National Honor Society at El Dorado

Advisor:

NHS Headquarters:

The National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are the nation's premier organizations established to recognize outstanding high school and middle level students. More than just an honor roll, NHS and NJHS serve to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character (and Citizenship for NJHS). These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since their beginnings in 1921 and 1929.

Today, it is estimated that more than one million students participate in activities of the NHS and NJHS. NHS and NJHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. Territories, and Canada. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.

NHS Selection Process

The National Honor Society chapter of Dr. Robert J. Duron is a dully chartered and affiliated

chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who

meet the required standards in four areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service and

character. Standards for selection are established by the national office of NHS and have been

revised to meet our local chapter needs. Students are selected to be members by a 5-member

Faculty Council, appointed by the principal, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on

behalf of the faculty of our school each January.

Students in the 10th, 11th or 12th grades are eligible for membership. For the scholarship

criterion, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale. Those students

who meet this criterion are invited to complete a Student Activity Information Form that

provides the Faculty Council with information regarding the candidate's leadership and service.

A history of leadership experiences and participation in school or community service is also

required.

To evaluate a candidate's character, the Faculty Council uses two forms of input. First, school

disciplinary records are reviewed. Second, members of the faculty are solicited for input

regarding their professional reflections on a candidate's service activities, character, and

leadership. Three letters of recommendation are required to fulfill this requirement. These forms

and the Student Activity Information Forms are carefully reviewed by the Faculty Council to

determine membership. A majority vote of the Council is necessary for selection. Candidates

are notified regarding selection according to a predetermined schedule.

Following notification, a formal induction ceremony is held at the school to recognize all the

newly selected members. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level

of performance (or better) in all four criteria that led to their selection. This obligation includes

regular attendance at chapter meetings held monthly during the school year, participation in the

chapter service projects and a $10.00 yearly membership fee. Students or parents who have

questions regarding the selection process or membership obligations can contact the chapter

adviser, Mrs. Maya by phone at 937-3235.

NHS Bylaws for NHS, El Dorado Chapter

National Honor Society Bylaws, El Dorado Chapter
(Dr. Robert J. Duron Chapter)

ARTICLE 1: Name and Purpose

Section 1) The name of this chapter shall be Dr. Robert J. Duron Chapter of the National Honor Society of El Dorado High School.

Section 2) The purpose 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 students of El Dorado High School.

ARTICLE 2: Membership

Section 1) Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate. Active members become graduate members at graduation. Graduate and honorary members have no vote in chapter affairs.

Section 2) Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and shall be based on the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

Section 3) Eligibility:

Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be members of the sophomore, junior, or senior class.
Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 85. 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 candidacy for selection to membership.
Upon meeting the grade level, attendance, and GPA standard requirements, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.

ARTICLE 3: Selection of Members

Section 1) The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council consisting of five faculty members appointed by the principal. The chapter adviser shall be the sixth, non-voting, ex-officio member of the Faculty Council.

Section 2) Prior to selection, the following shall occur:

Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the Candidate Form for further consideration for selection
The faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official evaluation form provided by the chapter adviser.
The Faculty Council shall review the Candidate Form and faculty evaluations in order to determine membership.

Section 3) The selection of new, active members shall be held once a year.

Section 4) Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.

Section 5) An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given a letter indicating the status of his/her membership and signed by the Principal (alt. adviser).

Section 6) An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter with proper identification and notifications from the last school attended.

Note: The selection process used at the local level may vary from the procedure outlined above. However, such variations must still conform to the national constitution.

ARTICLE IV: Discipline and Dismissal

Section 1) Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the Dr. Robert J. Duron Chapter of the National Honor Society. A member of the National Honor Society is expected to maintain his/her academic standing and take an active role in service and leadership to his/her school and community.

Section 2) If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below “85”, he/she will be given a written warning and a time period for improvement. If the cumulative grade point average remains below standard at the end of the warning period the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the Faculty Council that may include dismissal from the chapter.

Section 3) Violation of the law or school regulations can result in 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.

Section 4) Offenders of the school conduct code (such as profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absence, 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 dismissed.

Section 5) In all cases of pending dismissal:

The member will receive written notification indicating the reason for possible dismissal from the adviser/Faculty Council. The member and adviser will discuss the written notification in a conference. Situations that involve flagrant violations of school rules or the law can warrant disciplinary action without a written warning although a hearing must still be held (see below).
The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him/her at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to the vote on dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in Article X of the National Constitution). The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or in writing. The Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member.
The results of the Faculty Council vote will be reviewed by the principal, and then if confirmed, expressed in a letter sent to the student, parents, and principal. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the adviser.
The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterward through the school district discipline policy.
When a student is dismissed or resigns, he/she is no longer a member and may never again be considered for membership in the National Honor Society.

Section 6) In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.

ARTICLE V: Officers

Section 1) The officers of the chapter shall be the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, parliamentarian, and historian.

Section 2) Student officers shall be elected at the last meeting of each school year. All returning active members are eligible to run for a position as an officer. All active members of the chapter are eligible to vote.

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 and be responsible for all official chapter correspondence.

Section 7) The treasurer shall keep the record of chapter expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the chapter.

Section 8) The parliamentarian shall provide advice to the presiding officer on parliamentary procedure and instructs members in correct parliamentary procedure.

Section 9) The historian keeps a record of the club’s accomplishments and activities for the year.

ARTICLE VI: Executive Committee

Section 1) The executive committee shall consist of the faculty adviser and chapter officers.

Section 2) The executive committee shall have general charge of the meetings and the business of the chapter, but any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members.

ARTICLE VII: Meetings

Section 1) Meetings of this chapter shall be semi-monthly.

Section 2) The chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 3) All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly scheduled chapter meetings.

Section 4) Reasons for absence have to be in writing to the chapter adviser. Notifications can be hand-delivered to NHS headquarters or electronically delivered to the adviser’s email.

Section 5) All members are permitted to miss three (3) meetings. Failure to attend meetings may result in disciplinary action including dismissal from the society.

ARTICLE VIII: Activities

Section 1) The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.

Section 2) All members shall regularly participate in those 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 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 who is in good standing with regard to the membership standards and member obligations shall have the privilege of wearing the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society.

Section 2) Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is dismissed from the chapter shall return the emblem to the chapter.

Section3) Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor cords at graduation.

ARTICLE X: Dues

Section 1) Annual dues for this chapter shall be $10.00.

Section 2) Dues will be payable to the chapter treasurer within 30 days of induction.

ARTICLE XI: Powers

Section 1) The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal.

Section 2) The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter.

Section 3) These bylaws are designed to amplify provisions of the National Constitution and cannot contradict any components thereof. The chapter is obligated to adhere to the provisions of the National Constitution in all activities it undertakes.

ARTICLE XII: 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 members at least one month prior to the vote. The exceptions are Articles III and IV (selection and discipline), which are developed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the principal.

Section 2) By-laws and amendments must be consistent with the Constitution of the National Honor Society.

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