Revised 2007

 

 

CONSTITUTION OF THE HONOR SOCIETY

OF COLLINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

 

Article I

Name and Purpose

 

Section 1.  The name of this organization shall be the Collinsville Chapter of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.

 

Section 2.  The object 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 all students of Collinsville High School.

 

 

Article II

Membership

 

Section 1.  Membership in this chapter shall be known as active and graduate.  The graduate members shall have no vote.

 

Section 2.  Membership in this chapter shall be based on Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

 

Section 3.  Candidates shall have spent at least one semester at CHS and shall be members of the junior or senior class.  Candidates eligible for election to this chapter shall have a cumulative and current scholastic average of 3.5.  Any student who can rise in scholarship to this average or above it shall be considered on his/her Service, Leadership, and Character.

 

Section 4.  Members of the junior class who have (1) achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 for their freshman and sophomore years and (2) passed a faculty screening with a “B” average will be invited to become pledges.  Members of the senior class who have (1) achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 for their freshman, sophomore, and junior years and (2) passed a faculty screening with a “B” average will be invited to become pledges.  Pledges may have a voice in the chapter, but they shall have no vote.

 

Section 5.  In order to remain in good standing, a member must:

1.      maintain a 3.5 grade point average at the end of each semester (For members initiated only in the spring of 2007, a 3.25 grade point average must be maintained.)

2.      attend at least 4 meetings from September to April

3.      serve on at least one National Honor Society Committee

4.      maintain the qualities of scholarship, character, leadership, and service

Section 6.  If the Student Recognition Committee deems dismissal or probation advisable, the member is entitled to a hearing.  The Student Recognition Committee’s decision following a hearing shall be considered final.  Once a member has been dismissed, he is never again eligible for membership in the National Honor Society (1997 edition National Honor Society Handbook, page 58).

 

Section 7.  When a member is dismissed, he/she shall be notified in writing and his/her certificate, membership card, and emblem (pin) shall be returned to the adviser(s) or the principal.  Notice of his/her dismissal shall be indicated on the Annual Report submitted to the National Secretary at the end of the school year.

 

Section 8.  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.

 

Section 9.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter.  This transfer member must maintain the membership requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership.

 

 

Article III

Council

 

Section 1.  The election of members to this chapter shall be by a council consisting of the principal, the adviser(s), and the Student Recognition Committee.

 

 

Article IV

Officers

 

Section 1.  The officers of this chapter shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.

 

Section 2.  A majority of votes cast 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 on the two candidates who have received the highest number of votes.  This vote shall be taken at the first meeting following the end of the pledge period.

 

Section 3.  It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings of this chapter.

 

Section 4.  The vice-president shall fill the chair of the president in his/her absence.

 

Section 5.  The secretary shall keep the minutes of meeting, a record of all business, and all records on file.  In addition, the secretary will record the attendance of members and pledges at the meetings.  The secretary shall also certify on the Annual Report submitted to the Secretary of the National Council the names of those elected to membership in this chapter.

 

Section 6.  The treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds of the chapter and shall keep an accurate account of the receipts and disbursements.

 

 

 

Article V

Executive Committee

 

Section 1.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the adviser(s) and officers of the chapter.

 

Section 2.  The Executive Committee shall have general charge of the meetings and business of the chapter, but any action on the part of the Executive Committee may be subject to the review of the chapter.

 

 

Article VI

Supervision

 

Section 1.  The activities of this chapter shall be subject to the approval of the principal.

 

 

Article VII

Meetings

 

Section 1.  The regular meetings of this chapter shall be held on the second Friday of every month as is possible according to the school calendar.  A special meeting for pledges will be held near the end of September.  Meeting dates will be sent out to pledges in a letter inviting them to pledge NHS and also will be announced at the first meeting for members.

 

Section 2.  Special meetings, approved by the Executive Committee, may be held under the call of the president.

 

Section 3.  All meetings shall be open meetings and shall be held under the sponsorship of the faculty adviser(s).

 

Section 4.  This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order in all points not expressly provided in the constitution of this chapter.

 

 

Article VIII

Emblem

 

Section 1.  Each member of this chapter shall be entitled to wear the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.

 

Section 2.  Any member who withdraws or is dropped from the chapter shall return the emblem.  (See Article II, Sections 6 & 7.)

 

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 to the emblem shall rest with the chapter of which he/she is a member; and, therefore, the emblem can, on motion of the Student Recognition Committee, be reclaimed.  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.

 

 

Article IX

Amendments

 

Section 1.  This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of this chapter, provided that the proposed amendment has been approved by the Executive Committee, and that notice to members has been given at least one month previous to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon.  All amendments must be approved by the National Council.

 

Section 2.  At the time of the faculty vote for membership in the National Honor Society, any faculty member may submit a negative report on behavior to the chapter adviser(s) or to the principal of the school.  The adviser(s) and the principal shall confer on the validity of the charge, and, if considered worthy, said charges will be submitted to the Student Recognition Committee for their consideration at the time of the final vote.

