Onalaska Jr. High Chapter of the
National Honor Society
By-Laws
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Onalaska Jr. High Chapter of the National Honor Society of Intermediate Schools.
Section 2. The object of this chapter shall create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in the students of Onalaska Jr. High School.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in this chapter shall be known only as active. Students become active members when selected and inducted to the chapter (See Article III). (Being a member of the Elementary NHS does not automatically qualify a student for Jr. High NHS.)
Section 2. Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and shall be based upon the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.
Section 3. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for a period of one semester at Onalaska Jr. High School.
Section 4. Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be members of the seventh, eighth, or ninth grade class. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5. Additionally, students must have passed all components of the Texas state mandated tests in the academic year prior to admission and then in concurrent years with membership
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 selection to membership. Their eligibility shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.
ARTICLE III
SELECTION OF MEMBERS
Section 1. Candidacy
a. Grade Levels - Students in grade levels seventh, eighth, and ninth are eligible.
b. Enrollment – Candidates must have been enrolled at the school for the equivalent of one semester.
c. Scholarship - Selection of new members will be held once a year during the fall semester. (Alternative and additional selection periods may be added.) Election of new members will be based on a list of all eligible seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students compiled by the school’s registrar and/or counselor following the completion of the first six weeks of the school year. This list will then be compared with the previous year’s Texas state mandated test results, in which those who passed will continue eligibility.
Section 2. Candidates who meet the three conditions above (a., b., and c.) shall be evaluated by the Faculty Council on demonstrated aspects of their personal responsibility as outlined by the chapter. The faculty will rate the students on character. The sponsor will average the scores on character for each student. The Faculty Advisory Council will rate the students on service and leadership from a resume supplied to the eligible students by the sponsor and completed by the student. The candidates’ name and averages will then be presented to the council.
Section 3. Those students who are approved by the Faculty Advisory Council through a majority vote will be sent invitations to become members. Those candidates who wish to join must sign an honor code and a statement acknowledging their understanding and their acquiescence to adhering to the National Honor Society rules and guidelines, both for this chapter and the National office.
ARTICLE IV
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Section 1. Members are expected to maintain the grade point average of 3.5 GPA as specified in By-Law Article 2 on a per semester basis. Any member receiving (a) grade(s) that lowers his/her average below the appropriate grade point average shall be given a warning letter and given one semester’s grading period to correct the grade point average to at least the minimum required. One warning is all any member ever receives for grades. A repeat violation means immediate dismissal.
Section 2. Any member who fails to pass all components of the Texas state mandated tests during the current year of his/her membership shall be reviewed by the Faculty Advisory Council and given a dismissal letter if decided by the council.
Section 3. Any conduct which warrants suspension from school also necessitates expulsion from the National Honor Society. Any student who conducts his/herself in such a way that disciplinary action is necessary from the school administration will be issued a warning letter on the first occurrence and may be dismissed from the Society membership on the second occurrence in accordance with the Faculty Advisory Council.
According to the terms of the National Constitution, a member who has been dismissed must voluntarily return the pin, the membership card, and the certificate to the National Honor Society advisor.
The following actions shall warrant demerits, and students shall be notified by warning letter and/or shall sign an acknowledgement regarding their status. Any member who receives four or more demerits during the current year of his/her membership shall receive a dismissal letter. Under the demerit system, cases may be reviewed by the Faculty Advisory Council.
DEMERIT SYSTEM:
Automatic Dismissal:
· Failure to complete 6 hours of school or community service per semester.
(2 hours must be school service, 2 hours must be community service, and the other 2 hours can be a combination of school and community service)
· Any conduct that warrants suspension from school.
· Assignment to AEP.
· 2 warning letters in a student’s NHS career. The second warning letter results in dismissal.
Number of Demerits per Delinquency:
4- an assignment of 4 days or more to ISS
3- an assignment of 3 days or less of ISS
2- assignment to detention
2- failure to complete NHS obligations on time.
2- failure to take part in a chapter activity (entertainment activities excluded)
2- failure to fulfill all committee obligations
2- failure to attend a National Honor Society meeting or a tardy of more than 10 minutes
1- a tardy of 5 to 10 minutes to a National Honor Society meeting
1- failure to notify sponsor of a detention or ISS assignment
1- failure to report in person to sponsor following an absence from a meeting
1- failure to uphold the NHS standards of leadership.
Section 4. No member will be allowed more than one warning letter before dismissal. In all cases of impending dismissal, a member shall have the right to a hearing before the Faculty Council.
Section 5. Once a member is dismissed, he/she is never again eligible for membership in the Junior National Honor Society
Section 6. Any student who transfers to Onalaska Jr-Sr High School and who was a member in good standing of the National Honor Society at the school he/she previously attended will automatically be granted membership in this chapter upon receipt of appropriate documentation from the advisor and/or principal of the former school. Any such new member will be subject to all rules and regulations of this chapter.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and representative.
Section 2. Student officers shall be elected at one of the last meetings of each school year. All returning members are eligible to run for a position as an officer.
Section 3. A majority vote shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter. If the first vote does not yield a majority, a second vote shall be taken of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings for this chapter.
Section 5. The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president and shall also keep a record of members’ contributions to leadership and service.
Section 6. The secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings, be responsible for correspondence, take care of the NHS bulletin board, and keep track of demerits and community service hours.
Section 7. The treasurer shall keep record of business expenses, dues, etc.
Section 8. No member on probation may hold the office of president or vice-president.
ARTICLE VI
FACULTY SUPERVISION
Section 1. All meetings and activities will be with the approval of the advisor.
Section 2. The activities of the chapter shall be subject to the approval of the principal.
Section 3. The advisor shall appoint a five-member Faculty Advisory Council which shall not include him/herself or the principal. This council shall approve all new members and be consulted in the dismissal of current members. Any member who is dismissed shall have the right of appeal to the Faculty Advisory Council.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings of this chapter shall be held once every six weeks.
Section 2. One of the last meetings of the year will be for the installation of officers for the coming year.
ARTICLE VIII
ACTIVITIES
Section 1. Members must complete 6 hours of school or community service per semester. (2 hours must be school service, 2 hours must be community service, and the other 2 hours can be a combination of school and community service)
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 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 an individual service project which reflects his or her particular talents and interests and as approved by the chapter adviser. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.
Section 5. The chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.
ARTICLE IX
EMBLEM
Section 1. Each member of this chapter shall be entitled to wear the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society.
Section 2. Any member who withdraws or is dismissed from the chapter shall return the emblem, the pin, the certificate, and the membership card.
Section 3. Each member agrees that, whether the emblem comes to him/her as a gift, a personal purchase, an award, or from whatever source, the title of the emblem shall rest with the chapter which he/she is a member. Therefore, the emblem can, on motion of the council, be commandeered. Furthermore, each member agrees that his/her acceptance of the emblem shall be considered affirmation of this stipulation in regard to the title of the emblem.
Section 4. All insignia and emblems must be procured from the Secretary of the National Honor Society, Washington, D.C. These official insignia and emblems are registered in the U.S. Patent Office, thereby legalizing exclusive control, sale, and distribution in the office of the Secretary of the National Honor Society.
ARTICLE X
DUES
Section 1. Annual dues for this chapter shall be $10. Dues may be waived for the year by consensus of the group.
Section 2. Dues will be payable to the treasurer within 30 days of induction.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. The bylaws may be amended by the advisor and/or principal with the approval of the Faculty Advisory Council.
Section 2. The membership shall be notified of any amendment(s) in an open meeting at least one month prior to activation of said changes.
Section 3. By-laws and amendments must be consistent with the Constitution of the National Honor Society.