WATERFORD-HALFMOON HIGH SCHOOL
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PUROPSE
SECTION 1. The name of this chapter shall be the M. MARION RANNEY CHAPTER of
the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools, which appears on the Charter
granted by the National Council of the National Honor Society duly signed by the members
of the National Council.
SECTION 2. The object of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship,
to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to
encourage the development of character in pupils of Waterford-Halfmoon High School.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be members
of one of the grades (10, 11, or 12). Candidates eligible for election to the chapter
shall have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 88%. This scholastic
level of achievement shall remain fixed and shall be the required minimum scholastic level
of achievement for admission to candidacy.
SECTION 2. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such a
standard may be admitted to candidacy for election to membership. Their eligibility
shall then be considered on service, leadership and
character.
Service
is generally considered to be those actions undertaken by the
student where are done with or on behalf of others without any direct
financial or material compensation to the individual performing the
service.
· volunteers, provides dependable, and well organized
assistance
· willing to sacrifice to offer assistance
· works well with others
· is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities
· cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to school
· does committee and staff work without complaint
· participates in some activity outside of school
· shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students
Leadership
· demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
· exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideas
· contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
· is able to delegate responsibilities
· has a positive attitude
· inspires positive behavior in others
· demonstrates academic initiative
· successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility
· conducts business effectively and efficiently
· demonstrates reliability and dependability
· is a leader in the classroom, work, and school or community activities
· is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted
· is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude
Character
is probably the most difficult criterion to define. A person of
character demonstrates respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness,
caring
and citizenship.
· takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations
graciously
· consistently exemplifies desirable qualities
· upholds principles of morality and ethics
· cooperates by complying with school regulations
· demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
· regularly shows courtesy, concern and respect for others
· observes rules, and is punctual both in and out of the classroom
· has powers of concentration, self-discipline, and sustained attention as
shown by perseverance and application to studies
· manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience, avoiding cheating in
written work and showing unwillingness to profit at expense of others
· actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment
SECTION 3. Candidates eligible to election in this chapter must be members of the
sophomore, junior or senior class. They shall have spent at least one half year in
Waterford-Halfmoon High School. Candidates eligible to election shall have a minimum
cumulative average of 88% for their high school work. This grade point average of 88%
shall be calculated on all final grades for all attempted courses. The grade point average
shall be arrived at by the same procedures as outlined in the student handbook per
determining class rank as used by the Guidance Office. Note that courses which are
dropped, whether while passing or failing, count the same as failures. This scholastic
level of achievement shall remain fixed, and shall be for this chapter the required
scholastic achievement for admission to candidacy for membership in this chapter,
and all pupils who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard level shall be
admitted to candidacy for election to membership. Their eligibility shall then
be considered on their service, leadership, and character.
SECTION 4. A student eligible for membership in the National Honor Society
based on scholarship as described in Section 3, above, shall fulfill the service
requirement for induction by having a minimum of ten (10) service hours or
service activities. Service activities do not include sports and clubs which
are not service oriented, or other service activities for which the student
receives academic credits or compensation (i.e. band and/or choral activities).
After induction, each member must participate in an individual service project
each year, in addition to the general service activities of the Honor Society.
A student eligible for membership based on scholarship and service
will then be evaluated on leadership and character by faculty members,
including coaches and activity advisors and sponsors, who know the student.
SECTION 7. The induction of new members will be held in the fall of each
school year.
ARTICLE III
SELECTION OF MEMBERS
SECTION 1. SELECTION PROCESS
1. A prospective member must have completed ten (10) hours
of community service which may be earned over the summer
or by the end of first semester. Maintaining membership
requires twenty (20) hours of service for each school year.
Refer to the Community Service & Involvement list available
from your advisor(s) to see what acceptable service is or to see if they have a project that would benefit the chapter
that needs to be done.
2. A prospective member must not have had an in or out of school suspension or committed a major offense during
the previous year. An Honor Society member who commits a major offense may be dismissed.
