In April 2008, NEHS was established to extend the continuum of excellence already in place with the National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society. We are amazed at what our chapters have been able to accomplish in 10 years and we look forward to many more years of outstanding achievement and meaningful service. Keep checking the website for more announcements related to the anniversary.

News and Announcements

Two To-Do’s
Before you break for summer, don’t forget to renew your school’s affiliation with NEHS to ensure uninterrupted communication from the national office into the next school year. You and your principal should have received a letter and renewal invoice by mail. The primary adviser can also renew online. Contact membership@nehs.org if you have any questions. The deadline is June 30.

The annual adviser survey, conducted by the national office each spring, is now open. Please have the total number of service hours performed by individuals and your entire chapter handy, as well as basic demographic information about your membership. The data we collect from this survey is invaluable. Also, if you complete the survey by the deadline of June 30, you will receive 20 percent off a purchase in the online store! (Discount may be redeemed Jun 15–Aug 15, 2018.)

Watson Shares His Lesson Plans
Are you looking for ways to advance literacy and promote near-peer learning? Watson the bear, the adorable NEHS mascot, has just the thing! The Watson Lesson Plans have just been made available exclusively to NEHS schools. The lesson plans, aligned with English Language Arts standards and age-appropriate standards from the American School Counselors Association, can be used to have your students prepare essays or illustrations supporting the four pillars of NEHS membership. Access the plans, then share them with fellow teachers.

National Winners Announced
On April 30, in a special ceremony in Washington D.C., we will name the 10 National Honorees for The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. These top 10 youth volunteers are chosen from the 102 State Honorees. They will receive a $5,000 award, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy, and a $5,000 Prudential Foundation grant for a charitable organization of their choice. Read about the amazing service of the State Honorees and the National Honorees.

Project Idea of the Season

St. Baldrick’s Event, Crown Point, IN
The NEHS chapter at Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School has participated in the St. Baldrick’s event for the past five years. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-powered charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. Anyone can join the event, whether they decide to shave their head, volunteer, or donate. The Eisenhower chapter’s team is called the Bald Eagles, and comprises shavees and volunteers. Volunteers sell shamrocks before school as part of a classroom contest to raise money. They also have hat days where the kids can pay $1 to wear a hat. This year, the chapter raised $22,757 with more than 45 participants. Over the past five years, the chapter has raised a remarkable amount of money for this charity—more than $100,000!

Adviser Tips and Tools

Preparing for Next Year
Visit the Adviser Resource Center to help get a head start on next year’s chapter management. Consider creating a member handbook for new and returning members to help them, their parents, and the administration understand the obligations and expectations of NEHS membership.

The handbook should include resources such as:

• Chapter bylaws
• NEHS Constitution
• Deadlines and benchmarks for the year
• Meeting schedule
• Contact information for the adviser
• A roster of current officers and committees