Honor Societies - Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School

FLORIDA LAW HONOR SOCIETY OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS

The purpose of the Florida Law Honor Society shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship in law-related fields, provide law-based service opportunities, promote leadership, provide civic engagement and educational opportunities, and to instill a sense of respect for the justice system in students throughout the state of Florida among secondary school students.

To be eligible for election to a school chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for at least one semester in the chapter school and must have completed the equivalent of three semesters of criminal justice/law studies courses.

Candidates must be members of the junior or senior class. Candidates must have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a minimum 3.5 GPA in criminal justice/law studies courses. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard may be admitted to candidacy for election to membership. In addition, all members must maintain consistent and regular attendance at chapter meetings. Candidates must maintain the discipline standards of their school.

FRENCH HONOR SOCIETY (La Société Honoraira de Francais)

The purpose of the French Honor Society is to promote the French language and culture at Archbishop McCarthy High School. Students are initiated in the first semester of French III Honors. The applicant must meet the following criteria:

Be enrolled in the first semester of French III
Transfer students must have spent at least one full semester at Archbishop McCarthy High School before becoming eligible.
Candidates must have maintained an “A” average in French during secondary school.
Have a Career GPA of 3.0 or higher (French not calculated in this average).
Fill out the application and supply the appropriate documentation requested.
French Honor Society students provide tutoring during the school year.

INTERNATIONAL QUILL AND SCROLL SOCIETY (Journalism)

Membership in this chapter is a privilege awarded to a student by the heads of the chapter based on meritorious work and achievement within the journalism and yearbook fields. Candidates must be juniors or seniors and have completed at least two years of membership in either the journalism or yearbook program. Candidates must also have earned a minimum unweighted cumulative GPA 3.0 in their general scholastic work, and have done superior work in some phase of journalism or yearbook writing, editing, production, or management. Candidates are nominated to the executive director of the Society for consideration and must be approved by the executive director before officially becoming a member. In addition, seniors who have been awarded membership, and who have shown exceptional leadership and service as recognized by the heads of the chapter, are eligible to receive the Quill and Scroll Honor Cord to be worn during graduation.

INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN HONOR SOCIETY (ITS)

The International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high school and middle school students located at more than 3,600 affiliated secondary schools across the United States, Canada and abroad. The mission of ITS is to honor student excellence in the theatrical arts. Its motto is “Act well thy part; there all the honor lies.”

To be a member of ITS, you must audition with a one minute monologue and sing eight bars from a Broadway musical. Candidates will be evaluated on the following criteria: Character/Believability, Emotional Commitment, Focus/Energy/Concentration, Staging/Blocking, and Vocal Delivery. It is the prerogative of the moderators to render their final decision based upon their experience and best professional judgment. Auditions are held at the beginning of every school year. Participation is not a right but a privilege. You must audition every year to be a member and to compete at a district and state level. Furthermore, because a drama student was part of the troupe the previous year and or is a senior does not guarantee membership of the troupe the following year.

ITS inducts high school students annually into the honor society through a point system. ITS recognizes the dedication and talents of students who have offered service to the Archbishop McCarthy High School Fine Arts Program. Points are awarded through onstage performance and backstage duties. To be a member of the honor society you must have 60 points. To earn a cord at graduation you must have earned 100 points. One point represents approximately ten hours of commitment to the drama program.

MU ALPHA THETA SOCIETY-Math Honor Society (MAØ)

This club is designed for the students who excel in mathematics. Any student can be eligible for active membership if they are presently enrolled in their fifth semester of Honors of AP math. All others can be associate members, but must be currently taking an Honors or AP math class. Students must maintain a “B” average in all of their math classes and have no conduct grade below “average” to remain active members. Members must pay dues of $20 which will cover the national membership dues. Duties of active membership include tutoring students and attending district competitions throughout the South Florida area. Applications will be accepted from the first day of school through the month of October. Once members are selected, all members are expected to comply with all school rules and Mu Alpha Theta obligations. Failure to do so will result in dismissal.

NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCIETY (NAHS)

The National Art Honor Society is dedicated to recognizing students who have shown outstanding ability in art. The purpose of NAHS is to:

foster excellence and a dedicated spirit to the pursuit of art
further creative abilities of its members, as well as the school’s student body
aid members in working toward attaining their highest potential in an art area
bring art to the attention of the school and community
increase an awareness of art in relation to other areas of the school curriculum
further aesthetic awareness in all aspects of the school’s total program

Art faculty select members based upon art scholarship, service, and character. Students must be enrolled in a semester of art while a member, be in 11th –12th grade, have a minimum of a 3.0 average in art, and dedicate 20 service hours through NAHS each year.

NATIONAL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY (NEHS)

The National English Honor Society, founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only national organization exclusively for high school students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual high schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation will be national recognition, scholarship eligibility, and opportunities for national networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts. Eventually NEHS will hold conferences and provide ways to link NEHS with other honor societies and organizations related to the field of English.

Membership in NEH is by invitation, extended through a local chapter on behalf of the national organization. Membership in NEHS is an honor bestowed on individuals selected for their accomplishments in the field of English and in overall academic achievement.

