Potential New Member Welcome

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Potential New Member Welcome!

• Meeting March 6, 2009

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What is NJHS?

• NJHS is a nationally recognized student led
  organization that we have at RBMS.
• NJHS members are charged with developing
  themselves and the campus in the 5 core areas
  identified by the national NHS / NJHS.
• NJHS at RBMS is a community of students who
  support each other and the extended community
  through their actions.

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Who are the advisors?

• Ellen Deckinga and Kyle Blanscet
• In our other lives. Mrs. Deckinga is an
  inclusion teacher for the 7th grade. Mr. Blanscet
  teaches QUEST Language Arts.

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What are the 5 Core Areas?

• Leadership Guiding others to succeed at
  community endeavors and personal goals.
• Service Giving of your time and talents without
  expecting anything in return.
• Scholarship Maintaining high levels of academic
  achievement, and helping peers achieve their
  potential.
• Citizenship Participating positively in the
  local community of RBMS and LISD.
• Character - Character is a reflection of who you
  are. Your inner being. Webster's dictionary says,
  "one of the attributes or features that make up
  and distinguish an individual"

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How does NJHS achieve these things?

• NJHS offers a diversity of meetings, service
  events, and adult guidance to achieve goals.
• We continue to grow as an organization and
  individuals in achieving these goals.
• Required parts of NJHS are to maintain a grade
  average of 90 or higher, and to complete 6 hours
  of community service each grading period.

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90 Grade Average

• Each grading period Mrs. Deckinga sits down at
  her computer and calculates each students over
  all grade point average and logs it in their data
  sheet. All classes are averaged together to
  determine the grade results.

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Service Hours

• Each student must complete 6 hours of community
  service each grading period.
• Above 6 hours is considered bonus and is taken
  into account at the end of the year for awards
  and for the Star wall.
• Summer hours are considered bonus unless they are
  part of the groups activities just before school
  starts (those help us get through those hectic
  first few weeks of school).

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Star Wall

• In the NJHS office is a wall of stars. Each
  grading period averages and hours are calculated.
  The top 10 for both service and scholarship are
  given a star for their achievement. The 6 weeks
  the achieve this is also written on the points of
  the star.
• Why 10? Because of the 10 admission rules for
  college. I want them to start thinking abut what
  their high achievements can earn them later in
  life. It has also given students recognition for
  their achievements. They have responded
  positively to it, and even check it out on
  occasion to see whos on the wall.

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WOW!s

• Any time I find a student going above and beyond
  I write up a little WOW card. Any time a teacher
  brings it to my attention that one of the NJHS
  students is doing something special I give them a
  WOW card. Im encouraging peers to nominate their
  friends for WOW cards as well.

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OFIs

• Athletic students shared the idea of OFIs with
  me. OFI stands for Opportunity For Improvement.
  In athletics OFIs are associated with up downs,
  in NJHS they are a slip of paper with the offense
  on it just as a reminder that it needs fixed.
  This is usually grades slipped or didnt do
  service hours. There are times when teachers come
  to me with issues and ask for support. It is this
  NJHS organizations philosophy that these are
  middle schoolers and they will make mistakes we
  need to support them to correct the mistakes.
  Its a learning opportunity.

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What if the OFIs stack up?

• If a student seems to get a huge pile of OFIs
  they will be conferenced with. If it seems to
  need parent support I will contact parents. We
  really do try to look at them as individuals.
• Referrals this is a hot topic. Some feel that
  if a student in NJHS receives a referral they
  should be kicked out. The advisors take each
  incident into consideration for that student, and
  make determination as to consequences from there.
  Nothing is automatic.

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Folders

• Each member has a folder in the NJHS office. This
  is the students portfolio for NJHS. I ask them to
  look at it as if it were their application to NHS
  in high school would it be accepted.
• This is where they turn in all hours, and I place
  any notes I may have for them. This is the best
  organizational method we have found to work with
  so many students at one time.
• I do tell the kids that I do not have a magic
  wand to make trash turn into treasure when they
  turn in little scrap papers for hours. Its also
  hard for me to keep track of.

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Where do we go from here?

• So We start our journey together.
• First things first maintain that over all A
  average. Ill be recalculating between April 25
  and May 15, and this time its for admission!
• After Spring Break application packets will be
  available on the website. Students can use campus
  computers to print anything they need to.
• Applications will be due May 8th. NO LATE
  APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!! There are just
  too many things that need to happen between
  receipt of application and induction.

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Continued.

• Starting May 8th Completed packets will be
  reviewed by the advisors.
• Accepted or Declined determinations will be made.
• Letters will be sent to the student with the
  decision on it by May 22.
• The week of May 26th we will have a rehearsal for
  the induction ceremony.
• June 1st will be induction. Feel free to invite
  important family members and community members.

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Now what?

• For now hang out with us. Look at the on line
  schedule and join us for events. Swing by the
  NJHS office in D405 to see the Star Wall and memo
  boards. Introduce yourself to Mrs. D and Mr. B.
  Meet some of the current members and ask
  questions. They really are great!
• Watch the NJHS website for any news dont
  expect an announcement to be made. Its just not
  the most efficient means of communication for our
  group.

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FAQs

• What if I decide that I want out of NJHS? This
  is a decision that requires a parent to contact
  me about. This is just one of those things I feel
  that students must discuss with their parents
  before doing. I have also come up with some great
  work arounds for students that need it. Just let
  me know the problem.
• Are meeting mandatory? No. I do expect students
  to get the information from the proper sources
  and complete any thing that needs done, but I
  have a busy schedule and so do they so we respect
  that. Officers whole nother story.
• Honorary members some of our members are not
  full fledged members and have different
  accommodations made. These members are honorary.
  The only people who know who they are are the
  parents and the sponsors. The only reason I put
  this out there is sometimes kids get to comparing
  and then questioning and I cant / dont explain
  these things. I consider it confidential.

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FAQs

• Are the events mandatory? Ummmmmm.. Not unless
  it says so (which is probably never).
• T-shirts.. Mandatory. Why? Because it promotes
  unity, and helps distinguish us from the crowd.
  It also helps keep us out of trouble when were
  doing on campus functions.
• Officer elections we do that in the fall
  because they have a better idea of their year
  then and what they can commit to.
• Do you need parent volunteers? YES!!!!!
  Lots!!!!
• Other questions?