Balboa Academy Chapter

of the

 National Honor Society

CONGRATULATIONS TO NEXT SCHOOL YEAR 2008-09 NHS OFFICERS:

ERICA MUTOH--PRESIDENT

ASHLEY KULA--VICE PRESIDENT

NINA DURBIN--SECRETARY

ANDREW BIVIN--TREASURER

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NHS Collect 1088 lbs of food  for the Wounan Tribe

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Subject:  National Honor Society, How Students Can Prepare for Candidacy

Dear Parents of High School Students,

We’ve been asked by some of our parents to please provide further information about the National Honor Society and how to best prepare their teenager for candidacy to this educationally elite organization.  The attached information is written in response to this request. 

We hope that this will be of help to you. 

Sincerely,
Maria L. Dillon
Academic Dean
Balboa Academy

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HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

The National Honor Society (NHS) was founded in 1921 in the United States by the NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals).  It was the first nationwide organization of its kind.  NHS is the leader among organizations and societies that promote appropriate recognition for students who reflect outstanding accomplishments in the areas of scholarship, character, leadership and service. 

Far from being simply a reward for high academic achievement, the National Honor Society is a functioning, active group whose members seek to be outstanding leaders and role models for the school community and to promote the ideals of Scholarship, Leadership, Character, and Service among all students.  Selection for NHS membership is truly the highest honor a student can receive while in high school.  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.

Serving one another and the community is expressed in the motto of the National Honor Society, “Noblesse Oblige.”  Members of the National Honor Society are obligated to fulfill the motto with behavior that is honorable, responsible, and generous to others.  The NHS member is willing to use talents and skills for the improvement of society.

LOCAL SCHOOL CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY 

In 2002, Balboa Academy applied for membership to belong to NHS.  Our local school chapter organization is one of thousands throughout the U.S. and American schools abroad.  The day-to-day administration of NHS national concerns is handled by the NASSP Department of Student Activities, headquartered in Reston, Virginia.  NASSP appoints a National Council which establishes the national standards for all NHS chapters. 

Balboa Academy’s local chapter created its own by-laws which are consistent with and comply with the NHS National Constitution.  Any student at BA who is a Sophomore, Junior or Senior is eligible for consideration for membership in NHS.  All membership selection is handled through the local school chapter.

Only those students who demonstrate outstanding Character, Leadership and commitment to Community Service, in addition to outstanding Scholarship, are considered for membership.  These four criteria for selection form the foundation upon which the organization and its activities are built. 

 By-Laws of the Chapter

Membership

Section 1. Membership in Balboa Academy Honor Society (BAHS) Chapter is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by the BAHS 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. Active members shall become graduate members at graduation. Graduate members shall have no voice or vote in BAHS Chapter affairs.

Section 3. The BAHS Faculty Council shall reserve the right to award honorary membership to school officials, principals, teachers, BAHS advisers, adults, or students with disabilities, for achievement and/or outstanding service rendered to the Academy in keeping with the purposes of the National Honor Society. Honorary members shall have no voice or vote in BAHS Chapter affairs.

Section 4. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony held each semester.

Section 5. Members who are seniors in good standing are eligible to be nominated by the BAHS Chapter to compete in the National Honor Society Scholarship Program.

Section 6. A National Honor Society member who transfers from another school and brings a letter from the school principal or chapter adviser to the BA Chapter Adviser shall be accepted automatically as a member in the BAHS Chapter. Transfer members must meet the BAHS Chapter 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.

Selection of Members

Section 1. To be eligible for membership the candidate must be a member of the Sophomore, Junior, Senior classes  (tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders).  Freshmen (ninth graders) are not eligible. Candidates must have been in attendance at the Balboa Academy the equivalent of one full semester. Some candidates may be ineligible for induction because of the semester ruling. Many students, including students of military and State Department parents, are required to move with parents or guardians who have transferred in their work. The Director should seek a recommendation from the previous school principal pursuant to the candidate's selection. Based on the recommendation of the previous principal, the BAHS Faculty Council may waive the semester regulation.

Section 2. Candidates must have a cumulative scholastic average of at least a  3.5 on the BA 4.0 scale. The Faculty Council shall evaluate each Candidate on the basis of service, leadership, and character.

Section 3.  Candidates who meet the eligibility and scholastic requirement will be requested to complete a Student Activity Information Form.  (This is an information form and not an application for membership).  The Student Activity Information Forms will be submitted to the Faculty Council by the end of the second week of school following the end of each semester.

 Section 4.  Faculty Evaluations will be used to support the strength of a student’s candidacy in the areas of service, leadership and character. Faculty Evaluation Forms will be submitted to the Faculty Council by the end of the third week of school following the end of each semester.

Section 5. The selection of each Candidate for membership in the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council at a formal meeting during the fourth week of school following the end of each semester.

Section 6. The nomination and selection procedure shall be published in the official school newspaper and WebPages and made available in a timely fashion to all students and parents of the Academy. The selection procedure shall be determined by the Faculty Council and shall be consistent with the rules and regulations of the National Honor Society.

Section 7.  There is no appeal of non-selection of candidates.