DS's NHS Induction ceremony tonight - **UPDATE PAGE 2**

[SeaSpray]

Tonight is the induction ceremony for the National Honor Society and my poor DS-almost-16 is home sick today!

This is his first day out of school all school year. I think he might have strep so I've made a doctor's appointment for him, for later this morning.

Also, my ex-DH and his wife are driving up from NJ today, to attend the ceremony, and DS doesn't know about it, they're going to surprise him! I have to get this kid feeling better, fast! LOL

Anyway, what happens at the induction ceremony?? Anyone else's child being inducted soon or recently??

P.S. When I called his school, they said it'll be fine that he's home sick today, he can still attend the ceremony tonight.

 

[mommasita]

I don't know your answers, but I wanted to add some pixie dust for him..

What an honor for your son, and his Mom..

 

[Deb in IA]

Awww, I'm so sorry. Hope he gets better soon!!

Our DD is getting inducted too. We are supposed to be receiving a letter from school with the details.


Now, back in the Dark Ages, when I was inducted, I remember lighting candles, reciting a pledge, and receiving a certificate. And we had to dress up. I'm sure there's more . . . but this was more than 30 years ago, and my memory is a bit fuzzy . . .

 

[KelNottAt]

Sorry, no words of advice, just some that your DS get better real quick. Congratulations to all of you.

 

[hentob]

Tonight is the induction ceremony for the National Honor Society and my poor DS-almost-16 is home sick today!

This is his first day out of school all school year. I think he might have strep so I've made a doctor's appointment for him, for later this morning.

If it is Strep-See if they will inject his antibiotic right there in the office. He will be feeling better w/in 24 hours. I don't know if that will help you for tonight though

 

[Tess]

The NHS advisor supplies a welcome address, all of the NHS officers provide a short speech, there is a 15-20 minute motivational address provided by an outside source (although this year we had a comedian--nice change of pace), the candles are lit prior to presentation of the new inductees (along with a recitation of the four pillars), then the new inductees are presented.

At our school the new inductees are presented by a current member of NHS. The escort processes onto the stage with the new inductee where the current member provides a brief synopsis of the new inductee's qualifications for induction. The new inductee receives a lit candle and takes his/her place on a riser. When all new inductees are presented, they make their pledge to NHS. Pictures are then taken and they return to their seats.

Thereafter, our seniors are presented by the juniors with a brief recounting of their high school accomplishments and future plans. After their presentation, we have a PowerPoint presentation which includes candid photos of all current and newly inducted members in action both academically, socially, and performing in athletics.

After the PowerPoint presentation, the principal makes some remarks, and thanks the students and parents for being such great students. The NHS supplies a thank-you to the guests and speakers and the event is over.

It was about an hour and one half this year and typically runs that long, depending on the number of new inductees.

Now, in the good old days (some 30+ years ago), we had a "Tap Assembly". This was conducted during school before the entire student body. Those who were eligible for NHS induction were all seated on the gym floor (in chairs) while the balance of the student body was relegated to the stands. A current member of the NHS then "tapped" the chosen one and proceeded to the stage where they were bestowed with a collar and candle. The process continued until all of those to be inducted were "tapped". What a nightmare for those who were not chosen--kind of like being the last one chosen in gym--not quite good enough for the team--

I guess I prefer the evening ceremony at my kids' school--the inductees are notified by invitation and it is less in your face than the tap assembly to those not accepted for induction.

Congrats to you and your son Terry! I know I was a very proud parent both times my kids were honored.

 

[Deb in IA]

I remember that "tapping out" ceremony too, Tess!! I guess no one does that anymore, from what I've heard . . .

 

[Tess]

I remember that "tapping out" ceremony too, Tess!! I guess no one does that anymore, from what I've heard . . .

In our PC culture, it is probably considered too damaging to the self-esteem when one is not selected despite being qualified. I agree, it was probably a disappointment to those not selected, but then again--life is full of disappointments and you need to dust off and move on. . .

