Portfolio for National Honor Society
Briar Woods High School
Congratulations! Based on your academic grade point average you are invited to apply for membership in the Briar Woods Chapter of the National Honor Society. A faculty selection committee will soon be reviewing all eleventh and twelfth grade students who are academically eligible for membership and have submitted portfolios. Membership in the National Honor Society is based upon excellence in four areas: scholarship, leadership, service and character. Each category is judged independently.
To be eligible for membership, students must have at least a junior standing, and a weighted cumulative GPA of at least a 3.5. In addition to the academic requirement, there are standards in leadership, service, and character, which are required. Leadership requirements include a demonstration of leadership in school as well as outside of school. Service requirements include involvement in service projects since the start of the high school career. Character requirements include integrity, positive behavior, ethics, cooperation, and reliability in and out of school and classroom maturity.
After students become members of the National Honor Society, they are reviewed periodically by the advisers and must maintain the high standards of the Society. Active members in the National Honor Society are required to maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA or better and live up to the character, leadership, and service ideals of the National Honor Society.
Students who are invited to apply to the National Honor Society membership are under no obligation to complete the candidate portfolio. Although you are to be commended for maintaining a high scholastic average, please understand that membership is not guaranteed to anyone. The faculty committee makes the final decision for membership. The NHS Advisers are nonvoting members. If you have any questions regarding the Society, the selection procedures or membership, please contact Ms. Nichols, Mrs. Osborne, or Mrs. Schimmel at any time.
PLEASE NOTE:
• You must attend one of the portfolio information sessions in order for your application to be considered. Your parent(s)/guardian(s) may also attend the session, but it is not required.
• Complete ALL sections of the information form. Please type or print with black ink. Do not be modest. The application is the major component of the selection process. Be clear and detailed in your responses.
• Please prioritize your activities, listing those to which you had the greatest commitment first. Avoid repeating your involvement in organizations/activities in more than one section of the application form.
• This information form requests the name of an adult sponsor who can verify your involvement in the activities listed. You MUST include the adult sponsor’s name and contact information (e-mail or phone number) and signature. Hours documented on letterhead will be accepted in lieu of signature.
• Completed applications are due to Mrs. Schimmel (room 407) by 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
• Details of the induction ceremony will be discussed after the Selection Committee reaches it decision.
• Before further consideration, it is necessary for you and your parent or guardian to sign this form (a waiver to any right to access information, evaluations, recommendations, judgments, or whatsoever in the selection process). Further consideration will not be made until this waiver is signed and returned.
Student Signature ______Date ______
Parent Signature ______Date ______
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Full Name Grade_
Home Address ______
E-mail Phone Number
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
I. School Activities -- List all activities in which you have participated during high school. Include clubs, teams, musical groups, etc., and major accomplishments in each. Include activities you know you will participate in during this school year. For example, if you know you will participate in track, but the season hasn't begun, please include it. List the name of the adult supervisor who can verify your participation in each activity. Verifying signatures and phone numbers are required.
School Activities / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / Accomplishments / Sponsor Name and Phone No. / Sponsor’s Signature9
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
Leadership will be divided into two areas, elected positions, and student leadership. List all elected or appointed positions held in which you have been an active member in high school. Include clubs, musical groups, committees etc., and major accomplishments in each. Major accomplishments include, but are not limited to, club officer, president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and awards. Please list athletics on the table found on the following page only. Verifying signatures and phone numbers are required.
Section A: Elected & Appointed Positions- List all elected or appointed positions held in school. Only the positions in which you were directly responsible for directing or motivating others should be included. For example, elected to student council, club officer, committee chairperson, newspaper editor, work manager, church youth group officer, 4‐H officer, etc.
Leadership Position / 9 / 10 / 11 / Accomplishments/Leadership Positions / Sponsor Name and Phone No. / Sponsor’s Signature Please sign only if this individual is an active member9
Athletics example: Sports team captain or co‐captain, etc. VL=Varsity Letter
Athletics: Completed Season / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / Accomplishments / Coach Name and Phone No. / Coach’s SignatureSection B: Student Leader Leadership Examples: Many students are leaders in various ways without ever being elected to a leadership position. In this section we want you to describe how you are a leader in your classroom, school, and /or community. Student leaders are resourceful, good problem solvers, idea contributors, dependable, and have a positive attitude about life. List below leadership qualities that you possess and then give an example for each of a time when you demonstrated the leadership quality. Use as many of the spaces below that you desire, you do not have to use each space, but the more information you can provide the better.
Leadership Quality / Example that Demonstrates this QualityExamples: Leader
Dependable / I often lead classroom discussion in my English class.
I always arrive to my job at Dairy Queen on time, and pick up shifts for others.
9
SERVICE ACTIVITIES
List all the community service activities you have participated in that have benefited the school and/or the community. Generally speaking, service activities are those which are done for or on behalf of others (not including immediate family members) for which NO compensation (monetary or other) have been given. For example, church groups, Boys or Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics. Additionally, if the service activity was a requirement of your membership in an extra-curricular activity, you should NOT include it. (For example, the cross country team, in the past, has cleaned up the stadium after home football games. This was a requirement of its members, therefore would not count toward service hours.)
If you participated in any service activity within the school, list and describe that as well, along with the number of hours you performed the service. List the name of the adult supervisor who can verify your participation in each activity. Please try to have the signature be from an adult other than a parent, unless your parent was directly responsible for that activity. Verifying signatures and phone numbers are required.
Community Activity / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / Explanation of Activity / Sponsor Name and Phone No. / Start & End Date / Sponsor’s Signature / Total Hours Completed / Are You Still Doing This?If the above section is left blank, please explain why.