Excessive or habitual absences or tardiness from school or classes are serious matters and will be taken into consideration and dealt with by the executive committee,
advisor(s), and if need be, the Faculty Council if they warrant such offences serious enough to require possible
discipline and/or dismissal from the society.
3. A prospective member must complete the Student Information form and it must be handed in by the due date given on the form. No exceptions will be made
to this policy. Late or incomplete forms will be set
aside and not considered for possible election into the society.
4. A prospective member must submit two (2) letters of recommendation. These recommendations must be written by teachers of classes the student is currently enrolled in, and at least one (1) of the recommendations
must be from a teacher of core curriculum areas, such as English, foreign language, mathematics, science,
and social studies.
5. Eligible students must next pass an evaluation by the NHS Faculty Council based on these personal attributes:
Character (honesty, integrity, morality, reliability, etc.), Citizenship (attitude, cooperative spirit, effort,
punctuality, etc.), Service, and Leadership (initiative, positive
influence, dependability, positions of responsibility, etc.). Students
who pass all requirements and the NHS Faculty Council’s evaluation will be notified through the mail of their selection and impending induction into the society.
6. In the event of non-selection, students shall be so informed by the NHS advisor(s). Any questions about the NHS Faculty Council’s decision should be presented to the NHS advisor(s) within a week after notification of non-selection. Should the student or his parents still not be satisfied, the next level of discussion should take
place with the principal.
SECTION 2. The election of members to this chapter shall be by a National Honor
Society Faculty Council, consisting of five teachers who are appointed
by the principaland of the advisor(s) who shall serve ex officio as a sixth
member but without a vote on the Council. Neither the principal nor any
assistant principal may serve on this council.
SECTION 3. Any member of the faculty may propose to the National
Honor Society Council the names of pupils eligible for membership in the chapter.
SECTION 4. Any active member who falls below the standards of
scholarship, service, leadership, or character, which were the basis
for that member's election to membership shall be dismissed from the
chapter at the discretion and at the recommendation of the
National Honor Society Faculty Council.
SECTION 5. If an active member resigns or is dismissed, the member's
emblem and certificate of membership shall be returned to the
advisor of the chapter or the principal of the school.
SECTION 6. An active member of the National Honor Society who
transfers from this school will be given a letter indicating the status of
his membership signed by the principal.
SECTION 7. An active member of the National Honor Society who
transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership
in this chapter with a letter from their former principal verifying their
status as a member of the society at their former school. This transfer
member must maintain the membership requirements for this chapter
in order to retain his membership.
SECTION 8. Candidates become members when they are inducted
at a special induction ceremony at which they must be present or
their membership is invalid. Members who resign or are dismissed
are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.
ARTICLE IV
DISMISSAL
SECTION 1. GPA
1. A member will receive a written warning from the
faculty advisor(s) if his or her GPA falls below the standard
which was the basis for selection (88%).
2. That student will have one grading period to
bring the GPA back up to the standard.
3. If this does not happen, the student will be
referred to the Faculty Council for hearing
(see Section 4 for Hearing Procedures).
SECTION 2. INACTIVITY
1. Non-attendance at the regular meetings of the Honor Society
a. two (2) unexcused absences from meetings each
academic year results in a written warning and three
(3) unexcused absences results in a referral to the
Faculty Council for possible discipline and dismissal.
b. The student must provide reason for absence to
the advisor(s) on the first day he/she returns to school
(the advisor will determine if the absence is justified
and will be excused).
2. Non participation in the chapter service project(s)
a. if a student fails to participate in annual chapter
service projects the faculty advisor(s) will refer that
student to the Faculty Council for possible discipline
or dismissal (Faculty Council will determine if a hearing
is warranted).
