Teacher Talk 25
by Kim Jones
February 21, 2010
When community members think of clubs and organizations in the schools, there might be one that is overlooked on occasion. This group is National Honor Society, or NHS. This organization has been in Elsberry as one of the longest standing groups in the school. NHS is part of a nationally affiliated organization found in schools across the entire country. In order to quality for NHS, students must attain a rigorous three consecutive semesters with a gr4ade point average of 3.3 or higher, must apply to join the group, and must exhibit positive character traits in order to be selected. National Honor Society focuses on the character traits of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character. Students who apply for NHS must be academically eligible and must demonstrate that they possess these traits. Currently, there are 29 members of the Elsberry High School NHS Chapter.
Under the direction of sponsors Jason Miller and Joe Hunter, NHS works in the school and community on various service and leadership projects. The group holds an annual Red Cross blood drive, which will be held again this year on April 12. At Christmas time, members participated in a local Giving Tree service project where they purchased Christmas gifts for four children in the community and worked as bell ringers for the Salvation Army. NHS members also serve as ambassadors and guides for various events held at school as well as helping with a variety of other service and charity projects throughout the year. More importantly, NHS members are expected to be the leaders for the Elsberry student body, demonstrating the characteristics they have pledged to uphold. Each spring a new induction ceremony is held open to all students who quality for membership. This year fourteen more students will be eligible to enter NHS and continue the tradition of scholarship, leadership, service and character at Elsberry Schools.
