Frequently Asked Questions

What is NHS?

Sage Creek's National Honor Society Club has been a nationally recognized chapter since 2015. NHS offers significant benefits for college applications and scholarships, provides opportunities to develop valuable leadership and service skills, connects students with like-minded peers for networking and mentorship, and encourages a well-rounded development centered on the pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Here at Sage Creek, we offer numerous volunteering opportunities throughout the school year, including our peer-to-peer tutoring program, supporting teachers at Sage, assisting peers with their Genius projects, and various community-wide volunteering opportunities (such as the Carlsbad Marathon, to name one).

When can I apply?

The Google Form application (link is on the NHS tab) for the NHS club opens on October 1st at 12:00 AM. There is a HARD DEADLINE of 11:59 pm on October 31st. No exceptions. 

Who can apply?

Eligible students are any current Sage Creek sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have a minimum G.P.A (weighted or unweighted) of 3.5. New students must have completed at least one trimester at SCHS (if you are a newly transferred student, please come and see Mrs. Andersson in room 1304). Students must demonstrate outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service (NHS's four defining pillars).

How does membership work?

Once students have joined the club at the beginning of their sophomore, junior, or senior year, they must volunteer at least 10 hours in an NHS-sponsored volunteer event (per year of membership) to be considered a member in good standing and be eligible to receive an NHS Graduation Cord*.

Membership within the club lasts for a student's entire time in high school, as long as they remember to: reapply each year, uphold club values daily, and do their 10 hours (for each year of membership).

NHS members are expected to attend our monthly meetings held on the last Thursday of each month during lunch. In addition, members are expected to be enrolled in our NHS Google Classroom & Remind for notifications and essential deadlines. 

*To be eligible for an NHS graduation cord, students must not only be an active member their senior year, but also a member in good standing (they have completed and submitted, for our records, a minimum of 10 NHS-sponsored volunteer hours per year of membership).

I wasn't able to meet the 10 hours. What happens now?

Hour deficiencies (less than 10 hours in a school year) carry over into the following year. If a student fails to meet their ten hours in one year, they must compensate the following year by making up the prior year's hour deficiencies plus 10 hours for the current year.

I made over 10 hours in a year. Do the extra hours carry over?

Unfortunately, no, they do not. The reason we say this is that our club expects its members to support both Sage Creek High School and our Carlsbad community on an annual basis. With nearly 200 members, having students fulfill 10 NHS-sponsored events yearly ensures that our club continues, as it has since 2015, to give back to our community. Service is one of the four pillars of the NHS, and a key value our club offers to our community.

How do I submit my hours?

On this website, you will find a Google Form for you to upload your hours for NHS-sponsored events only (to count towards your 10-yearly community service hours). Students will also find all documents and submission forms on our Google Classroom.

It says that I do not have access to the application or any other Google Forms. Can you share it with me?

The application and documents are only open to those who are logged into their Carlsbad Unified email account. If you are not logged into your CUSD account, you cannot open the application or other related documents. The expectation is that students, not parents, fill out the required form and submit all requested documentation for the application.

Do NHS Hours count for my required 20 community service hours to graduate?

Yes, however, Mrs. Andersson must sign the SCHS Volunteer Hour form (found on our counseling webpage) and submit it to the proper personnel in the office. Please come and see Mrs. Andersson in room 1304 if this applies to you. The only time this does NOT apply is if you are submitting hours for TA, Peer-to-peer tutoring, card-making, or anything that comes directly from the school.

What counts towards NHS-Sponsored Hours?

TA (Teaching assistant), PALs, Academic Tutor, Library Aide, anything sponsored by the school, poster/card-making, as well as the Marathon volunteer opportunities we post.

How does this club pay for yearly fees and graduation cords?

Upon initial membership, we have an optional, one-time donation (ask) of $20. This helps cover the yearly chapter dues and also provides NHS regalia for qualifying seniors. We cannot express our gratitude enough for your kind donation. If you would like to donate, please visit our ASB webstore (link here), scroll down to find NHS, and submit your one-time donation. Thank you again!

My student still has more questions. Who should I ask?

During our ASB sponsored club rush (occurs on campus one week in October) student member representatives as well as our officers will be at our NHS booth to answer any additional questions your student may have about the NHS club at SCHS.

If you still have more questions. Contact us.

CSF Specific

What is CSF?

