National Honor Society

Advisor: Geoffrey Serra – Converse Office

                                                HENRY A. TIRRELL CHAPTER

                                                                OF

                                       THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

The Henry A. Tirrell Chapter of the National Honor Society at The Norwich Free Academy was founded by George Shattuck in 1941. He was a very active member of the scholarship committee of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the parent organization of the National Honor Society. Shattuck named the chapter for his predecessor, Henry A. Tirrell, who had been principal at The Academy for more than thirty-five years. From its beginnings the local chapter has been dedicated to service to school and community. Each year students are chosen on the basis of scholarship, leadership, service and character to continue this rich legacy. Membership is an honor bestowed upon a select group of students by a Faculty Council on behalf of the entire faculty.

GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION:

The entire selection process rests in the hands of a Faculty Council. Qualified students are selected for NHS membership by a majority vote of the Faculty Council on the basis of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. The Faculty Council develops working definitions of these criteria and provides some objective measure of a student’s qualifications in each of these areas.

SCHOLARSHIP:

Students must be in the top 10% of their class. The Faculty Council reviews each student’s transcript and most-recent report card. More than two Cs in any one semester, or a grade of D, are causes for concern but do not automatically disqualify a student.

LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE:

All areas of school life are examined to assess these two areas. Students must demonstrate participation in at least two (2), year long, legitimate school-wide activities. A one-day, one-time activity usually shall not be deemed to fulfill these criteria. If there are any questions, a member of the Faculty Council shall contact the student to clarify or shall contact the advisor/coach to determine legitimacy and level of participation.

CHARACTER:

The issue of character is perhaps the most difficult criterion to define and assess; however, it is intimately related to scholarship, service and leader-ship.

Character (as well as leadership and service) is assessed by a faculty poll. Input is solicited from the entire faculty upon all areas of school life. This is not a voting procedure; rather, it is an information-gathering process to aid the Faculty Council with whom the final decision rests. Faculty members submit this information with the utmost integrity and professionalism, weighing the high standards of the NHS against a regard for adolescent growth and development. This information is confidential and for the Faculty Council only, which makes its judgments free of rumor or hearsay.

As outlined in the National Honor Society Handbook (revised 1992), leadership, service, and character may include, but not be limited to, the following:

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 ideals

·         Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school

·         Is able to delegate responsibilities

·         Exemplifies positive attitudes

·         Inspires positive behavior in others

·         Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility, conducting business effectively and efficiently, and without prodding, demonstrates reliability and dependability

·         Is a forerunner in the classroom, at work, and in school or 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; e.g. Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts; church groups; volunteer services for the aged, poor or disadvantaged; family duties, etc.

·         Volunteers dependable and well-organized assistance, is gladly avail-able, and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance

·         Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or incon-spicuous responsibilities

·         Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school

·         Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and interscho-lastic competition

·         Does committee 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

Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability, tolerance, etc.)

·         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, punctuality, and faithfulness both inside and outside the classroom

·         Has powers of concentration and sustained attention as shown by perseverance and applications 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

·         Actively helps rid the school of negative influences or environment

TIMELINE:

East semester, the Faculty Council conducts a selection round. Students become eligible for consideration in the second semester of the upper year.  Thus, each student has three opportunities to demonstrate to the Faculty Council high standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

APPEAL:

Students who question the fact that they were not chosen do not have a legal right to a hearing, but they and their parents may present their complaints to the chapter advisor (a non-voting member of the Faculty Council) and/or to the Head of School/Principal (an ex-officio member of the Faculty Council). The Principal may reconvene the Faculty Council if warranted by a technical error. Parents and students must understand that no student has a right to be selected for membership in a chapter of the NHS.

INDUCTION:

The Faculty Council, acting in good faith and weighing all legitimate information available to it, offers induction into the NHS to those students who, in its judgment, successfully fulfill the criteria of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. One induction ceremony is held each year in the spring.