Purpose
•    To create enthusiasm for Scholarship
•    To stimulate a desire to render Service
•    To promote Leadership
•    To develop Character
•    To encourage Citizenship (NJHS) in students of Secondary Schools

When the National Honor Society was founded in 1921, the hope of NASSP was to create an organization that would recognize and encourage academic achievement while also developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy.  These ideals of scholarship, character, service, and leadership remain as relevant today as they were in 1921.  
Now, more than 75 years later, the National Honor Society has become a prestigious organization, ranking high among administrators, faculty members, students, parents, and residents of the school community.  Its reputation for excellence is the result of years of commitment on the part of everyone involved.  Through NHS chapter service activities, members maintain and extend the qualities that won them selection.  Membership is thus both an honor and a commitment.

The National Honor Societies and AISK

The American International School of Kingston chapter of National Honor and National Junior Honor Societies are duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization.  Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in four areas of evaluation:

•    Scholarship
•    Leadership
•    Service
•    Character

Selection Criteria
Standards for selection are established by the national office of NHS and have been revised to meet our local chapter needs.  Students are selected to be members by a five member Faculty Council, appointed by the director, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school each year.  Students in the 10th, 11th or 12th grades are eligible for membership in the NHS and grades 8, 9 and 10 for NJHS.

Scholarship: a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or better on a 4.0 scale.  Those students who meet this criterion are invited to complete a Student Activity Information Form that provides the Faculty Council with information regarding the candidate’s leadership and service.

Leadership: A history of leadership experiences and participation in school or community services is required though participation in at least two student activity organizations each year or thirty (30) hours of documented community service.  

Service: This quality is defined as the voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, without direct financial or material compensation to the individual performing the service.

Character: The student of good character can be said to be one who upholds principles of morality and ethics; is cooperative and responsible; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy concern and respect for others; and is a good citizen.

To evaluate a candidate’s character, the faculty council uses two forms of input: first, school disciplinary records are reviewed; second, members of the faculty are solicited for input regarding their professional comments on a candidate’s service activities, character, and leadership. These forms and the Student Activity Information Forms are carefully reviewed by the Faculty Council to determine membership.  A majority vote of the council is necessary for selection.  Candidates are notified regarding selection or non-selection according to a predetermined schedule.

Following notification, a formal induction ceremony is held at the school to recognize all the newly selected members.  Once induced, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance (or better) in all four criteria that led to their selection.  This obligation includes regular attendance at chapter meetings held (once per month) during the school year, and participation in the chapter service projects.

2009-2010 NHS Officers

2009-2010 NJHS Officers

Please click on the link below for more information:
http://www.nhs.us/s_nhs/index.asp