CSF is the California Scholarship Federation, a state-wide academic honors organization for high school students. Joining the CSF club helps your child gain recognition for academic excellence, provides eligibility for scholarships, allows them to wear CSF regalia at graduation, and encourages leadership and community service skills. To be eligible to receive a CSF cord, members must have completed a minimum of six trimester submissions and received transcript approvals (see below for more information).

Who can I apply?

Eligible students are any current Sage Creek sophomores, juniors, or seniors. However, see "How does membership work?" below. If this is your first transcript application submission, to be eligible for a graduation cord, you must have submitted at least one (or more) transcripts during your sophomore year.

How do my transcripts receive approval?

CSF is a unique club. Ten (10) points qualify a student for approval of their trimester grade. First 4 points must be from list 1, and points 5-7 must be from either list 1 or 2, and the remaining points can be from either list 1, 2, or 3 (see CSF page for course lists). Only five (5) courses can be used to earn the ten (10) points. Our officers will update the master spreadsheet, and it is the student's responsibility to verify if their grades qualify (this spreadsheet will be posted in Google Classroom). Additional requirements are outlined on the application form.

How do I upload my transcripts?

On this website, you will find a link to a Google Form for submitting your transcript for approval. The time frame for submitting transcripts will be open for only one month, three times per year: October, December, and April—absolutely no exceptions. Specific dates for students to upload their prior trimester grades will be shared at our monthly meetings and posted in our CSF Google Classroom. Please see our CSF tab on this website for transcript application links and deadlines. 

How does membership work?

Students must have successfully uploaded and have at least six submissions of approved SCHS transcripts, with at least one of the six approved transcripts must be submitted and approved during trimester 1 or 2 of their senior year. it is up to the student to check that their submitted transcripts have been approved (see our Google Classroom for the master submission log). The only exceptions that will be made are for transfer students to SCHS. Please see Mrs. Andersson in room 1304 if this applies to you.

What are member expectations?

Attend the monthly meetings, held in room 1304 on the last Tuesday of each month. Checking emails, Google Classroom, and/or Remind for important information and updates. Lastly, it is up to the student to check the master spreadsheet after each application cycle to see if they were approved or not. 

It says that I do not have access to the application or any other Google Forms. Can you share it with me?

The application and documents are only open to those who are logged into their Carlsbad Unified email account. If you are not logged into your CUSD account, you cannot open the application or other related documents. The expectation is that students, not parents, fill out the required form and submit all requested documentation for the application. Access may also not be granted if you are applying outside the application cycle (see opening and closing deadlines, see CSF tab for these dates). 

I didn't apply last year, but I still had the grades to qualify. Can I still add those trimesters?

You cannot retroactively add trimesters. Application cycles are October, December, and April as well as they are announced in Google Classroom, allowing you to apply for the next one. It is up to you (the student) to pay attention to emails and communication. 

I was a member of CSF at my previous school. Can I transfer my progress?

You can transfer any CSF progress that was made at a previous school. Please contact Mrs. Andersson to initiate the transfer process. However, please note that this is only available to students who are transferring from an active CSF chapter at another school. If your previous school did not have a CSF chapter, then there is no transfer option. 

I went to another school last semester. Can I still apply using my transcript from another school?

CSF applications are only based on SCHS report cards. The only way to apply using a previous school's report card is to initiate the transfer process above (i.e., previous school has an active CSF chapter) see above. 

How does this club pay for yearly fees and graduation cords?

Upon initial membership, we have an optional, one-time donation (ask) of $20. This helps cover the yearly chapter dues and also provides CSF regalia for qualifying seniors. We cannot express our gratitude enough for your kind donation. If you would like to donate, please visit our ASB webstore (link here), scroll down to find CSF, and submit your one-time donation. Thank you again!

My student still has more questions. Who should I ask?

During our ASB-sponsored club rush (occurs on campus one week in October) student member representatives as well as our officers will be at our CSF booth to answer any additional questions your student may have about the CSF club at SCHS.

I still have more questions. Contact us.

General

Can I put this on my college applications?

Yes, these can be put under "co-curricular" activities. You should list how many years you were a part of the organization.

How do I get my cord?

Ensure you've followed all club requirements.

For NHS, you must be an active member in good standing in your senior year AND have completed a minimum of 10 hours of community service per year of membership.

For CSF, you must be an active member for 3 years and have submitted the required grades and applications.