9
WORK EXPERIENCE
List below any job/work experiences you have had during high school that support your bid to be selected for membership in National Honor Society. Work experience may be paid or volunteer. Work experience may include some of the following types of activities: babysitting, farm work, lawn work, employment at a
local place of business, etc. Name of Sponsor and phone numbers are required for work experience. Signatures are not required.
Job Experience / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / Duties at Work / Sponsor Name and Phone No. / Start and End Date / Hours Completed / Are You Still Doing This?HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS
Please list any awards or recognitions, not already mentioned on this form, which you have received during high school. Examples: Student‐of‐the‐Month, Sportsmanship Award, local art award, etc.
A. Recognition- Formal acknowledgement of an achievement, i.e. special notice or attention.
Recognitions / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / Group or Activity9
B. Awards – An item that is given to you as an acknowledgement of an achievement, i.e. trophy, certificate (usually a physical item.) Boy Scouts‐Life, Eagle, etc., Girl Scouts‐ Bronze, Silver, Gold Awards.
Award / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / Group or ActivityESSAY
Perhaps the most difficult area to evaluate for selection of members is that of character. To assist the faculty advisory committee in their decision, we are asking you to write a brief essay describing how you display character and how you plan to consciously improve in this area by the time you graduate from Briar Woods High School. Please attach a one‐page, double‐spaced, computer generated essay expounding upon this topic. Spelling, grammar and neatness, along with quality of response will be part of the evaluation process. Do not forget to use a spell checker and have someone proofread your paper for mistakes, etc. Responses should be a minimum of 250 words with a maximum of 500 words.
Recommendation Form for National Honor Society
Briar Woods High School
Directions to Student: Identify someone in the community and school who can attest to the SERVICE, CHARACTER or LEADERSHIP that you have provided during the past year and/or longer. Provide him/her with an envelope and have him/her sign the sealed envelope and return it with your application. You must include two (2) recommendation forms - one from a community member or coach and one from a teacher that you have had at Briar Woods.
Directions to Writer: Briar Woods High School is in the process of selecting National Honor Society members. We would like your feedback as to the SERVICE, CHARACTER, or LEADERSHIP this applicant has demonstrated. Please complete this form and seal it in the envelop the student provided and sign across the seal. Please give the completed recommendation form in the sealed and signed envelope back to the student for him/her to place in their portfolio. Thank you.
Attribute / Truly Outstanding (top 2-3%) / Excellent(Top 10%, but not top 2-3%) / Good / Average / Below Average / No Basis for Judgment
Responsibility
Maturity and self-discipline
Self-confidence
Respect
Concern for others
Integrity
Reaction to setbacks
Compliance with school regulations
Cooperation with others
Recommendation: _____ recommend without reservation
_____ recommend with reservation (Please comment).
_____ do not recommend (Please comment).
Comments:______
Signature ______
Printed Name ______Date ______
Recommendation Form for National Honor Society
Briar Woods High School
Directions to Student: Identify someone in the community and school who can attest to the SERVICE, CHARACTER, or
LEADERSHIP that you have provided during the past year and/or longer. Provide him/her with an envelope and have him/her sign the sealed envelope and return it with your application. You must include two (2) recommendation forms - one from a community member or coach and one from a teacher that you have had at Briar Woods.
Directions to Writer: Briar Woods High School is in the process of selecting National Honor Society members. We would like your feedback as to the SERVICE, CHARACTER, or LEADERSHIP this applicant has demonstrated. Please complete this form and seal it in the envelop the student provided and sign across the seal. Please give the completed recommendation form in the sealed and signed envelope back to the student for him/her to place in their portfolio. Thank you.
Attribute / Truly Outstanding (top 2-3%) / Excellent(Top 10%, but not top 2-3%) / Good / Average / Below Average / No Basis for Judgment
Responsibility
Maturity and self-discipline
Self-confidence
Respect
Concern for others
Integrity
Reaction to setbacks
Compliance with school regulations
Cooperation with others
Recommendation: _____ recommend without reservation
_____ recommend with reservation (Please comment).
_____ do not recommend (Please comment).
Comments:______
Signature ______
Printed Name ______Date ______
Checklist for National Honor Society
Briar Woods High School
Checklist (please complete and submit WITH your final application) Remember that your application will not be considered if you are missing any of the following from the checklist below.
Did you remember to. . .
q Type or write the application neatly and in black ink? Did you proof your application?
q Did you edit (Ask a teacher to review essay for you!) and type your essay?
q Paper clip, rather than staple, the application together? Sealed in a large envelope with your name on the envelope?
q Make sure no items were taped to the application?
q Make sure you have ALL necessary signatures and phone numbers?
q Include your two recommendation forms in a signature-sealed envelope?
DUE DATE: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 by 4:15pm to room 407
Parent/Guardian and Student Consent
We have reviewed this application and the attached cover letter. We are aware of the requirements for application and recognize that failure to comply with these standards may disqualify this application. We understand the selection criteria (Student Information Sheet, Attendance Record, Discipline Record, and Recommendation Letters). We also understand that students selected for the National Honor Society must attend meetings and functions as required. If accepted into NHS membership you are expected to participate in all activities
including the fund raiser to help cover the costs of service projects, end of the year awards, patches, annual awards breakfast, etc. There are also membership dues explained at the first meeting. If you sign up to go on a field trip and then cancel out, you will be expected to reimburse NHS for your individual costs. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE! We recognize that students will be required to perform a minimum of 30 hours of community service hours (outside of Briar Woods HS), maintain a 3.5 GPA, and may be removed from the Society for failing to meet these requirements.