|
Politics Aside, What Have Our Forefathers Taught Us?
This month, the legacy of our nation’s leaders is celebrated with Presidents Day. It’s a great time to begin—or put the finishing touches on—your chapter’s plans for this year’s National Student Leadership Week, coming up in April. Who knows? You or a chapter member may make history!
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Reminder: College Financial Aid Webinar Tonight!
The second NHS/NJHS college admission planning webinar, “Understanding Financial Aid,” takes place tonight from 7:00–8:00 p.m. (ET). Encourage your members and their parents to register at www.nhs.us/webinar or www.njhs.us/webinar using your chapter affiliation number. You can register too! For those who would like quick answers to questions and can’t attend the webinar, a Twitter Town Hall, from 7:30–8:30 p.m. (ET), will feature panelists as well as representatives from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. Use #Prep4College to participate.
NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award Nominations Close Soon
There’s still time to nominate as many members as you wish for the NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award! NJHS advisers can nominate NJHS members until the extended deadline, which is Monday, February 29. This new award recognizes 500 exceptional NJHS students with a $500 award. Check out the program FAQs to learn more.
National Student Leadership Week 2016: Right Here, Right Now
Today, technology and social media provide a much more spontaneous, personalized, and prolific means to motivate action. That means right here, right now, one can easily engage others and inspire positive change. All chapters are encouraged to celebrate National Student Leadership Week (NSLW), April 17–23, and participate in this year’s theme, “Right Here, Right Now.” During NSLW, schools nationwide demonstrate the important role of student leaders. How will you celebrate NSLW this year? Visit www.nhs.us/nslw or www.njhs.us/nslw to get ideas.
This year, in particular, remind your student leaders, school, and community the value of paying it forward. Participants are encouraged to share updates, videos, and links on social media using #NSLW16 showing how they are making a difference. Be sure to also enter your NSLW activities in to the National Student Project Database on the NHS and NJHS websites.
Plan to Celebrate Middle Level Education Month
Often, students first become acquainted with the National Honor Societies during the middle level years. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), parent organization of NHS and NJHS, has joined with several organizations to designate March as Middle Level Education Month. It’s a wonderful opportunity for both NHS and NJHS chapters to create a positive impression and undertake activities that foster leadership and the values espoused by the National Honor Societies. Here are a few ideas to recognize the month:
NJHS
- Design posters for elementary schools promoting leadership opportunities in the middle school.
- Collaborate on leadership activities or service projects with upper grades of feeder elementary schools.
- Invite high school leaders to be guest speakers at your meetings.
NHS
- Host a joint service project with an NJHS chapter.
- Prepare a flier or poster for the middle school promoting the “10 best ways to be a leader” at your high school.
- Do a presentation about high school leadership for elementary and middle school PTA groups.
PROJECT OF THE MONTH
Think College Thursday Night
To foster a community of college readiness, the NHS chapter members of Wylie High School in Wylie, TX, host an annual Think College Thursday Night mini-conference. Participants can attend six 20-minute sessions organized by grade level. Sessions for seniors focus on the transition from high school to college. Juniors explore the college and financial aid application process. Underclassmen sessions look at high school success and involvement. There are even parent sessions! Log in to the National Student Project Database to see pictures and a poster promoting the event.
 |
Now, with more than 3,800 projects to review, your next great chapter service project or activity may be just a mouse click away. Visit the National Student Project Database for a future idea. After your search, please help fellow chapters by adding your project. Submit details (and photos, if you have them) through the NHS or NJHS websites.
|
CHAPTERS DOING GREAT THINGS
Two NHS chapter members at Hamilton High School in Holland, MI, are being commended for their efforts to help those affected by the water crisis in Flint. The Holland Sentinel reports that the students are accepting financial and bottled water donations to support a local television station with its bottled water drive. Read more about these two students and their efforts to help in this crisis.
In addition to tutoring fellow high school students, the NHS members at Oley Valley High School in Oley, PA, are now tutoring middle and elementary school students at a local library. Members also help with the students with their homework and projects, and they perform minor library tasks. The members’ efforts are greatly appreciated by the library director, who believes their tutoring not only benefits students, but parents as well. Learn more about their impressive efforts here.
Many thanks to advisers who contribute to Chapters Doing Great Things. Please share your accomplishments with us, including project dates, by emailing [email protected], subject line: CDGT. We also encourage you to enter your projects into the National Student Project Database.
HONOR SOCIETY TIPS AND TOOLS
Website Refresh
By now, you may have noticed some updates to the NHS and NJHS websites. You may have also realized that many of your old bookmarks or saved links no longer work. Please take a moment to clear any saved links and cookies to the old sites. We hope that you like the updated functionality and resources available on the sites. Also be sure to visit the Adviser Resource Center on the NHS or NJHS websites for sample forms, letters, videos, and more. If you have any feedback, please let us know at [email protected].
Midyear Review
Now is an excellent time to check on your progress toward meeting the chapter goals set last spring or fall. In a meeting with your executive committee, ask officers to assess their progress toward attaining their officer goals and personal goals for the year. Have the committees your officers supervise made progress on completing their goals as well? Are new goals needed? For the general membership, verify that everyone is in good academic standing and making progress on fulfilling their chapter service obligations. Friendly reminders at your next chapter meeting will give members time to plan, implement, and reflect on new service projects. For additional guidance, please visit “Working with Members and Student Officers” in the Adviser Resource Center.
Is there something you’d like us to include in next month’s Honor Society News? Email your ideas or suggestions to [email protected].
|
IMPORTANT DATES
ANNOUNCEMENTS
|
In the latest Advise:
The February/March issue cover story discusses ways that advisers can support students’ college preparation efforts. The issue also features a handy pullout poster that you can use to promote National Student Leadership Week to your entire student body.
|
|
Save Money and Order Now!
Need supplies for spring induction ceremonies? What about merchandise for graduating members? Through March 31, you can take 15% off all orders from the NHS and NJHS online stores. Use promo code 16IND at checkout on as many orders as you like. Offer valid online only.
|
February 6 marked what would have been the 105th birthday of our nation’s 40th president, Ronald Reagan. For inspiring quotes like this every week, be sure to follow NHS and NJHS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
|
