Selection Process for the Sr. Mary Thomasina Chapter of the NJHS
The National Junior Honor Society chapter of Sr. Mary Thomasina is a duly chartered chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in five areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character. Standards of selection are established by the national office of NJHS and have been revised to meet our local chapter needs. Students are selected to be members by a 5-member Faculty Council appointed by the principal, which bestows this honor qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school yearly.
Students in the second semester of sixth grade or grades seven and eight are eligible for membership. For scholarship criterion, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 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. A history of leadership experiences and participation in school or community service is also required.
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 reflections on a candidate’s service activities, character, citizenship 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. Students are notified of selection or non-selection.
Following notification, a formal induction ceremony is held at the school to recognize all the newly selected members. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of participation (or better) in all five criteria that led to their selection. This obligation extends to regular attendance at scheduled meetings during the school year and participation in the chapter service projects. Students and parents who have questions regarding the selection process or membership obligations can contact the principal or chapter adviser at St. Mary of the Assumption School.
