (ISAP or OSS)
• Absence from two mandatory NHS meetings unless legitimately absent from school
• Failure to complete any NHS obligation by the specified date after receiving a warning of removal from the NHS
• Failure to continue to satisfy all eligibility requirements for initial selection into the NHS National Honor Society Tutoring Program.
Any student desiring academic assistance in a specific area may request the services of a National Honor Society member for one-on-one tutoring.