National Honor SocietyWhat is the National Honor Society?
The purpose of the St. Mary’s Chapter of the National Honor Society shall be to
create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to
promote leadership, and to encourage the development of character in students
at St. Mary’s.
What is the criterion for becoming a NHS member?
Candidates will be evaluated for selection based on the following:
Character: Faculty members will consider candidates on the basis of honesty;
reliability, industry; as well as exemplifying the qualities of respect for others
and demonstrating honor and pride to be a student at St. Mary’s.
Service: Candidates must show evidence of school and community
involvement, acceptance of family responsibilities, a willingness to support NHS
through school projects, and activities. The candidate should also be willing to
volunteer his/her services to our peer-tutoring program either during their study
periods or after school. Finally, the candidate must demonstrate a true Christian
spirit of being willing to give of oneself to help others.
Leadership: The candidate should maintain a positive attitude and inspire
positive behaviors in others. The candidate is an individual who represents what
it means to be reliable, responsible, and resourceful. The candidate should be
self-motivated and effective in working towards his/her full potential.
Scholarship: Members of the St. Mary’s Chapter will be scholastically eligible
to join at the end of the sophomore and/or junior year if they have earned a
cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above. The candidate also demonstrates
a commitment to excellence by good attendance and effort in all of his/her classes
here at St. Mary’s. **For further information on NHS membership, please consult
your student handbook.
Definition of Criteria for Evaluation
Leadership
The student who exercises leadership:
• Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles,
and making suggestions.
• Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities.
• Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideas.
• Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school.
• Is able to delegate responsibilities.
• Exemplifies positive attitudes.
• Inspires positive behavior in others.
• Demonstrates academic initiative.
• Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility, and
conducting business effectively and efficiently, and without prodding,
demonstrates reliability and dependability.
• Is a forerunner in the classroom, at work, and in school and community activities.
• Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted.
Service
The student who serves:
• Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude.
• Participates in some outside activity: Girls scouts, Boy scouts, church
groups, volunteer services for the aged, poor, or disadvantaged, family duties.
• Volunteer’s dependable and well-organized assistance, is gladly available and is
willing to sacrifice to offer assistance.
• Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous
responsibilites.
• Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requests.
• Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic
competition.
• Does committee work and staff work without complaint.
• Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.
Character
The student of character:
• Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously.
• Consistency exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness,
friendliness, poise, and stability).
• Upholds principles of morality and ethics.
• Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property,
programs, office, and halls, ect.
• Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability.
• Shows courtesy, concerns, and respect for others.
• Observes instructions and rules, punctuality, and faithfulness both inside and
outside the classroom.
• Has a power of 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 an unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others.
• Activity helps rid the school of bad influences or environment.
| 
