National Junior Honor Society Community Service

Founded in 1929, the National Junior Honor Society was created to “recognize and encourage academic achievement while developing other characteristics essential to citizenship in a democracy.” The ideals of scholarship, character, service, leadership, and citizenship – which are the pillars of the society – remain as important today as they were in 1929. At Overbrook, in the Thomas Aquinas Chapter, the National Junior Honor Society strives to recognize the total student: one who excels in all areas. To be considered for the NJHS, seventh- and eighth-graders must have a cumulative average of a 90% or better in both the first and second quarter grading periods, with no single grade being below an 86%. Throughout the year, NJHS members engage is leadership and service opportunities which serve our school and outside agencies. This year’s selected activities are listed below.

Pull tabs for Ronald McDonald House:

Beginning in the fall, all Overbrook families are given a cardboard house in which to place their aluminum pull tabs. Tabs are collected throughout the year. In the spring there is a final collection and the thousands of tabs are delivered to the Ronald McDonald House in Nashville. The money Ronald McDonald House collects from the aluminum goes to fund housing for families whose children are receiving treatment at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Exam Survival Kits for Sixth-graders:

Since this is the first time sixth-graders take exams, the NJHS provides a survival kit for each student. Inside are granola bars, lollipops, and other snacks. There are also tips for studying for and taking exams. Former sixth-graders have remarked how fun it was to receive these gifts and how special it made them feel.

NJHS Lip Sync Concert:

Overbrook’s NJHS held its second annual Lip Sync Concert to benefit Catholic Charities of Middle Tennessee. All junior high students participated in this fun-filled event. This year’s event included more than 20 popular songs and entertained the whole school and their guests. In between the musical acts, the masters of ceremony educated the audience about all the wonderful programs which Catholic Charities provide for the Nashville area. It was a wonderful night for all in the Overbrook community. This year, the NJHS raised more than $1,500 for Catholic Charities.