Dinwiddie County Senior High School National Honor Society Constitution

Transcription

1 Dinwiddie County Senior High School National Honor Society Constitution Article I Name and Purpose Section 1: The name of this chapter shall be the Dinwiddie 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 purpose of this organization shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools. Section 3: The NHS shall be under the sponsorship and supervision of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NAASP), 1904 Association Dr., Reston, VA Article II The Principal Section 1. The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter. Section 2. The principal shall annually appoint a chapter adviser, who may serve consecutive terms. Article III The Chapter Adviser Section 1. The chapter adviser shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter and act as liason between faculty, administration, students, and community. Section 2. The chapter adviser shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions. The chapter adviser shall send the annual report to the national office. Section 3. The chapter adviser shall regularly review each member for compliance with Society standards and obligations. Section 4. The chapter adviser shall help the chapter officers understand and carry out their duties Article IV Faculty Council Section 1. The faculty council shall consist of five faculty members appointed annually by the principal. Section 2. The term of the faculty council shall be one year. Member may be appointed to consecutive terms. Section 3. The chapter adviser shall be an ex-officio member of the faculty council. Section 4. The faculty council shall meet at least once a year to select members and to consider dismissal, non-selection, and warning cases.

2 Article V Membership Section 1. Membership in local chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by a faculty council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Section 2. Membership shall be known as active and graduate. Active members shall become graduate members at graduation. Graduate members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs. Section 3. The faculty council shall reserve the right to award honorary membership to school officials, principals, teachers, NHS advisers, or citizens in recognition of outstanding service rendered the school in keeping with the purpose of National Honor Society. Section 4. New members shall be inducted at a special ceremony at a time agreed upon by the NHS Faculty Council. Section 5. Members who are seniors in good standing are eligible to be nominated by the chapter to compete in the National Honor Society Scholarship Program. Section 6. A National Honor Society member who transfers from another school and brings a letter from the former principal or chapter adviser to the new school adviser shall be accepted automatically as a member in the new school s chapter. Transfer members must meet the new chapter s standards within one semester in order to retain membership. Section 7. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits. Article VI Selection of Members Section 1. To be eligible for membership the candidate must be a member of the sophomore, junior or senior class. Candidates must have been in attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester. Section 2. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have taken a minimum of four classes and attained a cumulative quality credit rating determined by the Faculty Council. This scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed, and shall be the required minimum scholastic level of achievement for admission to candidacy. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard may be admitted to candidacy for election to membership. Candidates shall then be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, and character. Section 3. Leadership shall be defined as the student who exercises leadership: Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions. Demonstrates leadership in promoting school activities. Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideals. Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school. Is able to delegate responsibilities. Exemplifies positive attitudes. Inspires positive behavior in others. Demonstrates academic initiative.

3 Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility, conducts business efficiently and effectively, and is reliable and dependable without prodding. Demonstrates leadership in the classroom, at work, and at school activities. Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted. Section 4. Service shall be defined as the student who serves: Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude. Participates in some outside activity: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups, volunteer services for aged, poor, or disadvantage; family duties. Volunteers dependable and well-organized assistance, is gladly available, and is will to sacrifice to offer assistance. Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities. Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school. Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition. Does committee and staff work uncomplainingly Show courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students Section 5.Character is defined as the student of character who: Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously. Constantly exemplifies desirable qualities or personality (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, and stability). Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability. Shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others. Observes instructions and rules, punctuality, and faithfulness both inside and outside the classroom. Has powers of concentration and sustained attention as show by perseverance and application to studies. Manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written work, and showing willingness to profit by the mistakes of others. Actively helps to rid the school of bad influences or environment. Section 6. The selection of members to the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the faculty council. Section 7. A description of the selection procedure shall be published in an official school publication which is widely available to all students and parents in the school. The selection procedure shall be determined by the faculty council and shall be consistent with the rules and regulations of the National Honor Society. Section 8. The National Council and the NASSP shall not review the judgment of the faculty council regarding selection of the individual members to local chapters. Section 9. Any member of the faculty may propose to the faculty council the names of students eligible for membership in this chapter. The adviser shall compile a list of all students eligible upon the basis of scholarship. Article VII Discipline and Dismissal Section 1. Any member who at the end of the semester falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be considered for discipline or dismissal from the chapter. A member of the National Honor Society is expected to maintain his/her academic standing and take an active role in service and leadership in his/her community.

4 Section 2. If a member s cumulative grade point average falls below the standard in effect when he/she was selected (3.5 weighted), he/she will be given a written warning and reasonable time period for improvement (one semester). If the cumulative grade point average remains below the standard at the end of the warning period, that student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the Faculty Council, that can include consideration of dismissal from the chapter. Section 3. Violations of the law or school regulations can result in immediate consideration of the dismissal of a member. These violations include, but are not limited to DWI, stealing, destruction of property, cheating, truancy, or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities or in the community. Section 4. Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absences, excessive tardiness, etc.) will receive written warning notification. A conference may be requested by either party (Faculty Council or student/parent). If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be considered for dismissal. Section 5. Chapter officers, as representatives of the chapter, can be removed from their positions as a consequence of disciplinary action taken by the Faculty Council. Section 6. In all cases of pending dismissal: a) The member will receive written notification from the adviser/faculty Council indicating the reason for consideration of dismissal. b) The member will be given an opportunity to respond to the charge(s) against him/her at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to any vote on dismissal (in accordance with the due process identified in Article X of the National Constitution). The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or via a written statement presented in lieu of the face-to-face hearing. Following the hearing, the Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member. c) The results of the Faculty Council vote will be presented to the principal for review, and then stated in a letter send to the student and parents. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the adviser. d) The Faculty Council s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterwards according to the provisions of the school district discipline policies. e) A member who is dismissed or resigns, may never again be considered for membership in the National Honor Society. Section7. In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate. Article VIII Officers Section 1. The officers of this chapter shall be president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, sergeant at-arms, and historian. 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 presidents shall serve as ex-officio member of all committees.

