What is Honor Society of St. John Neumann?
Established in 2015, the Honor Society of St. John Neumann (HSSJN) is St. John the Baptist School’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding middle level students. More than just an honor roll, HSSJN serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Character, and Citizenship. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its inception. Membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.
Who is eligible for HSSJN?
At St. John the Baptist School, students will first qualify for an invitation through their demonstration of success in the area of scholarship. That means, students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade with a cumulative grade point average of 93.5 or higher are eligible to apply to the HSSJN. Students will complete the fill out the information sheet to give examples of their accomplishments in the remaining areas of Leadership, Service, Character, and Citizenship and the checklist, and obtain faculty recommendations. Therefore, just because a student qualifies based on their cumulative grade point average (scholarship), does not mean they will not automatically be inducted into the HSSJN.
Where can I find my GPA?
Your grade point average is listed on each trimester report card. You may also make an appointment with your homeroom teacher or the vice-principal to obtain this information.
Who chooses inductees into the HSSJN?
After students fill out an information sheet and the required recommendation forms from teachers and/or other adults, all of their qualifications will be reviewed by our Faculty Council. The Faculty Council is an anonymous group of faculty members who make final decisions about who will be invited for induction into the HSSJN. The Faculty Council also serves as the group who determines if a student should be dismissed because of a failure to meet expectations in one of the five areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Character, or Citizenship.
What does an exemplary HSSJN candidate look like?
Scholarship: Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 93.5 or higher meet the scholarship requirement for membership. These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, character, and citizenship for HSSJN.
Service: This quality is defined through the voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit.
Leadership: Student leaders are those who are resourceful, good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, dependable, and persons who exemplify positive attitudes about life. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities while working with or for others.
Character: The student of good character upholds principles of morality and ethics, is cooperative, demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability, shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others, and generally maintains a good lifestyle in accordance with his/her faith tradition.
If I’m a 5th grader, what can I do to become a better candidate for HSSJN in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade?
One of the best things you can do as a 5th grader is to have really strong grades. You should work hard every day in school because as a 6th grade inductee, you will qualify in the area of scholarship based on your grades in 5th grade! Also, becoming involved in school clubs and activities, following all school rules and being a great role model for other students will give you strong teacher recommendations. In addition, outside of school, you can begin to track community service hours (work in which you don’t receive some kind of pay) in order to strengthen your information sheet.
What do you do in HSSJN?
The goal of HSSJN is to build leaders and do service. The purpose of HSSJN is to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership and citizenship, and to encourage the development of character in the students of St. John the Baptist School. Activities and events will be centered upon these principals and determined by the members of the HSSJN with the guidance of the faculty moderator.
Who is the faculty moderator?
Ms. Tracy Miller is the faculty moderator; her email address is tmiller@stjohnskenmore.com
