National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)

Overview

Nicole served as Faculty Adviser of the St. John Eudes Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society for the 2013-2014 and 2012-2013 school years.  Working with 7th and 8th grade students Nicole, along with NJHS Student Officers, worked to ensure all members of NJHS upheld the five pillars of the organization as well as the mission of St. John Eudes.  The members of the National Junior Honor Society worked on-campus, at their local parish and in the greater community participating in various service opportunities.  In addition, Nicole held monthly chapter meetings and communicated with members, families and the community via a monthly NJHS newsletter.

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is more than just an honor roll. Each Honor Society chapter establishes rules for membership that are based upon a student's outstanding performance in the areas of: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Character and Citizenship.  These criteria for selection form the foundation upon which the organization and its activities are built.

Scholarship
Students who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or equivalent standard of excellence meet the scholarship requirement for membership. These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, and character (and citizenship for NJHS).

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 i.e. service hours, boy scouts, student council, etc..  Students committed to NJHS will complete their required annual grade level service hours as well as an additional five hours of service dedicated to NJHS.

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 and clean lifestyle

Citizenship
The student who demonstrates citizenship understands the importance of civic involvement, has a high regard for freedom, justice, and democracy, and demonstrates mature participation and responsibility through involvement with such activities as scouting, community organizations, and school clubs

Role as Faculty Adviser

At the beginning of each school year Nicole was responsible for generating interest in National Junior Honor Society, especially in its first school year on-campus, 2012-2013.  Nicole did so by creating flyers for the weekly family envelope, holding student information sessions at lunch and advertising on the school's Facebook page.  In addition, Nicole worked to create eligibility requirements as well as a chapter application for membership that were both in line with the NJHS organization requirements and the mission and values of St. John Eudes School.  Upon admittance to the organization Nicole notified students and families of acceptance and held an NJHS meeting in which members identified what student roles were important in their chapter and elected chapter officers.  Once officers were voted in and membership was finalized Nicole was responsible for holding an NJHS member Induction Ceremony.  At this ceremony both members and officers were inducted into the St. John Eudes Chapter of NJHS and a pre-arranged guest speaker attended to both motivate and speak to students about regarding the importance of volunteerism.

As faculty adviser Nicole held monthly meetings with NJHS officers and meetings.  Meetings were scheduled on the first Monday of every month to review past and future events as well as important information and news.  At chapter meetings Nicole worked with members and officers of NJHS to generate ideas for service projects.  The chapter members and officers set a goal of completing at least one service project annually.

In a democratic manner Nicole worked with members to aid students in researching age appropriate service opportunities to participate in as a chapter.  In addition to the student conducted research for NJHS service projects members also conducted research to aid their middle school classmates in completing require volunteer hours.  Led by Nicole students generated a list of group volunteer opportunities for NJHS as well as a list of service opportunities geared towards their middle school peers.  Allowing students to work collaboratively under Nicole's guidance they were able to generate a list of service opportunities.  This activity enabled students to feel motivated them and empowered to participate in service activities and align opportunity with their own interests.  Also, because students generated a list of their own ideas the students felt they were heard and were enthusiastic to volunteer as a result.

Nicole was responsible as Faculty Adviser for ensuring that all service opportunities were in line with the mission and values of NJHS as well as St. John Eudes.  Nicole did this by reviewing all opportunities with administration, principal and vice principal, for approval.  Once activities were approved Nicole was responsible for contacting various organizations to ensure that student group participation could be accommodated.  Nicole also had to work with parents to coordinate chaperones and carpools to and from events.  Nicole's organization was a definite asset in making NJHS service projects a success.

Finally, Nicole was responsible for maintaing open communication between all shareholders in the form of an NJHS web page, email, weekly family envelope and school Facebook page.  Nicole worked with chapter officers to create monthly newsletters for chapter members but also to inform the community about the service NJHS was participating in and the work the organization was doing.

