ADMISSION CRITERIA                                                                                                                                                       RETURN

The basic standards for consideration for selection to the E.T. Marlatt Chapter of the National Honor Society are:

1. Enrollment in grades 11 and 12.
2. A minimum weighted G.P.A. of 3.3.   This constitutes the Scholarship criteria.
3. A minimum of 15 school related service activity points*.   This constitutes the Service criteria.
4. A minimum overall average of 3.0 in teacher recommendations in Character and Leadership criteria.

The weighted G.P.A. is calculated by dividing the total number of weighted quality points (QP) by the total number of credits attempted.

Teacher recommendations are based on a 0 - 4-point scale in 10 areas related to leadership and character.

The Faculty Council makes final selection.

Membership is retained by maintaining a 3.3 weighted G.P.A., by exhibiting character qualifications at the same level as when selected, and by participating in NHS meetings and projects and by undertaking individual service projects.

Definitions of criteria:

Scholarship –

·         Determined by the definition of G.P.A. as outlined above.

Service - The student who serves:

• Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude
• Participates in some outside activity: Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts; church groups, volunteer services for the aged, poor, or disadvantaged; family duties
• Volunteers 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 responsibilities
• Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school
• Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition
• Does committee and staff work without complaint
• Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

Leadership - The student who exercises leadership:

• Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestion
• Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
• Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideals
• Contribute 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, 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.

Character - The student of character:

• Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
• Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability)
• 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 application to studies
• Manifests truthfulness is acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in writing work, and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others
• Actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment.

*The National Honor Society's constitution requires 300 hours (15 points) of service activities for admission. The National Honor Society's Faculty Council determines which activities it will recognize as service activities for this purpose.  To be considered a service activity, the purpose of the activity must be to do altruistic service for others. Activities such as shelving books in the library, tutoring elementary school students, helping as an aide at the hospital, performing activities as a teacher’s aide are good examples of the kind of activities which qualify under the honor society's criteria. Playing football or other sports, cheerleading, student politics, FBLA, school yearbook, school newspaper, school play, are good examples of activities which do not qualify even though the argument can be made that they provide some kind of service; altruistic service to others is not the principal purpose of these activities.

Instructions for the Completion of the Service Points Form

You need to record activities you have done since enrollment in Hackensack High School.  You will fill out the type of activity that you did, when you did it (you may use a range for multiple dates for the same activity), how many hours you did the activity and you need to get a signature from the person sponsoring it to make it official.  For outside activities, an original letter must also accompany this form stating the above information, with a phone number and original signature of a contact person who is in charge of the activity.

You may contact me at l.ferrante@hackensackschools.org or call 201-646-7958.