That said, as an adult, I would not want to see a kid being disappointed in that fashion, so I guess the new way is better than the old. I wonder when exactly the "tap" ceremony was changed?

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone

Tess, thanks for the recap of the ceremony, it sounds really nice. I hope DS will feel good enough to enjoy it. (And I always love to see your current Polynesian Pout picture! LOL).


We just got back from the doctor's office. The quick strep test came back negative, but she said since his throat is so raw, that she wants to put him on an antiobiotic. It's a bacterial infection it will help him to feel better within a couple of days. If it's not, then it'll have to run its course. She also told me to beware of mono, because it's going around our area. She said that DS has the classic symptoms.

She told me to give him 800mgs of ibuprophen every 6 hours, with Tylenol in between. The poor kid has an awful headache in addition to the severe throat pain. He said he's also feeling dizzy. Blah... in addition to the NHS ceremony tonight, we're going to NJ this weekend because he has spring break all next week. I really hope he does not have mono.

 

[debster812]

Howdy Neighbor

Strep is running rampant in EB as well DS had a fever at his after school program a week ago Friday. Took him to the doctor's, the rapid strep test came back negative, and he was fever free for 36 hours, so we sent him to school on Monday. Doctor called to say that the standard culture came back positive. Great, now that we infected the ENTIRE 4th grade. Anyway, 2 doses of antibiotics, and he was a TOTALLY new kid. Even if they do a rapid culture in the office that comes back negative, I might lobby for a small script of antibiotics to start until you get the results of the standard culture.

 

[SeaSpray]

Howdy Neighbor

Strep is running rampant in EB as well DS had a fever at his after school program a week ago Friday. Took him to the doctor's, the rapid strep test came back negative, and he was fever free for 36 hours, so we sent him to school on Monday. Doctor called to say that the standard culture came back positive. Great, now that we infected the ENTIRE 4th grade. Anyway, 2 doses of antibiotics, and he was a TOTALLY new kid. Even if they do a rapid culture in the office that comes back negative, I might lobby for a small script of antibiotics to start until you get the results of the standard culture.

Hi Deb! Enjoying this "lovely" spring weather? LOL Snow is in the forecast for Thursday for our area. LOL

I just got back from CVS, she did put him on Keflex (there's a family history of penicillin allergy) because his throat looked so bad, so if it's bacterial, that should take care of it. She said that strep is going around, as well as a few cases of mono.

I'm glad your DS is feeling better

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

In our PC culture, it is probably considered too damaging to the self-esteem when one is not selected despite being qualified. I agree, it was probably a disappointment to those not selected, but then again--life is full of disappointments and you need to dust off and move on. . .

That said, as an adult, I would not want to see a kid being disappointed in that fashion, so I guess the new way is better than the old. I wonder when exactly the "tap" ceremony was changed?

Yikes! I'm glad they didn't have the tapping ceremony when I was inducted. We had the evening candle ceremony. I prefer to receive my disappointments in private letter form, thank you very much. The last thing I would want is to be left sitting on the gym floor in front of the student body. Woooof. In the words of Anne Hathaway in Princess Diaries, "In case I'm not enough of a freak already, let's just add a tiara."

Hope all went well with the NHS induction!

 

[SeaSpray]

Yikes! I'm glad they didn't have the tapping ceremony when I was inducted. We had the evening candle ceremony. I prefer to receive my disappointments in private letter form, thank you very much. The last thing I would want is to be left sitting on the gym floor in front of the student body. Woooof. In the words of Anne Hathaway in Princess Diaries, "In case I'm not enough of a freak already, let's just add a tiara."

Hope all went well with the NHS induction!

Thanks, I'll let you know later tonight or tomorrow. The ceremony is this evening at 7pm.

 

[debster812]

Snow is in the forecast for Thursday for our area

lalalalalalalalalalalalala I can't hearrrrrr youuuuuuuu.

We have tickets to the Red Sox for Thursday. DS is going to be SO bummed out if we have to postpone.

He is feeling 100% better, and I bet once your DS gets a dose in him, he'll be feeling better too.