2013-2014 NJHS Chapter Service Projects

Children's Hunger Fund

Children's Hunger Fund is a Christian 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that works to alleviate the suffering of children in impoverished regions across America and around the world. Through strategic partnerships in targeted communities, CHF works to improve the lives of poor children and their families comprehensively, meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Since CHF began in 1991, our supporters have helped us distribute more than $927 million in foodandother resources to serve the needs of more than 10 million children in thirty-five U.S. states and seventy-two countries worldwide.

Since CHF's inception, an average of 99% of our total contributions have been used for programs serving the needs of children.

The members of the St. John Eudes Chapter of NJHS participated in the annual Toy Wrap with CHF on Wednesday, December 4th.  This opportunity allowed 7th and 8th grade members as well as their families the opportunity to wrap new toys for needy children who might otherwise go without.  This was an opportunity for members to show love and bring joy to the precious little ones of our communities.  Over 700 volunteers participated at the event on December 4 and over 25,000 toys were wrapped to be hand delivered to children in need across the world over the holiday season.

Shane's Inspiration

Most playgounds leave children with disablities sitting on the sidelines.  At Shane's Inspiration, they believe full equity is essential, not optional.  That is why their commitment is to provide complete inclusion for all individuals.

The vision of Shane's Inspiration is to foster a bias-free world for children with disabilities.  The mission of Shane's Inspiration is to create inclusive playgrounds and programs that unite children of all abilities.

My Play Club is one of Shane's Inspiration's community outreach programs.  Their Los Angeles club is called Shane's Club, a free club for children of all abilities that meets monthly for a Play Date at one of Shane's Inspiration's Inclusive Playgrouns.  Face Painting, Arts & Crafts, and Snacks are provided.

The NJHS members of St. John Eudes aided at the Shane's Inspiration Playground, Aidan's Place working with children of all abilities who want to play together and make new friends on Saturday, May 29.  This experience formed a common ground between chapter members and children with special needs; play.  Shane's Club gave NJHS 7th and 8th grade students the ability to play with and learn from children with special needs as well as each other.  

2012-2013 NJHS Chapter Service Project

EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women

The nationally acclaimed Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) Revlon Run/Walk for Women hastouched the lives of millions of people through increased awareness, education, research, and diagnostic treatment services for breast cancer.  The EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women continues to unite men, women, and children of all races and ages in the fight against women’s cancers.  The chapter members of the 2012-2013 St. John Eudes chapter of NJHS chose to support the EIF Revlon 5K Run/Walk for Women in an effort to aid breast cancer victims and research.  The Revlon Run/Walk took place on Saturday, May 11 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park with 7th and 8th grade chapter members as well as their families participating in the event.

2013-2014 Newsletters

AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, FEBRUARY, APRIL, MAY

Reflection

This was Nicole's first experience acting as Faculty Adviser for an NJHS chapter.  Since its inception the organization has grown in rigor, student participation as well as volunteerism.  In its first year the organization was only able to participate in one service project, the EIF Revlon Run/Walk, but in NJHS' second year students were able to participate in two service projects working with CHF as well as Shane's Inspiration.  With more expertise and experience working in the organization and as chapter faculty adviser Nicole has been able to expand student service opportunities and develop relationships with community members.  Nicole has learned to be extremely organized as well as to maintain open communication with students, parents, community members and administration in order to make each student's success as an NJHS member, to make each service project a success and to make the chapter a success.  By continuously reflecting on the mission and the values of National Junior Honor Society and St. John Eudes Nicole has ensured that the decisions made by and for the organization behold the mission and values.  As Nicole reflects on her first opportunity to serve as a Faculty Adviser of an NJHS chapter she sees the importance of working democratically with students to validate, acknowledge and appreciate their voice.

CPSEL Connection

Standard 1: Facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.

Standard 2: Advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.

Standard 3: Ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.

Standard 5: Modeling a personal code of ethics and developing professional leadership capacity.

Standard 6: Understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.