Membership Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS FOR NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Membership in the National Honor Society (NHS) is based on a four requirements. Members of the junior and senior class who meet all four requirements and complete an application will be considered for admission to the National Honor Society.  All activities submitted for consideration will be during the time period student attended Bethpage High School.

The four basic requirements for membership are scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Students are eligible to apply for NHS membership if they demonstrate academic achievement through their grade point average.

A minimum average of 90.0 (weighted) is required to receive an invitation to apply to the Bethpage Chapter of the National Honor Society.

Grade point average will not be rounded to meet the minimum requirement.  Students who meet this requirement will then be invited to apply for membership. Having a 90.0 average does not guarantee membership.

According to the National Honor Society standards, the student who exercises leadership:

• demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities

• exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideals

• contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school

• exemplifies positive attitudes

• acts as a role model

• successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility; conducts business effectively and efficiently; and demonstrates reliability and dependability

• is a leader at work and in school or community activities

• is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted

• is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude.

A leadership position requires that the student be responsible for overseeing a group of people. Leadership in organizations outside of school may count towards this requirement. Leadership activities may include but are not limited to:

• officer of an activity or organization

• editor of a publication

• team captain, coach, or manager

• crew chief or production manager in a dramatic or musical production

• camp counselor

The National Honor Society standards require that a student:

• volunteers and provides dependable and well organized assistance

• works well with others and is willing to take on difficult responsibilities

• cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school

• is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition

• participates in some activity outside of school: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, youth groups affiliated with religious institutions, volunteer services for the aged, poor, or disadvantaged

• mentors persons in the community or students at other schools

• shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

The BHS chapter of the NHS requires members to participate in a variety of service activities during their time in BHS.

Each eligible student will be evaluated by the faculty and administration according to the National Honor Society standards for good character, which state 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

• shows courtesy, concern and respect for others; observes instructions and rules

• exhibits 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 rid the school of bad influences or environment

• has no incidents of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, or disciplinary issues

Character will automatically be questioned by events leading to suspension from school, consistent lateness, cheating, or other offenses brought forth by a member of the faculty or administration.If someone deems a student's character not sufficient, the relevant information will be forwarded to the Faculty Council for consideration.

Eligible juniors and seniors receive invitations to attend an informational meeting in April after Q3. They are responsible for completing an application and documenting their service/activity hours.  Applications are due end of May/early June (a specific date will be posted on application).

The Faculty Council will evaluate the requirements of scholarship, leadership, service, and character for each eligible candidate. Final selection of the National Honor Society is the responsibility of the Faculty Council. Applicants will be informed by email and a letter home of their appliciation status in September.

Applicants with insufficient service hours may be offered  a 3 month period  June-September to improve this component of their application.  

All National Honor Society members are expected to maintain membership requirements of the National Honor Society. Membership requirements include maintaining minimum GPA of 90.0, attending meetings, tutoring and participation in service projects. The Faculty Council may dismiss any member failing to fulfill these obligations. Dismissal will result in the removal of the NHS designation from school records and, depending on the severity of the infraction, possible notification of colleges to which a student applied.