The National Honor Society of Immaculate Heart Academy has as its purpose the creation of enthusiasm for scholarship, the stimulation of a desire to render service, the promotion of leadership and the development of character.
The National Honor Society is a nationwide organization inaugurated and approved in 1921 to promote the above mentioned ideals in the secondary school system of our country.
Candidates shall be considered for election to membership each year by the advisor and a faculty committee selected by the principal. Candidates must be members of the Junior or Senior class and been in attendance at Immaculate Heart Academy for at least one completed semester. The principal provides final approval of committee selections and shall oversee any appeals. Judgment is based on exceptional academics, service, leadership and character. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission.
A student shall be academically qualified for NHS if she has achieved, at the time of consideration, a weighted grade point average of at least 3.7.
An academically qualified student will be invited to fill out a Consideration Form. On this form, the student must present evidence of service, leadership and strong character.
A student must show evidence of service to both the school and community. Candidates must meet the minimum number of hours required through IHA’s service requirement and show evidence that they have gone above and beyond the minimum. Documentation is required of all service hours.
The student must present evidence of leadership. Candidates must have at least 1 leadership activity to be considered for membership.Paid positions are not counted toward the leadership requirement.Leadership opportunities can be done through your school and/or local communities.Candidates must explain their contributions to each leadership position and show documentation through signatures of moderators/advisors. Leadership, as defined by the NHS handbook includes a student who demonstrates leadership when she is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles or making suggestions; demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities; exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideals and spirit; contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school; is able to delegate responsibilities; inspires positive behavior in others; demonstrates academic initiative; successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility, conducts business effectively and efficiently; demonstrates reliability and dependability; is a leader in the classroom, at work or in other school or community activities and is dependable in any responsibility accepted. The leadership criterion is considered highly important for membership selection by the National Honor Society and can be demonstrated through formal and elected positions and also outside elected positions, as long as they can be verified.
It is expected that a candidate for NHS display qualities of integrity, honesty, reliability and high moral standards.Any student found to have violated Immaculate Heart Academy’s Code of Conduct, published in the Student Handbook, must be able to self-disclose this on their application.A student must also have a good attendance record and not have excessive lates or detentions.The Assistant Principal for Students will provide verification. Violating any of the above does not exclude a student from admission, however, NOT self-disclosing on the application WILL eliminate a student from further consideration.
Once a student is offered admission to the National Honor Society they are expected to maintain their academic standing and take an active role in service and leadership in their school and community. Members who are placed on disciplinary probation, suspension, found guilty of an honor code violation or who fall below the required grade point average may be dismissed and must meet with the advisor.
All categories are assigned a points value. Students are asked to self-report the amount of points they believe they have earned which will then be verified by the faculty council.