Academic Year Planning

This overview calendar is designed to help Chapter Advisors and officers keep track of opportunities for NEHS members. We have included a sample of a chapter calendar (Linganore High School, MD).

The following year-long outline may help organize chapter activities and help chapter members set goals. Remember, the more active the chapter is, the stronger its image will be. This will mean that more students will be willing to join, contribute, and participate in its programs.

May/June 2023

• Hold induction for new members if your chapter has a spring induction tradition
• If induction occurs, enter new member names into NEHS Connect and submit membership dues
• Hold elections for new officers so planning for the next school year may begin
• Remind rising seniors of the Common Reader for the following year, encouraging summer reading
• If holding fall membership drives and induction, set dates now
• Review or create bylaws (with new officers as possible)
• Make note of summer publication dates for NEHSXpress

August 2023

• If fall membership drives and induction are planned, confirm dates, and develop program
• Invite membership applications, making sure criteria for selection are widely distributed, including to parents/guardians
• Set a yearly calendar of chapter meeting dates
• Develop, with officers and members, chapter activity ideas
• Review NEHS Scholarships, Awards, and Grants yearly calendar, noting application deadlines
• Confirm with school financial office the anniversary due date for Affiliation Fee
• Submit student names and make membership fee payments for new members in NEHS Connect.
• Order NEHS merchandise (optional) for Induction Ceremony from the NEHS Chapter Store accessed through NEHS Connect

September 2023

• Begin chapter meetings
• Hold induction ceremony
• Encourage sophomores and juniors to enter the Intellectual Freedom Challenge; essays are due October 10
• Encourage students attend student members to attend the first-of-the-year NEHS Webinar September 13
• Submit applications for Project Grants or Classroom Library Grants by October 10
• Encourage all members to submit their work for the Creative Challenge: Poetry to Chapter Advisors for top five final selection
• Applications for Literacy Initiative Grant opens September 11

October 2023

• Remind seniors of the Common Reader if they are intending to apply for the NEHS Scholarships
• Encourage top five selected members to submit writing to the Creative Challenge: Poetry due October 10
• Conduct chapter projects and collect documentation
• Applications for Literacy Initiative Grant due October 10

November 2023

• Seniors select Common Reader prompts for scholarships starting November 1
• Continue to conduct chapter projects and collect documentation

December 2023

• Scholarship and essay application window opens December 11 and closes January 8
• Encourage all members to submit their work for the Creative Challenge: Script Writing to Chapter Advisors for top five final selection
• Advisors may apply for Advisor Grants throughout the year
• Submit Chapter Spotlight report beginning December 11

January 2024

• Seniors submit scholarship applications and essays, due January 8
• Submit Chapter Spotlight report, due January 8
• Encourage top five selected members to submit writing to the Creative Challenge: Script Writing, due January 8
• Submit Outstanding Advisor application, due January 8
• Submit the William C. Johnson NIU-NEHS Scholarship, due January 31
• Chapter Advisors apply to the NEHS-Smithsonian American Art Museum Summer Institute Scholarship by April 3

February/March 2024

• If spring induction is the tradition, begin planning induction dates and membership campaigns
• Chapter Advisors apply to the NEHS-Smithsonian American Art Museum Summer Institute Scholarship by April 3
• Encourage members to consult with their Chapter Advisor about the Creative Challenge: Documentary Filmmaking; submissions are due April 29
• Submit student names and make membership fee payments for new members in
• NEHS Connect.
• Order NEHS merchandise (optional) for Induction Ceremony and graduation ceremonies from the NEHS Chapter Store accessed through NEHS Connect

April 2024

• "Meet NEHS in St Louis" and Literacy Initiative Grant presentation events held at the Sigma Tau Delta Convention;
• Chapter Advisors apply to the NEHS-Smithsonian American Art Museum Summer Institute Scholarship, due April 3
• Scholarship Awards announced Monday, April 25
• Applications for first semester 2023 Project Grants open April 15 and close April 29
• Creative Challenge: Documentary Filmmaking submissions open April 15 and close April 29S
• Submit Chapter Spotlight report, due April 29
• Student members apply for NEHS-Harvard Crimson Student Journalism Pubilication and Article Awards, April 29
• Chapter Advisors apply for Chapter Advisor Enrichment Funding and Grants, due April 29
• Chapter Advisors who will be requesting stipends for their role should consider submitting applications to their principals.

May/June 2024

• Spring induction as tradition dictates
• NEHS publishes spring awards on May 23