National Honor Society

What We Do

The NHS chapter of the National Honor Society is a select group of students that have demonstrated academic excellence, strong character, involvement in their community, and a drive to become better leaders. We are a service-based organization that assists our student body through tutoring and mentorship and helps serve the community through the Red Cross blood drives. Membership is by invitation to apply for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors with a GPA of 3.4 or higher.  

Selection Process

The Joan Dillon Werzinger Chapter of the National Honor Society is a duly-chartered and affiliated chapter of the National Honor Society.

Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in four areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Students are selected for membership by a majority vote of a 5-member Faculty Council, appointed by the principal, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school each year. The chapter adviser, Andrea Fitzgerald, is also appointed by the principal and facilitates all selection procedures and chapter activities during the year.

Beginning in their Sophomore year, students who have a GPA of 3.67 or greater at the beginning of the second semester are invited to complete an application which provides the Faculty Council with information regarding the candidate's leadership and service. A history of leadership experiences and participation in school and community service is also required.

To evaluate a candidate’s character, the Faculty Council obtains additional professional input. Members of the faculty are requested to provide their professional reflections using a scale of one (1) to five (5) (1 representing the lowest and 5 the highest) in the areas of Character and Overall Attitude. Teachers are asked to evaluate students with whom they have had contact; this includes contact in the hallway, cafeteria, parking lot, etc.

This information, along with the candidates' applications are then carefully reviewed by the Faculty Council to determine whether each candidate meets the criteria for membership. Following a majority vote of the Faculty Council, the students are notified regarding selection or non-selection within one week of the last Council meeting. An appeal process is available to those students who may have omitted information, or believe the decision was rendered in error. This process affords the candidate the opportunity to clarify or add information for a second review by the Faculty Council.

Once the notification process is completed, a formal induction ceremony is held at the school to recognize all the newly-selected members. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance in all criteria that led to their selection. This obligation includes regular attendance at chapter meetings, held at minimum monthly throughout the school year, and participation in the chapter service projects and scholarship fundraising activities. Students or parents who have questions regarding the selection process or membership obligations can contact the chapter adviser, Andrea Fitzgerald, room S247 or by emailing andrea.fitzgerald@naugatuck.k12.ct.us.