3. Failure to Complete Individual Service Project(s)—ISP
a. If an ISP has not been completed during the first
semester of the school year the Faculty Advisor(s)
will notify the student that they are on probation
and in jeopardy of possibly being dismissed from the
society (see Section 5 for Probation).
b. The student will then have a set amount of time
to complete the ISP or be referred to the Faculty
Council for discipline and possible dismissal (The Faculty
Council will determine if a hearing is warranted).
c.Senior class members of the society who do not
complete and turn in proof of the ten (10) hours of
service for the second semester of their senior year
by the end of the last meeting day of regular classes
(before local finals begin) will NOT be allowed to
wear the NHS regalia and insignia at their
commencement ceremony.
No exceptions to this rule will be made.
SECTION 3. TEACHER REFERRAL
1. If, at any time, two or more teachers make written
referrals for school attendance problems, tardiness to school
or class, character or leadership issues, a written warning will
be sent by the faculty advisor(s) to the student.
2. On the receipt of the very next written referral, for
a similar incident, the student will be referred to the faculty
council for possible discipline and dismissal (the Faculty Council
will determine if a hearing is warranted).
SECTION 4. HEARING
1. The Faculty Council will schedule the hearing and the
faculty advisor(s) will notify the student and the student’s parents
of the time and date by mail. In the case of flagrant violations of
school rules or of civil law (suspensions from school, arrests,
expulsions, harassments, etc…) the written warning is not
required and the student will be immediately dismissed from NHS.
2. It is the student’s choice to attend this meeting or not.
The student will be given a chance to present their argument for
remaining in Honor Society during the scheduled hearing.
3. The Faculty Council will vote at the conclusion of the
hearing whether or not to dismiss the student from Honor
Society. Dismissal will require a majority vote by the members
of the council. A member, once dismissed or in the case of
voluntary resignation, is never again eligible for membership
in Honor Society or its benefits (scholarships, etc…).
4. When a member is dismissed, a notification in writing
will be made and the member must return any emblem and
membership card to the advisor(s) or principal. Notice of
his dismissal must be indicated on the Annual Report
submitted to the National Secretary at the end of the school
year.
5. In all cases of pending dismissal, a member shall
have a right to a hearing before the faculty council.
Parents may attend such a hearing, but the main purpose
of the meeting is for the member to present his/her
case and explanations for the breaches of the society’s
constitutional by-laws.
6. A member who has been officially dismissed
may still appeal the decision: first to the principal,
next to the superintendent, and finally to the Board of
Education. The National Council shall hear no appeals.
SECTION 5. PROBATION
1. The student will be notified in writing by the Faculty
Advisor(s) of their probationary status. The notification
will indicate the breach of the constitutional by-laws
that resulted in the probation.
2. The subsequent actions to be taken will be outlined in the
Probationary Notification.
3. A copy of the Probationary Notification will be put in the
student’s academic file in the Guidance Office.
4. A student may only be placed on Probation once in their
National Honor Society career. Any subsequent breaches of
constitutional by-laws for any reason will result in immediate
referral to the Faculty Council for possible discipline and dismissal
(the Faculty Council will determine if a hearing is warranted).
5. Probationary status will be immediately lifted as soon as the
breaches that caused the probation have been satisfactorily
addressed by the member to the satisfaction of the advisor(s).
6. While on probation, all privileges of society membership shall
be suspended (hall passes, library passes, NHS field trips, etc…)
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The officers of this chapter shall be a president, a vice-president,
a secretary, a treasurer, and a service chairperson.
SECTION 2. A majority of votes cast shall be necessary to elect any officer of
this chapter.
SECTION 3. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at the meetings of
this chapter. The president shall also oversee all officers and assure that their
duties are being fulfilled. If at any time duties are not being fulfilled, the president
shall undertake the responsibility of these duties.
a. The president of the society must be a member of the senior class and have
been a member of the society for at least one academic year.
b. Should no such conditions exist, the president shall be chosen from the next
highest grade level with the stipulation of being a member of the society for at least
one academic year.
SECTION 4. The vice president shall fill the chair of the president in his absence.
They shall also be required to coordinate committees, and oversee their functions.
They shall also coordinate volunteers and sign-ups for the society’s activities,
service projects and other functions.
SECTION 5. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, a record
of all business, and all records on file. The secretary shall with the approval of
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