National Honor Society & California Scholarship Federation News
For Junior and Senior Parents
National Honor Society
Activity forms and letters from students to the faculty council for juniors and seniors interested in being inducted into the National Honor Society are due to Mrs. Promes in Room 11 by the 10th day of each semester (September 2) . For complete information, see National Honor Society on the Academics web page.
California Scholarship Federation
CSF applications for this past spring semester are due to Mrs. Promes in Room 11 by Friday, September 10. Four semesters of membership, one being in the senior year, are required for Life Membership status. Students will need a completed application, a copy of their report card and a $5.00 membership fee. Students without a copy of their report card must pay an additional $2.00 for a report card to be printed. For complete information, see California Scholarship Federation on the Academics web page.
For Sophomore Parents
California Scholarship Federation
CSF applications for this past spring semester are due to Mrs. Promes in Room 11 by Friday, September 10. Four semesters of membership, one being in the senior year, are required for Life Membership status. Students will need a completed application and a copy of their report card. Students without a copy of their report card will need to pay a $2.00 fee for a report card to be printed. For complete information, see California Scholarship Federation on the Academics web page.
For Freshman Parents
California Scholarship Federation and National Honor Society
The freshman year is a good time for students to get acquainted with California Scholarship Federation, or CSF, and National Honor Society.
Students may apply for “official” CSF membership in January of their sophomore year after they have received their report cards from the first semester of their sophomore year. “Life Membership” is attained by four semesters of membership, one of which must be in the senior year.
We offer “honorary” membership to freshmen who meet the requirements and apply. Students will need a completed application and a copy of their report card from the prior (spring) semester. By applying during the freshman year, students establish the habit of applying each semester and have no problem meeting the Life Membership requirements. For complete information, see California Scholarship Federation on the Academics web page.
National Honor Society
National Honor Society was established to recognize and honor students throughout the United States who exemplify academic excellence, personal character, leadership and service to both school and community. Junior and senior students are eligible to complete an activity form for this organization, but to be chosen, students must have a record of leadership and service throughout their high school years, including freshman and sophomore years. A faculty panel chooses students in September and January and an induction ceremony is held in February of each year.
California Scholarship Federation
The deadline for turning in applications, report cards from spring 2010 semester and $5.00 dues to Mrs. Promes (Rm 11) is Friday, September 10.
Late applications will only be accepted with a $10.00 late fee, so students are encouraged to turn in their applications early.
The California Scholarship Federation and California Junior Scholarship Federation (CSF and CJSF) exist to promote and recognize high standards of scholarship, service and citizenship on the part of students in California schools.
Membership
Membership is based on scholarship and citizenship only. Membership is retroactive. Applications for membership at the beginning of each semester are accepted for grades attained the previous semester. Students must submit an application each semester the student is eligible. A point system specified in the CSF State By-Laws establishes the membership requirements. To secure eligibility for CSF membership, a student must earn sufficient points from pre-approved course lists. The majority of the required membership points must come from University of California accepted course work. Bishop O’Dowd’s course list is on the back of the application form.
Life Membership (Sealbearer) is achieved by qualifying for chapter membership for four or more semesters in the last three years of high school. One semester must be from the senior year. More detailed information on membership, including course lists can be found in the CSF Handbook and the CJSF Handbook that can be accessed at www.CSF-CJSF.org.
California Junior Scholarship Foundation (CJSF) is for grades 7-9 while CSF is for grades 10-12. Bishop O'Dowd has an official chapter of CSF, but not CJSF. For ninth graders, we note CSF membership for purposes of internal recognition only. Not until the completion of the first semester of the sophomore year will membership begin to count towards life membership.
Application Forms
At the beginning of each semester, students should print out a CSF application from our website or pick one up from Mrs. Promes in Room 11. Students may bring their report card/questions to her before school, at break, or after school and she will be happy to help complete the application. (For freshmen this will be in January after the first semester ends). Students need to have 10 points to apply for membership. The point system is explained on the application form.
Students applying for Active Membership must also attach a completed Volunteer Hours Log form (printed from the O’Dowd website or from Mrs. Promes in Room 11) or letter from the organization on its letterhead attesting to the community service performed. Students must comply with the guidelines on the form.
Once students complete their application, they must bring a copy of their report card to Mrs. Promes to verify grades along with the $5.00 semester dues (cash or check payable to Bishop O’Dowd High School). Late applications will only be accepted with a $10.00 late fee.
Semester Deadline
Applications, report card copies, dues and service log hours (if applicable) are due within the first fifteen school days at the beginning of each semester. The deadline date will be announced in homeroom and over the PA system. The deadline for applications for the Spring 2010 semester is Friday, September 10, 2010. Late applications will only be accepted with a $10.00 late fee, so students are encouraged to turn in their applications early. Students will receive a CSF Membership card. Inactive and Active membership status will be noted on the CSF membership lists posted in the CSF display case.
Semester Dues
Each semester, with the CSF application, students pay dues ($5.00) that are used for CSF membership cards, certificates, graduation materials and chapter scholarships for seniors, or may be donated to charitable organizations per the vote of the CSF members. Students who do not have a copy of their report card pay an additional $2.00 and the advisor will print a report card to verify the student’s grades and attach to the application.