 

[Deb in IA]

I prefer to receive my disappointments in private letter form, thank you very much.

While it would be nice to never be disappointed in public, that's not how the world works. In athletics, in school, in the workplace, there are always times when a reward or recognition may not be given to you. Learning to handle life's disappointments is actually good for the ego - and tends to make us all work a bit harder, try again, and strive to reach our goals.

As for our daughter, there was no "tapping out", but the new inductees were announced over the school PA.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

While it would be nice to never be disappointed in public, that's not how the world works. In athletics, in school, in the workplace, there are always times when a reward or recognition may not be given to you. Learning to handle life's disappointments is actually good for the ego - and tends to make us all work a bit harder, try again, and strive to reach our goals.

As for our daughter, there was no "tapping out", but the new inductees were announced over the school PA.

There's a big difference, IMO, between hearing names announced over the PA and knowing that you're not one of the selected versus having the entire student body see you rejected. Of course people need to learn to live with disappointment, but they don't need to be opened to ridicule in order to learn that lesson. But this is off topic anyway...

 

[MerryPoppins]

DD's induction was last week. The school principal spoke and so did the man that the chapter is named after. Then they had the officers speak about the pillars. I thought it was sort of funny that they had candles on the table, but never lit them. Finally, all the inductees stood and repeated the pledge before filing across the stage to receive their certificate and pin. After the ceremony, they had a reception with cake and punch.

Hope your DS feels better tonight.

 

[Deb in IA]

Of course people need to learn to live with disappointment, but they don't need to be opened to ridicule in order to learn that lesson. But this is off topic anyway...

Open ridicule? Not in any tapping ceremony I've seen . . .

 

[SeaSpray]

We just got back and it was a very lovely ceremony!

First the inductees proceeded into the auditorium and took seats in the first couple of rows in front of the stage. The current president of the NHS (she's a senior) read a very nice opening speech, then one by one they had the outgoing senior members stand on center stage while she read each of their accomplishments during their high school years, which colleges they were going to be attending in the fall, and what they'd be majoring in.

Then there were 2 guest speakers, in addition to some welcoming comments by the superintendent of schools and the principal.

Then they lit the candles and read about each of the 4 characteristics of the NHS.

Then they announced each inductee one by one as they were escorted to the stage by a current member; they had boys escort the female inductees and a girl escorted the boys. There were 30 all together, only 7 boys (including my DS), and 23 girls. They had given the girls long-stemmed flowers, and the boys had boutonnieres. When they got on stage they were given their pin and a membership card, and they shook the hands of the faculty and advisors, then took a place on a set of risers. When all 30 of the inductees were up on stage on the risers, we all stood and applauded them.

After some closing remarks, we applauded as they exited the auditorium, then they had punch and snacks in the cafeteria. We stayed long enough so that we could get some pictures of DS with his friends who had also been inducted tonight (coincidently, most of the 6 other boys who were inducted tonight are my DSs good friends who are also on the tennis team, the debate team, and in the jazz ensemble with him, so it was really nice to see this group of kids in yet another club together).

DS felt pretty good most of the evening but by the time we were ready to leave the school he was feeling lousy again and ready to come home and get into pj's and take another dose of antibiotics and more ibuprophen.


Oh and the surprise was great! Before the ceremony we took DS and DFIL and DMIL out to dinner, and that's where ex-DH and his wife surprised DS. We all had a really nice dinner together before heading over to the school for the ceremony. All in all a great memorable evening for all of us!

Thanks again for all of the good wishes for DS/us today

 

[4nana]

Congrats to your DS!! So glad your son was honored with induction to NHS and felt well enough to attend. Thx for the trip down memory lane, it brought back many fond memories of our 4 being nominated and sounds very much like our NHS ceremony many yrs ago.

If it's like our high school they are also honored to wear the NHS stole at graduation, which is very a nice touch with their other honor cords and ribbons, plus their diplomas have the NHS seal. I wish your son well, sounds like he's on his way to a great success and you must be very proud.

Ahhhh, I miss the kids exciting H.S. days!