St. Helens Middle School
Honor Society By-Laws
ARTICLE I
Name and Purpose
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the St. Helens Middle School Honor Society.
Section 2. The purpose of this organization shall be to promote high standards among the students of St. Helens Middle School in academics, character, and citizenship.
ARTICLE II
Selection Procedures of Members
Section 1. The Faculty Council, which consists of at least five faculty members appointed by the principal, is responsible for selecting new members to the SHMS Honor Society. The chapter adviser(s) is a non-voting member of the Faculty Council.
Section 2. The Faculty Council develops and revises, when necessary, all chapter procedures for selection, disciplining, and dismissal of members.
Section 3. To be eligible for consideration for membership:
a. The candidate must have attended St. Helens Middle School the equivalent of one full semester.
b. Students’ academic records will be reviewed to determine eligibility of candidacy. The candidate must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.5 for the current school year.
c. Upon meeting the enrollment and GPA standards, students are notified of their eligibility by letter and invited to complete and submit a ‘Candidate Form’ for further consideration for membership based on their performance in the areas of academics, character, volunteerism, and citizenship.
Section 4. A candidate must receive a majority vote of the Faculty Council to be selected for membership in the honor society. The Faculty Council will evaluate the candidate’s information as provided on the form. In addition, faculty input and other relevant information will be used to determine membership.
Section 5. The result of the Faculty Council vote will be reviewed by the principal, once approved, candidates are notified by letter.
Section 6. The selection of members shall be held once a year during the second semester of the school year.
Section 7. Candidates become members when inducted at a ceremony.
Section 8. An active member of NJHS who transfers to this school will automatically be accepted for membership for this chapter.
Section 9. St. Helens Middle School NJHS chapter members in good standing at the end of the 2014-15 school year will automatically be accepted for membership in SHMS Honor Society. Any All active NJHS members will be notified in writing of their membership status in SHMS Honor Society.
ARTICLE III
Membership Responsibilities
Section 1. Members are required to uphold all standards by which they were selected:
a. Maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA.
b. Perform service hours.
c. Act as student leaders, being role-models, directing and motivating others.
d. Demonstrate responsibility, respect, patience, courage, caring, integrity, self-control, cooperation, and perseverance.
e. Comply with school rules.
Section 2. Members must participate in at least one chapter service project and perform at least 5 individual service hours quarterly, to be documented and turned in by the deadline. If a member chooses to complete service hours over the summer the hours will only be counted in the fall quarter requirement. All other service hours will be counted in the quarter during which they are performed.
Section 3. Members must attend all scheduled meetings of the chapter. Regular meetings will be held monthly. Failure to attend meetings without and an excused absence may result in probation.
Section 4. Attendance at the induction ceremony is required.
ARTICLE IV
Probation, Dismissal, and Resignation
Section 1. Members who fail to maintain the standards stipulated in the Membership Responsibilities section of these by-laws will be placed on probation. Members on probation will be notified in writing. Probationary members will have no more than one semester to demonstrate their ability to fulfill all requirements of membership. If the member is unable to maintain membership standards, a dismissal hearing will be held by the Faculty Council with due process rights.
Section 2. A Member that is dismissed may appeal to the principal by submitting a written request for reinstatement in the quarter during which they are dismissed. The principal has full authority over all action of the Faculty Council on discipline or dismissal of members.
Section 3. Resignation from the SHMS Honor Society shall involve the submission of a written statement by the resigning member that is dated and signed by both the student and his/her parent(s). Verbal resignations are insufficient to end membership.
Section 4. A member who resigns or is dismissed will not be eligible for the SHMS Honor Society the following year.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Section 1. Officers of the chapter shall be president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.
a. The President shall preside at the meetings of the chapter, and serve as the official representative of the chapter at school and community functions.
b. The Vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president.
c. The Secretary shall keep the minutes for meetings and be responsible for all official correspondence.
d. The Treasurer shall keep record of business expense and all financial transactions of the chapter.
Section 2. Student officers shall be elected at the last meeting of each school year. Only members in good standing are allowed to run for a position as an officer. Any active member can nominate an eligible member as a candidate for office.
Section 3. Voting shall be by secret ballot. A majority vote shall be necessary to elect an officer. In the event of a tie, candidates may once again address the membership and a second vote will be taken. If no majority vote, then the Faculty Council will appoint the officer.
Section 4. If an officer is dismissed from office, the SHMS Honor Society adviser will appoint a current officer to fulfill his/her duties for the remainder of the current academic year.
Section 5. The faculty adviser and the chapter officers shall be known as the executive committee. The executive committee shall have general charge of meeting and the business of the chapter, but any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members.
ARTICLE VI
Meeting and Activities
Section 1. Meetings of this chapter shall be held at monthly.
Section 2. This chapter conducts its meetings according to the Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 3. All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly scheduled meetings.
Section 4. The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year in which all members shall participate.
Section 5. Chapter service projects shall:
a. Fulfill a need within the school or community
b. Have the support of the administration and faculty
c. Be appropriate and educationally defensible
d. Well planned, organized and executed
e. Be publicized in a positive manner
ARTICLE VII
Emblem
Section 1. Members in good standing have the privilege of wearing the emblem adopted by SHMS Honor Society membership.
Section 2. Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is dismissed shall return the emblem to the chapter.
ARTICLE VIII
Powers
Section 1. The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the principal.
Section 2. The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
Section 1. These by-laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the chapter, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given to the members at least one month prior to the vote.
Section 2. By-laws and amendments must be consistent with the St. Helens School District policies.
Date: 10/21/2015