A Barometer of Future Success
The rigor of John Carroll’s college preparatory curriculum and maintaining a high GPA requires dedication, self-discipline and integrity. At John Carroll, students who excel academically are recognized with the opportunity to join various honor societies, make new friends and get involved. Membership empowers Patriots to develop skills and experience in leadership, character, community service, networking and good citizenship.
National Honor Society
Recognizes outstanding students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of academics, leadership, service and character. Meetings are held every third Friday of the month at 7:30 a.m. in the Brown Room, unless otherwise indicated.
Criteria for Selection:
- At the end of the sophomore and junior year, students with a cumulative GPA of 4.1 or above are eligible for membership consideration. Students who meet the required GPA must be a student at John Carroll for at least one semester
- Students who qualify academically must also have successfully completed 30 of the required service hours for the school service hour requirement by September 1 of their eligibility year
- Students should not have more than five absences or tardies in the previous year, unless due to excused medical reasons
- Candidates are required to submit eight evaluation cards to eight different John Carroll School faculty/ staff members or to members of the community who can attest to their character (coaches, moderators, pastors, youth group leaders, etc.). Three evaluation cards should indicate student leadership and five should reference character traits. All evaluation cards should be returned directly to the moderators by the faculty/staff member by the due date.
Students who meet the cumulative GPA will be notified during the summer of their eligibility year. A Student Activity Information Packet will be distributed to eligible students in early September. Eligible candidates should complete the Student Activity Information Packet, list their involvement in school and community activities as well as leadership positions held within school and community organizations. Students and parents must sign, verifying that the information in the packet is complete and accurate.
All candidates wishing to continue the selection process must personally return the Students Activity Information Packet to the NHS moderators by the due date. Packets not returned by the deadline will not be considered, and the student will no longer be considered a candidate for NHS membership.
A five member Faculty Council reviews Student Activity Information Packets and all Leadership/Character evaluations. Each member of the Faculty Council votes individually for each candidate. Candidates receiving a majority vote of the Faculty Council will be inducted into John Carroll School Chapter of the NHS. There is no set number of candidates who will be selected.
The five Faculty Council members are appointed annually by the principal. The names of the Faculty Council remain confidential. The National Honor Society advisors are non-voting members of the selection meeting who work with the Faculty Council. The advisors ensure that the process runs according to the established guidelines and to answer any procedural questions of the Faculty Council.
All information used in the selection process will remain strictly confidential and will not be released to the student, other staff members, or concerned parents. When the Faculty Council certifies its selections, the National Honor Society advisor(s) destroys all paperwork used in the selection process.
All information used in the selection process will remain strictly confidential and will not be released to the student, other staff members, or concerned parents. For information on the National Honor Society, contact Dr. Lazor at plazor@johncarroll.org.
World Languages Honor Societies
Students may become members of the French, German and/or Spanish Honor Societies. The World Languages department holds an evening induction ceremony each spring. Each language honor society operates under a national charter and has its own requirements for admission. For more information on World Languages Honor Societies, contact Mrs. Attanasio at dattanasio@johncarroll.org.
French Honor Society
Recognizes excellent grades in at least three semesters of French language courses. Students must be in the 3rd semester of French, have a 90 in French in the semester of nomination, have no average lower than 80 in any other major subject, and continue the study of French while they are John Carroll students.
German Honor Society
Recognizes high achievement in German and promotes interest in German studies. Students must have completed two years of German or place in a third year class, have a 90 in German, and maintain an overall average of 85. Students not enrolled in German 4 may not vote or hold office in the society and are not eligible for the senior award in German.
Spanish Honor Society
Recognizes high achievement in Spanish and promotes interest in Hispanic studies. Students must have a semester average of 90 in Spanish for three consecutive semesters and continue the study of Spanish while they are John Carroll students.
Archbishop John Carroll Service Honor Society
Recognizes students who excel academically and demonstrate outstanding leadership and character qualities.
