National Honor Society 

1.  Membership in the NHS is open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12.  This National Honor Society rule may not be changed or altered to include students in grade 9 or lower.

2.  Students must have attended Piedmont Academy for at least two consecutive semesters before being considered for membership in the NHS.

1.  Using the semester averages submitted by teachers on report cards, the school counselor will identify those students who have a cumulative average of 92.0 or above in core classes. Neither grades nor GPA will be rounded up.  For example, if a student has a 91.99 average or equivalent, he or she will not be eligible for membership.

2.  The core classes are English (I, II, III, and IV/AP), math (Algebra I and II, geometry, and statistics/AP Calculus), science (biology, chemistry, anatomy/physiology, and physics), social studies (civics, world history, American history, economics and AP Government) and foreign language (Spanish I and II).

 3.  For those students enrolled in all honors courses, an additional 0.5 points will be added to compute a GPA on a 4.0 scale.  To be eligible for the NHS, a student must have a 3.5 GPA or higher in the above-mentioned core classes.

4.  Only high school grades earned at Piedmont Academy will be considered for membership in the NHS.

Eligible students will receive a letter of invitation from the NHS Advisor.

• Those students who qualify for candidacy will be asked to complete the Student Candidacy Packet listing their leadership positions; service, student, and community activities; work experience, recognition and awards, and write a brief reflective essay. Packets must be submitted by the assigned deadline; otherwise, the student will not be eligible for consideration that year. Submission of the Candidate Information packet does not guarantee a candidate of his election to The National Honor Society.
• All faculty members will receive a list of candidates and a faculty evaluation form to rank (poor=1; below average=2;good=3;outstanding=4) candidates in the areas of:  character, service and leadership. These evaluation forms are confidential and will be submitted to the chapter advisor who will present them for review by the Faculty Council. All forms must be kept in a secure location.

The National Honor Society has defined character, service and leadership as follows:

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 in acknowledging obedience of rules, avoiding cheating in written work and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others.
• Actively helps to rid the school of bad influences or environment  

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 for the aged, poor, disadvantaged , family duties
• Volunteers dependable and well-organized assistance, is gladly available, and is willing to sacrifice to help
• 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 interscholastic 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  suggestions
• Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
• Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideals
• Contributes 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 efficiently and  effectively,  and without  prodding
• Is a forerunner in the classroom, at work and in the school or community activities
• Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted
• The Piedmont headmaster shall appoint five staff members in addition to the NHS chapter advisor to comprise the Piedmont Faculty Council. The council will compile a list of interview topics or questions to ask NHS candidates. The chapter advisor will give each candidate the list of possible interview areas or questions a minimum of 1 day prior to candidate interviews.
• Once the candidates have submitted their information packets and essay, and the faculty have completed their ranking assessments, each candidate will participate in a brief interview with the faculty council and chapter advisor. No one else will be allowed in the interview.  
• The faculty council will next  review school records, the averages, student candidacy packet, faculty evaluations, and the student performance in the interview to evaluate whether the candidate meets the four criteria of the NHS: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The Faculty Council will vote  by majority decision to elect those candidates who best represent The National Honor Society ideals.  Only the five appointed faculty council members may vote; the chapter advisor may not vote and will serve as a facilitator to insure proper procedures are followed. 
• The chapter advisor will notify the headmaster of the council’s election results prior to candidates being informed.
• The chapter advisor will notify in writing all candidates of their selection or non-selection into the NHS. 
• Any appeal of the faculty council’s election must be made to the headmaster. Only appeals submitted in writing and indicating procedural errors will be considered. The headmaster must address the appeal in writing and give the chapter advisor, the original appeal letter and his/her written decision. The chapter advisor will call a meeting of the faculty council to review the original appeal and the headmaster’s written decision, and only the faculty council will respond to the appealing candidate. Faculty council responses to the candidate’s appeal must be in writing; additional copies must be kept on file with the headmaster and chapter advisor. If the faculty council reconvenes for a re-vote, in addition to the chapter advisor, the headmaster or his designee must be present. The chapter advisor, the headmaster, nor the headmaster’s designee may vote.
• Once a student is elected for membership, he will be invited to participate in an induction ceremony indicative of national standards.
• Membership:

1. Once inducted into the NHS, students must maintain the four criteria of the NHS.  Failure to abide by the criteria (e.g., grades fall below the minimum level, violation of school cheating policy, etc.) will result in member probation for one semester.  At the end of the semester, if the student’s actions have not returned to national standards, the student will be removed from the NHS.
2. All students inducted into the NHS must participate in the annual chapter service project (to be determined by the chapter officers) and must participate in a minimum number of individual service hours (also to be determined by chapter officers).