Just one hour away spent away from the classroom to eat, celebrate the seniors, recognize outstanding community service, and spend some quality time with each other...

Mrs. Morris, Mr. Carson, Mr. Norton, & Mr. Asbury came, too.	Juan, Sharna, & Krista accumulated the most community service hours.	The administrators show their pride in and support of NHS students.

Senior NHS members were on hand at Maxine Johnson Elementary's spring Kindergarten Round-Up, to distribute Jump Start materials (a brand-new book, a parents' packet, and a backpack clip) provided by the Idaho Commission for Libraries.
 

NHS students enjoy a breakfast in Panther Library before classes start one morning.

Senior members introduced junior nominees and walked through the stands to tap.	Every member of the student body lined up to congratulate new members & their families.
Mr. Sharkey was keynote speaker and assisted in the candle-lighting.	Senior members lit the candles of Scholarship, Leadership, Character, & Service.

Parma High School
National Honor Society Activities
            Thursday, October 25^th, during a late-morning assembly attended by the entire student body, eighteen new members were tapped into National Honor Society at Parma High.
These eighteen students had all achieved cumulative grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher and had been notified of their nominations earlier in the month.  Their applications included addressing issues such as academic strengths and wishes, and matters of personal talent and pride.  Applicants then appeared individually before a faculty panel that met before and after school hours and during lunch times, where they answered questions about future college plans and how they are working toward those goals.  Members of the faculty who led these interviews were introduced and thanked during the assembly.  They included Mr. Tony Collis, Mr. Scot Garrick, Mr. James Finkbeiner, and Mrs. Karen Barbour.After a welcoming address by Principal David Carson, current members of NHS conducted the assembly.  Pairs of these students read a brief introductory poem, while in the stands another pair targeted the new member for tapping.  The gesture of “tapping” (now part of our language: “to select somebody for a particular role”) comes from the very old practice whereby knights were called into service and then recognized by the monarch, who would have him kneel, then gently tap him on each shoulder with a sword.  The knight would be indicating by his submission his willingness to sacrifice all (note how close the sword’s edge would be to his neck?) without fear.  A well-known portrait titled The Accolade graced the lectern and visualized the ancient custom as it was practiced in days of chivalry.
When the student’s name was called at the conclusion of the poem, that new member was literally “tapped” on the shoulder to announce his or her inclusion, and then brought down to the gymnasium floor, where each set of proud parents—many carrying balloons or flowers—surprised and greeted their student with hugs and walked with him or her to the receiving line.
   When the tapping was complete, Mr. Carson invited all the students to come down and shake hands with the honored students and their parents.  Mr. Carson referred to that portion as the most important aspect of the event, whereby both the NHS students and their parents were congratulated for their hard work and commitment.
     After an extended picture-taking session while the rest of the school went on to lunch,  Mr. Carson released the new students for the rest of the short school day (early release was at 1:00 p.m.) so that families could have time for celebratory luncheons.  Many took advantage of that special gesture that allowed time to make some more memories.
     An induction ceremony was held on the evening of November 1^st in the high school commons area.  The traditional candlelight ceremony marked the four “virtues” or NHS membership:  scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
     Parma School Superintendent Jim Norton and High School Principal David Carson both delivered welcoming addresses, and science instructor and Idaho Teacher of the Year for 2006 Mr. Mick Sharkey delivered the keynote speech.  Senior NHS members conducted the remainder of the program.  Attending teachers were also introduced, as well as school counselor Mrs. Cheryl Morris, who was especially thanked for her unstinting support of student achievement.  The new members pledged themselves to the qualities of the society.  Then, in a continuation of the theme of tapping and serving, each received a ribbon on the right arm, tied there by an older member, as a token of allegiance to the common goals of Honor Society students throughout the nation.
     The crowd of approximately one hundred enjoyed ice cream sundaes at the conclusion of the ceremony.