The purpose of Archbishop John Carroll Service Honor Society is to:
- Inspire and recognize those students who have made outstanding contributions to society through direct service and community service
- Foster a dedicated spirit to ongoing direct and community service
- Further the contribution and depth of service of the society’s members, as well as the school’s entire student dedication to direct service
- Bring all manner of service to the attention of the school and community
- Increase an awareness of service in relation to areas of the school curriculum
- Further service awareness in all aspects of the school’s total program
The Criteria for selection to membership in this society:
- Each recommended student should volunteer at least 100 hours of service including at least 25 hours of direct service as defined by the school, and be of upstanding moral character.
- Candidates eligible for selection must be a student at John Carroll for at least one year and have a minimum GPA of 2.0. This level of achievement shall remain fixed.
- The selection of members to the Archbishop John Carroll Honor Society should be recommended by the Outreach Coordinator and the faculty.
Any member whose GPA falls below 2.0 at mid quarter or quarter marking periods shall receive a warning. If during the next regular marking period of the school, the member fails to have a minimum GPA of 2.0. Three letters of recommendation, submitted on the Character Reference Form, (by a teacher, service provider supervisor, mentor)need to be completed by the end of the third quarter and submitted to the Outreach Coordinator.
For further information about becoming about the Archbishop John Carroll Service Honor Society, please email Mrs. Strawbridge at sstrawbridge@johncarroll.org.
National Honor Society for Dance Arts – JCS Chapter
Recognizes outstanding artistic merit, leadership, and academics among dancers. Students accumulate points throughout the year that count toward induction into the NHSDA. Once students accumulate 30 points, maintain a 3.5+ cumulative GPA, and receive a high character rating from chapter sponsor, Mrs. Ward-Moran they can apply for induction into the NHSDA. Applications for induction are received every March. The induction ceremony is held after the spring dance concert each year. Occasionally, students may be inducted prior to March when a situation requires the student to have an earlier induction and all criteria have been met. Students are responsible for keeping an accurate log with their approved points. The student should follow up with her advisor to make sure the honor is noted on her transcript; NHSDA cords may be worn at Graduation.
NHSDA Secondary Program Goals:
- To identify honor students (grades 11 & 12) for nomination to the NDEO Artistic Merit**, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award, one of the highest honor programs for dance in the United States
- To promote a desire for life-long learning in the field of dance
- To encourage an understanding of, and an appreciation for, dance as an art form and develop knowledgeable audiences for tomorrow
**Students who are in 11th or 12th grade and who have been inducted into their school’s NHSDA chapter can apply for the annual NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award, the highest student dance award in the nation.
For more information on National Honor Society for Dance Arts – JCS Chapter, contact Mrs. Ward-Moran at lwardmoran@johncarroll.org.
Music Honor Society (Tri-M)
Recognizes outstanding music students and focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. The Tri-M Music Honor Society is a program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and is the only national honor society for student musicians in grades 6-12. Each year, Tri-M students contribute more than 750,000 service hours to their schools and local communities and raise nearly $1 million for causes they care about. For more information on becoming an active member of the Tri-M chapter at John Carroll, please email Ms. Knell at cknell@johncarroll.org.
The National Art Honor Society
Recognizes high achievement in art and promotes creative thinking in visual arts. The John Carroll chapter of the NAHS consists of approximately sixty students, who add to the distinguished national total of over 46,000 members. In addition to enabling opportunities for growth in leadership, students have access to awards and scholarships, and college and career preparation. Institutions of higher education also view the NAHS as a mark of accomplishment. Outreach and community service are important components of NAHS; students engage in service projects which enable them to utilize their gifts and talents to help others and enrich the environment. Working with Harford County Parks and Recreation, over eighty JC students and adults recently volunteered to repaint Annie’s Playground in Fallston, MD. For more information on becoming a member of the National Honor Art Society, please email Mrs. Collins at lcollins@johncarroll.org.