Constitution of Sentral Chapter of National Honor Society
April 16, 2007
Constitution of the SENTRAL CHAPTER of the NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY of Sentral High School
ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Sentral 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. This chapter shall be under and conform to the guidelines of the National Association of Secondary Principals (NASSP), 1904 Association Drive, Reston VA 20191-1637.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in NHS is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for the 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 these qualities.
Section 2: Membership shall be known as active, honorary, 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 advisors, adults, students with disabilities, or foreign exchange students in recognition of achievement and/or outstanding service rendered to the school in keeping with the purposes of the National Honor Society. Honorary members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.
Section 4: Candidate qualifications. Candidates shall have spent at least one semester in Sentral High School, and shall be members of the sophomore, junior, or senior class. Candidates shall be full-time students, taking a minimum of 5 classes. Candidates eligible to election to the chapter shall have a scholarship average of 3.5 or above. 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. All students with 3.5 grade average will be invited to apply for membership.
Section 5: Membership selection. Candidates will sign the letter of application and return it to the chapter advisor, to show that they wish to be considered for membership. They will then fill out the form showing their participation in activities, community service, leadership positions, and work and recognition.
The forms are submitted to a Faculty Council, who makes the final decision on each candidate by a majority vote. The Faculty Council has access to the activity forms and letters of application.
Section 6. The accepted candidates will be installed into NHS in a special ceremony at a school assembly. Parents and friends are invited to be present by the advisor.
Section 7. Members who are seniors in good standing are eligible to be nominated by their chapters to compete in the National Honor Society Scholarship Program.
Section 8. A National Honor Society member who transfers to another school and brings a letter from the former principal or chapter advisor to the new school advisor 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 9. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.
Section 10. A description of the selection procedure shall be published in the Student Handbook, which is available to all students and parents of the school. The selection procedure shall be consistent with the rules and regulations of the National Honor Society.
ARTICLE III: DISMISSAL FROM NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Section 1. Dismissal of a member of NHS is a serious matter, and not to be considered lightly. Regardless of the offense, dismissal is not automatic. Some possible reasons for dismissal follow. A member misses three meetings with no excuse. A member allows his/her grade average to fall below 3.5. The member has 1 semester to bring up his/her grades. A copy of the warning letter will be sent to the parent or guardian. If a member breaks any law while in school or out of school; i.e. underage drinking, tobacco use, using, buying, or selling drugs, or driving while under the influence of drugs, these could be reasons for dismissal. A member who is involved in a moral dilemma, such as an out of wedlock pregnancy, or who gets someone pregnant could also be dismissed as could a member who has a documented incident of stealing, shoplifting, cheating, or insubordination. A member who commits any offense listed in the SHS student handbook which would result in a student being suspended or expelled from school is eligible for dismissal.
Section 2. Dismissal is not automatic. The dismissal procedure will be followed. All cases will be considered on an individual case by case basis.
Section 3: Dismissal Procedure
Members, teachers, law enforcement personnel, students, or adults should notify the advisor and the principal of the offense.
The matter must be documented.
The member must be notified in writing of the dismissal procedure. A copy of the letter will be sent to the parents or guardians utilizing registered mail.
The advisor will call a Faculty Council meeting.
The Faculty Council will hear the information and discuss and vote on dismissal by secret ballot.
The advisor will inform the principal of the council decision. The advisor and/or the principal will inform the member of his/her dismissal. The parents of the member will also be informed. The member will return the pin and all membership paraphernalia.
The member may appeal the decision and demand a hearing. The member will be allowed to appear before a Faculty Council and explain the situation. A parent/guardian may be present with the member. However, it should be noted that the primary focus of the hearing is to allow the member to present his or her case.
Members have the right to resign from NHS.
The National Council and the NASSP shall hear no appeals in dismissal cases.
Section 4. Once a member has resigned or been dismissed, they are to return their pin and any other items relating to NHS. They will never again be considered for membership into NHS.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION
Section 1. The officers of this chapter shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, and a treasurer.
Section 2. Election of officers will take place in September at the regular monthly meeting.
Section 3. Candidates may volunteer or be nominated. Candidates will write a short letter stating their reasons for applying for the office, which will be read to the group before the election.
Section 4. Election is secret ballot.
ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
Section 1. The president will conduct the meetings. The president will put announcements of meetings in the school announcements twice before the meeting. The president and the advisor will accept regrets of members to be excused from the meeting due to other commitments. The president will set up any special committees needed and will call special meetings as needed.
Section 2. The vice-president will fill the chair of the president in his/her absence and assist in all duties.
Section 3. The secretary will take minutes at the meetings, keep past records, and do any correspondence.
Section 4. The treasurer will keep track of any funds raised and expenses incurred by the chapter.
Section 5. New officers shall be installed at a special ceremony. This ceremony shall be conducted immediately after the election or at the next regular meeting.
ARTICLE VI. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the chapter and the chapter advisor.
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 bylaws. 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 that chapter activities and procedures follow school policy and regulations.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
Section 1. The NHS group will meet the first Monday of the month during the school year.
Section 2. The president or the advisor may call special meetings when needed.
Section 3. Chapters shall conduct meetings according to Robert�s Rules of Order, newly revised in all points not expressly provided for in this Constitution or the chapter bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII. 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 member of the faculty as chapter advisor, who may serve consecutive terms.
Section 3. The principal shall annually appoint a Faculty Council composed of five members of the school faculty who may serve consecutive terms.
Section 4. The principal shall receive appeals in cases of non-selection of candidates and the disciplining or dismissing of members.
ARTICLE IX. THE CHAPTER ADVISOR
Section 1. The chapter advisor shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter and act as liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community.
Section 2. The chapter advisor shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions. The advisor shall send the annual report to the national office.
Section 3. The chapter advisor shall regularly review each member for compliance with Society standards and obligations.
Section 4. The chapter advisor shall help the chapter officers understand and carry out their duties.
Section 5. The chapter advisor shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth member of the Faculty Council.
Section 6. The chapter advisor shall be a member of the faculty, appointed annually by the principal, and may serve consecutive terms.
ARTICLE X. THE FACULTY COUNCIL
Section 1. The Faculty Council shall consist of five voting faculty members appointed annually by the principal. The chapter advisor shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth member of the Faculty Council. No principal or assistant principal may be included on the Faculty Council.
Section 2. The term of the Faculty Council shall be one year. Members may be appointed to consecutive terms.
Section 3. The Faculty Council shall meet at least once a year to renew the procedures of the chapter, to select members, and to consider non-selection, dismissal, other disciplinary actions, and warning cases.
Section 4. The Faculty Council will develop and revise, when necessary, all chapter procedures for selection, disciplining, and dismissal of members, all of which must remain in compliance with the national guidelines.
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. The chapter shall publicize the project in a positive manner.
ARTICLE XII. OFFICAL INSIGNIA
Section 1. The NHS organization has an official emblem.
Section 2. Each active, graduate, or honorary member shall be entitled to wear this emblem.
Section 3. Any member who resigns or is dismissed shall return the emblem to the chapter advisor.
Section 4. All insignia must be obtained from the NHS, 1903, Reston, VA 20191.
Section 5. A graduate member may purchase a replacement for a lost emblem by verifying membership to the national office.
ARTICLE XIII. BYLAWS
Section 1. Each chapter shall write bylaws to amplify sections of the Constitution and to clarify operating procedures of the chapter. Bylaws can be amended by a majority vote of the chapter members.
Section 2. Bylaws must be consistent with the Constitution.