The NEHS Constitution sets forth as minimum requirements for active membership the following:

Attendance at the school equivalent of one semester prior to being considered. (If special circumstances merit, the Faculty Advisory Council may waive the semester regulation.)
Completion of the equivalent of two semesters of English prior to induction as members.
The achievement of a minimum overall and English grade point average of a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) prior to induction as members.
Ability to tutor high school English in the fields of vocabulary, writing and grammar, and reading.
Submission and payment of the new member enrollment.

These criteria may be raised, but not lowered, by the local chapter, but criteria must be based solely on demonstrable academic matters.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY (NHS)

Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and shall be based on the criteria of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for a period of one semester at Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School. Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be members of the junior or senior class.

Candidates eligible for selection to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.75. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standards may be admitted to candidacy for selection to membership. Their eligibility shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.

The final selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Committee consisting of five faculty members appointed by the principal. The chapter advisor shall be the sixth, nonvoting, ex officio member of the Faculty Committee.

Prior to the selection the following shall occur:

Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
Students who are eligible scholastically shall be notified and asked to complete the Student Activity Information Form for further consideration for selection.
Students’ attendance and disciplinary records shall be reviewed to determine eligibility. Unexcused absences and tardiness will be reviewed as well as any referrals or detentions. A referral may prevent a student from being considered for selection.
Students’ service hours will be reviewed and verified that they have completed 100 hours over Archbishop McCarthy High School requirements. Juniors will have 150 hours and seniors will have 175 hours.
The Student Activity Information Form and faculty comments shall be reviewed by the Faculty Committee.

The selection of active members shall be held once a year during the school year.

The criterion for selection includes scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Scholarship: 3.75 weighted grade point average at the end of the second semester.

Leadership: You will be asked to provide documentation showing that you have held a leadership position during your years at Archbishop McCarthy High School. This position must be held within the school. Some examples of leadership are class office, team captain, editor position, campus minister, or student ambassador.

Service: You will need 100 hours over the school’s community service hour requirement. Juniors will need 150 service hours and seniors will need a total of 175 hours. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATTACH COPIES OF ALL SERVICE HOURS COMPLETED AT THE TIME OF SELECTION. Please make sure you keep copies of all service hours turned in to your theology department as they will not be able to give you back your original paperwork.

Character is measured in terms of integrity, behavior, ethics, and cooperation with both students and faculty. Your discipline record will be reviewed. In order to be selected you must have a clean discipline record. Having referrals on file may disqualify you from being selected. The Administration will make the final decision.

NATIONAL SOCIAL STUDIES HONOR SOCIETY

The National Social Studies Honor Society is designed to promote scholarship and recognize academic excellence in social studies in secondary school environments and the community. Students inducted into the society will have and maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA. Students will meet regularly and be required to complete community service hours.

NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE ASSOCIATION (NSDA)

The National Speech and Debate Association’s Honor Society recognizes middle school and high school students for participation in speech and debate activities. Students earn distinction through speech and debate competition, as well as community service, public speaking, and leadership activities. Members are eligible to join the Honor Society once they have earned the required number of points. To become a member of the National Speech and Debate Association’s Honor Society, student members must abide by the Code of Honor and earn a minimum of 25 points. Students may earn points by participating in a number of speech and debate activities including interscholastic competition, public speaking events, and service activities. The more points earned, the higher degrees and seals earned for achievements.

SCIENCE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY (SNHS)

The Science National Honor Society was developed to honor students who have a high GPA in Science as well as their overall GPA. Students who are currently enrolled in an honors or AP science course are eligible for induction as sophomores, juniors, or seniors. The applicant must meet and maintain the final criteria:

A student must have and maintain a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA to be a member.
A student must have and maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA (87%) across all science courses.
Junior members must have completed three years of science courses and/or be currently enrolled in a third year science course. A member must be enrolled in at least one honors or upper level science course during or prior to the 11th grade year.

Senior members must have completed four years of science courses and/or be currently in a fourth year science course. A member must be enrolled in at least one second year honors or upper level science course during or prior to the 12th grade year.
All members must attend one local chapter officer’s lecture annually.

Seniors who have completed all the requirements as per the Science National Honor Society will receive a cord at graduation.

SPANISH HONOR SOCIETY (Rubén Darío Chapter of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica)

The purpose of the Spanish Honor Society is to promote the Spanish language and culture at Archbishop McCarthy High School. SHS provides tutoring for Spanish students throughout the school. Students are initiated in Spanish III/AP Spanish Language. The applicant must meet the following criteria:

Be enrolled in the first semester of any Spanish Level III Honors or AP Spanish Language. Freshmen may not be initiated. The applicant must have had three semesters of Spanish in high school.
Have an “A” as the semester grade for each semester of Spanish taken in high school. 87 is acceptable for levels III and IV, which are honors classes.
Have a Career GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Fill out the application supplying the appropriate documentation requested within one week from the date you received the invitation.
Submit a typewritten 200 word MLA style essay in Spanish on the topic, “How can I, as a member of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, promote the Spanish language and culture through service to others?”

Note: An infraction in the rules of the Parent-Student Handbook regarding cheating may be cause for dismissal.