5 Section 4. The vice-president shall fill the chair of the president in his absence. He shall also serve as the chairman of the induction ceremony. Section 5. The chapter secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings, a record of attendance and all business, and all records on file. Section 6. The treasurer shall keep the record of business expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the chapter. Section 7. The sergeant-at-arms shall be responsible for maintaining order during meetings. Section 8. The historian shall maintain all records and files belonging to the chapter and do so in an orderly and timely fashion. Section 9. Primary nominations will be by petition for each office according to process contained in the SCA Constitution (as recommended by NHS handbook). An NHS member who meets the qualifications for each office may petition to run for that office. A nomination committee will be used as a secondary process only when there are not petitioners for a given office. The number of signatures required on a petition shall be a minimum of twenty (20), but members are encouraged to obtain more than the minimum number. According to the SCA Constitution, a student must be taking at least four subjects, passed four subjects in the previous semester, and maintain the minimum grade point average required for NHS membership or better in order to run for office. Petitions (NHS Stationary) may be obtained from the NHS Adviser and returned with the signatures of at least twenty (20) NHS members who are in good/active standing five (5) school days after the April meeting. Section 10. The officers of the chapter will be elected by secret ballot and announced at the May meeting. A majority of votes cast shall be required for election. Run-off balloting required for any office will be rescheduled as necessary by the executive committee. Ballots will be kept on file for one year. The announcement of winners shall be the responsibility of the president and adviser. Article IX Executive Committee Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the chapter and the chapter adviser. Section 2. The executive committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the chapter between its business meetings, make recommendations to the chapter, and determine and perform such other duties as are specified in the chapter by-laws. All actions and recommendations of the executive committee shall be subject to the review of the chapter membership. Section 3. The executive committee shall have the responsibility for ensuring the chapter activities and procedures follow school policy and regulations. Article X Meetings Section 1. The regular monthly meetings of this chapter shall be held during the school year on days designated by

6 the executive committee and in accordance with the school calendar. Section 2. Special meetings approved by the executive committee may be called by the president. Section 3. This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert s Rules of Order, Newly Revised in all points not expressly provided for in this constitution. Article XI Activities Section 1. The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year. Section 2. All members shall regularly participate in these projects. Section 3. These projects shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community; have the support of the administration and the faculty; be appropriate and educationally defensible; and be well-planned, organized, and executed. Section 4. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in a service project which reflects his or her particular talents and interests. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute. Section 5. Chapter projects and activities shall be publicized in a positive manner. Article XII Official Insignia Section 1. Each member of this chapter shall be entitled to wear the official insignia selected by the National Council. Section 2. Any member who withdraws or is dismissed from the chapter shall return his NHS pin, jewelry, patch, wearing apparel, pendant, gold tassel, and other NHS appurtenances to the adviser within one week after written notification. Section 3. Each member agrees that, whether the NHS Insignia comes to his as a gift, a personal purchase, an award, or from whatever source, the title of all NHS insignia remains with the chapter of which he is a member until a member graduates in good standing at which time these become his property. NHS insignia can, on motion of faculty council, be commandeered. Furthermore, each member agrees that his acceptance of the emblem shall be considered affirmation of this stipulation in regard to the title of the insignia. Section 4. All insignia must be procured from the national secretary of the National Honor Society, 1904 Association Dr., Reston, VA All insignia are registered in the United States Patent Office and may not be copied by anyone. Section 5. The motto of the National Honor Society shall be Noblesse Oblige. Section 6. The official colors of the National Honor Society shall be blue and gold. Section 7. A graduate member may replace a lost emblem by verifying membership to the national office or the

7 Dinwiddie NHS adviser. Article XII Dues Section 1. Annual dues for this chapter shall be ten dollars. (Note: Dues cannot exceed $20 per member per year as noted in the national constitution.) Dues will be payable to the chapter within 30 days of induction. Section 2. Delinquent dues will increase $1 each month unpaid not to exceed $20. Article XIII Amendments Section 1. This constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote of the chapter, provided that the proposed amendments has been approved by the executive committee of the chapter and by the national secretary of the National Honor Society and that notice to members has been given at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon. DINWIDDIE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY CONSTITUTION BY-LAWS TO THE CONSTITUTION Article VI, Section 2. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have taken a minimum of four classes, attained a cumulative quality rating of 3.5 or better, computed from the ninth grade to present, semester grades only. (Drivers Ed. is not considered because it is not a semester class.) This scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed, and shall be the required minimum scholastic of achievement for admission to candidacy. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard may be admitted to candidacy for election to membership. Article X, Section 1. Section 4. All members must attend at least ¾ of the regularly scheduled monthly meetings. Article XI, Section 4. Participation in service project (s) which reflects his or her particular talents and interests must reflect a minimum of twenty-five hours, 10 of which must be NHS sponsored activities/events minimum during the academic year. Additionally, newly inducted members are responsible for 15 hours, 5 of which must be NHS sponsored activities during the academic school year. Please sign and return this portion of the constitution no later than Thursday, September 15, I (print name) have read and understand the NHS constitution particularly articles VI, VII, and XII concerning membership, dismissal, and the ownership of NHS insignia. Student Signature Parent Signature