National Honor Society

Criteria for Nomination and Election:

The National Honor Society chapter at Christopher Dock seeks to create enthusiasm for academics, to promote leadership, and to develop character in our students. Students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher are considered for the National Honor Society. Membership is granted to students who are selected by a 5-member faculty committee. The selection committee reviews each eligible student's Profile Form to help them objectively assess the student for selection. (A copy of the Student Profile Form is attached.) The faculty members are rotated yearly both to share the task and to help assure fairness. All decisions concerning selection have a certain subjective element. However, this is minimized by the following objective criteria. The forms help focus the student's service, leadership, character, and spiritual dimensions. Below are listed some of the traits the council evaluates.

Service:

• Willingness to render any service to the church and school when called upon.
• Willingness to do committee or staff work.
• Readiness to show courtesy to visitors, teachers and students.
• Puts service to others above self-interest.
• Sees the end of service as being done as unto Christ.
• Participation and involvement in outside activities (church, civic, etc.)

Leadership:

• Demonstrates leadership in classroom activities.
• Is dependable and willing to accept responsibility
• Promotes worthy school activities.
• Demonstrates initiative in carrying out responsibilities.
• Demonstrates spiritual leadership.
• Is resourceful in recognizing issues on campus and is involved in proposing positive changes.

Character:

• Demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability.
• Fulfills pledges and responsibilities to school and teacher promptly.
• Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously.
• Upholds Biblical principles of morality and ethics.
• Shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others.
• Observes instructions and rules, punctuality, and faithfulness both inside and outside of the classroom.

National Honor Society selection process:

Selection of members into Christopher Dock's chapter of the National Honor Society is the sole responsibility of Christopher Dock and its appointed faculty council. The following are procedures for selecting new members into Christopher Dock's chapter.

1. At the end of each school year, cumulative G.P.A. is calculated for all students by the Guidance Office. Students' academic records are then reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility into the National Honor Society.
2. All students who have completed at least one semester at Christopher Dock, have a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 or higher and are not currently National Honor Society members are considered for the National Honor Society.
3. The principal appoints a five-member faculty council to discern which students meet the criteria for selection into the National Honor Society. The Director of Guidance also sits in on the selection procedures as a non-voting member and acts as a liaison back to students and parents.
4. The selection committee reviews each eligible student's Profile Form, which includes various activities, awards, service, and referral information. The committee takes all four areas (academic, service, leadership, and character) into consideration and seeks to discern which students meet the criteria. They strive to recognize the total student, one who excels in all four areas. If additional information is needed about a student, the council may choose to ask other faculty.
5. Candidates who receive a majority vote of the faculty council are then invited to be inducted into Christopher Dock'schapter at the National Honor Society Celebration scheduled on the school calendar.
6. Membership, however, is more than an honor. It carries with it the responsibility and obligation to demonstrate those outstanding qualities that resulted in the selection. If the Christopher Dock chapter of the National Honor Society is to be effective and meaningful, each member must become involved.

National Honor Society Celebration:

National Honor Society members, new inductees and their families come together to celebrate the gifts and talents that God has given them in October. This public ceremony provides us the opportunity to honor those with high levels of achievement, as well as a time to underscore the purpose of our chapter. Induction of new members into the National Honor Society is an important and significant event and attendance is strongly encouraged. Students receive invitations to this celebration in which they are expected to RSVP.

National Honor Society Service Project:

Christopher Dock provides opportunities for National Honor Society students to live out their strengths of leadership and service by participating in one or more projects each school year. The National Honor Society chooses these projects, and each member is then expected to contribute to them. The National Honor Society plans to provide tutoring during lunch and after school to students with specific academic needs, as well as tutoring elementary school students at Dock Village. Additional service projects are pursued since not every student is able to participate in the tutoring program.

National Honor Society Disciplining and Dismissal:

A member is never automatically dismissed for failing to maintain standards. A hearing must be conducted by the faculty council to dismiss a member. However, members should understand fully that they are liable for dismissal if they do not maintain an appropriate GPA or uphold the standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character that were used as a basis for their selection. A student who is dismissed or who resigns may never again become an Honor Society member.