 

 

 

HEARING PROCEDURES FOR NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS OF

COLLINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

 

If, in the course of active membership in the Collinsville Chapter of National Honor Society, a student becomes involved in an incident that appears to violate school rules or civil laws, he/she may be requested to appear before the Student Recognition Committee.  If such action becomes necessary, the procedure is as follows:

 

1.      The teacher in possession of information of alleged misconduct shall report it to the adviser(s).

 

2.      The adviser(s) will contact the teacher in whose class, or under whose supervision, the alleged incident occurred, and collect details.

 

3.      Findings shall be reported to the principal of the school.

 

4.      If the principal deems the findings of such importance as to justify further study, he/she may instruct the adviser(s) to call the Student Recognition Committee into session.

 

5.      Upon hearing the details, the Student Recognition Committee shall determine whether or not a hearing is justified.

 

6.      If a hearing is called, the adviser(s) shall notify the parents of the student.  A parent/guardian may be present with the member but the primary focus of the hearing should be to allow the member to present his/her case (1997 edition National Honor Society Handbook, pages 58-59).

 

7.      Following the hearing, the Student Recognition Committee shall determine the action to be taken.

 

8.      An account of the Student Recognition Committee disposition of the case shall be reported to the member and his/her parents via registered letter.

 

9.      If the Student Recognition Committee decides dismissal is appropriate, the dismissed member may still appeal, under whatever rules govern disciplinary appeals in the school district (1997 edition National Honor Society Handbook, page 59).

 

 

 

ELECTION PROCEDURES

 

After the final grades have been recorded at the end of the school year, the grade point averages will be checked by the adviser(s) for each student who will be a junior or senior the following year.  Those with a 3.5 average are scholastically eligible to be considered pledges.  Their names will be submitted to the faculty at the beginning of the next year.  Faculty members will be asked to give each student they know a grade of A, B, C, D, or F in accordance with the acceptable qualities for National Honor Society members as listed below.

 

1.      Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously

2.      Constantly exemplifies desirable qualities

3.      Upholds principles of morality and ethics

4.      Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, offices, halls, etc.

5.      Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty, reliability, and faithfulness both inside and outside the classroom

6.      Shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; observes instructions and rules, punctuality, and application to studies

7.      Has powers of concentration and sustained attention as shown by perseverance in written work, and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others

8.      Manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating

9.   Actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment

 

Students must pass the faculty screening with a B average in order to be invited to pledge National Honor Society.  Those students will receive a written invitation explaining the requirements for membership.  Parents also will receive a letter informing them of their child’s invitation to pledge, which will also list the requirements for membership.

 

These pledges must meet the following requirements:

 

1.      GRADES – Pledges must maintain a 3.5 average throughout the entire pledge period.  Grades will be check at the end of the 1st Semester and the 3rd Quarter.  The 1st Semester and 3rd Quarter GPA not the cumulative GPA must be 3.5.

 

2.      SERVICE – Pledges will be required to perform 30 hours of school/community service as set forth by the adviser(s).  Each year Collinsville’s NHS commits to a number of service projects, and only those projects which are announced at the meetings or on the daily school announcements will be allowed to count towards the 30 hours.  If a pledge fails to meet all the requirements for membership his/her junior year, the service hours earned may be carried over to his/her senior year of pledging.

 

3.      PLEDGING FEE – Each pledge will be charged a $10.00 pledge fee to be paid by the October meeting.  Failure to turn in this fee at the specified meeting will result in being dropped from pledging.

 

4.      LEADERSHIP – Pledges will be required to be active members in three school-sponsored activities.  A list of approved activities will be given to each pledge.  Activity cards with sponsors’ signatures must be turned in each semester.  Failure to turn in these activity cards at the specified meeting each semester will result in being dropped from pledging.

 

5.      COMMITTEES – Pledges will be required to serve on one committee and will sign up for a committee at the September meeting.

 

6.      MEETINGS - Pledges will be required to attend at least four of the monthly meetings.  Meeting dates will be listed in the invitation letter and will be announced on daily school announcements.

 

 

At the end of the pledge period, a faculty screening form containing the names of the pledges that have met the above qualifications will be given to members of the faculty and administration.  They will be asked to evaluate each pledge’s character on the basis of his/her behavior and attitude in classes or organizations where the staff member has had an association with the student during the current year.  They are to be instructed to rate only those students whom they know personally; they are not to make judgments on “hearsay” information.  The screening form will contain the same criteria used at the beginning of the pledgeship.  Faculty and administration will be asked to vote “acceptable” or “unacceptable” for membership into National Honor Society for each student they know.  They must give a reason for each “unacceptable” vote.  The adviser(s) will give the Student Recognition Committee an anonymous list of those pledges who received “unacceptable” votes and the reason(s) for such a vote.  The Student Recognition Committee will decide if the reason(s) for each “unacceptable” vote should keep that pledge out of National Honor Society.  The adviser(s) will then get the principal’s approval of the Student Recognition Committee’s decision.  The principal has the right to veto the Student Recognition Committee’s decisions.

 

After the decision by the Student Recognition Committee and the principal, the adviser(s) will send a letter to each newly elected member.  He/She will be informed of the next meeting which will include election of officers and information concerning the induction ceremony.

 

Unless the pledge is involved in a school-sponsored activity, he/she must attend the induction ceremony to attain membership.  A private induction ceremony will be held for those pledges who were involved in a school-sponsored activity on the evening of the induction ceremony.