Woodruff High School Chapter

Constitution and Bylaws

The purpose of the Woodruff High School Chapter of the National Honor Society is to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership and to develop character in the students of Woodruff High School.  This document presents a summary of the important articles of the Constitution of the National Honor Society along with the bylaws of the Woodruff High School Chapter of the National Honor Society.

Membership

1. Membership in local chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student.  Selection for membership is by a Faculty Council appointed by the principal. In no case should there be fewer than five faculty members appointed to this council. The faculty advisor will propose to the faculty council the names of students eligible for membership. Membership is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership and service. To be eligible for election of membership in this chapter, the student must:

a.         have attended Woodruff High School for a period equivalent to one semester

b.         be a member of the sophomore, junior, or senior class

c.          have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5

2.      In order to gain membership into the National Honor Society eligible students must pay $15.00 in dues, complete three hours of service and attend the annual induction ceremony.

a.         Service is defined as any activity or duty that assists another individual that is not required of the person rendering the service or that the person rendering the service is not compensated for in any way.

3.      Members have the responsibility to continually demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, character, leadership, and service. 

4.      Membership shall be known as active and graduate.  Active members shall become graduate members upon graduation.  Graduate members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.

Cardinal Principals

1. A student demonstrates service by:

a.         participating in some service oriented activity outside of Woodruff High School

b.         volunteering dependable and well-organized assistance

c.          being gladly available and willing to sacrifice to offer assistance to others

d.         rendering any requested service to the school cheerfully and enthusiastically

e.         showing courtesy in assisting visitors, teachers, and students

2. A student demonstrates leadership by:
1. proposing new ideas, applying principle and making suggestions
2. effectively delegating responsibilities
3. exemplifying a positive attitude and inspiring positive behavior in others
4. successfully holding school offices or positions of responsibility
5. conducting business effectively and efficiently
6. being a forerunner in the classroom, at work and in school or community activities
7. being thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted

3. A student demonstrates character by:
1. consistently exemplifying desirable qualities of behavior
2. upholding principles of morality and ethics in keeping with the highest standards of Woodruff High School

1.      physical evidence of pregnancy, drunkenness, disrespect, etc. would not be in keeping with the highest standards of Woodruff High School

3. cooperating in complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, offices, halls, etc.
4. demonstrating the highest standards of honesty and reliability
5. observing instructions and rules
6. being punctual and faithful both inside and outside the classroom
7. manifesting truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written work
8. showing an unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others
9. actively helping rid the school of bad influences or environments

Emblem

1.      Each member agrees that, whether the emblem comes to him 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 is a member. The acceptance of the emblem upon induction shall be considered affirmation of this stipulation. 

1. The Faculty Council requires any member who resigns or is dismissed to return the emblem to the chapter advisor.
2. In the case where the emblem can be shown a personal purchase of the member, the advisor shall reimburse the member the original cost of the emblem upon its surrender.

Probation

1.      Any member who falls below the standards that were the bases of his election shall be placed on probation.  If, during the period of the probation, the member fails to meet the terms of his probation, he will be dismissed from the National Honor Society.  Members placed on probation shall continue to serve as active members of the National Honor Society during their probation period.

a.      Grades will be checked at the end of each semester.  Any member who fails to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in any semester will be placed on probation for a period of one semester.  At the end of the one semester period that member must have increased his cumulative grade point average to a minimum of 3.5.

b.      Service points will be checked at the end of each semester.  Any member who fails to accumulate 15 service points in any semester will be placed on probation for a period of one semester.  At the end of the one semester period that member must have accumulated 15 service points plus the number of service points he was lacking from the previous semester.  It is the student’s responsibility to provide the service, acquire the appropriate documentation and present this documentation to the faculty advisor before the end of the semester.   

c.      Demerits will be checked at the end of each nine-week period.  Any member who accumulates 6 or more demerits in any quarter will be placed on probation for a period of nine weeks.  At the end of the nine-week period that member must have accumulated no demerits.

1.      Non-conduct demerits are posted daily on the guidance bulletin board and can be decreased by 3 for each Saturday School attendance.

2.      Conduct demerits are binding and will result in dismissal from the National Honor Society.

d.      A member may be placed on probation for any conduct, in or out of school, deemed by the Faculty Council not to be in keeping with the standards of Woodruff High School or the National Honor Society.  The terms of probation will be stated with respect to each individual case at the time of the case. 

 Dismissal

1.      A National Honor Society member must maintain the standards for membership in order to retain his membership.  A member will be allowed only one probation period.

a.      Example: If a member is placed on probation for demerits at the end of his Junior year and meets the terms of his probation, but his cumulative grade point average falls below 3.5 during his Senior year, he will not be placed on probation, but dismissed from the National Honor Society.

b.      Example: If a member is placed on probation for failure to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 at the end of his Sophomore year and meets the terms of his probation, but accumulates 6 or more demerits in the first quarter of his Senior year, he will not be placed on probation, but dismissed from the National Honor Society. 

2.      The Faculty Council may consider dismissal from the National Honor Society for the following:

a.      suspension from school

b.      an in school suspension placement

c.      any proven gross misconduct in school or in the community 

3.      When the Faculty Council is considering dismissal the following procedure will be followed:

a.      The student will be notified, in writing, of the Faculty Council’s decision to evaluate their membership in the National Honor Society.

b.      The student will be notified of the date and time of a pre-dismissal hearing in which the student may present his case either orally or in writing to the Faculty Council.  A parent or legal guardian may attend this hearing with the student, however it should be noted that the primary focus of the hearing is to allow the member to present his case.  It is the decision of the Faculty Council to hear or not to hear any comments from the parent or legal guardian.

c.      The Faculty Council will investigate thoroughly the details of the case and vote on the member’s status in the National Honor Society. 

d.      The member will be notified, in writing, of the Faculty Council’s decision. 

4.      When a member is dismissed for falling below the standards and not meeting the terms of his probation, he will be notified in writing.  He must then promptly return his membership card, emblem and pin to the advisor or principal.

5.       Notice of any member’s dismissal must be indicated on the annual report submitted to the national secretary at the end of the school year. 

6.      Once a member is dismissed from any chapter of the National Honor Society he is never again eligible for membership in the National Honor Society.  

Officers

1.      The officers of the Woodruff High School chapter shall be president, vice-president, secretary and reporter.  The president shall preside over all National Honor Society meetings after planning with the advisor and shall attend meetings of the student Faculty Council.  The vice-president shall perform all duties of the president in his absence and maintain the records for service points.  The secretary shall record the minutes of each meeting and shall attend to correspondence.  The reporter shall regularly, with the help of the advisor, prepare news of the club’s activities.

2.      The officers of the National Honor Society shall be elected by ballot by a majority vote. Students who wish to pursue an office will communicate this desire to the advisor. The president of the National Honor Society cannot be a student who is also president of another school club. 

Meetings

1.      The regular meeting schedule shall be decided by the advisor and will be announced at the beginning of each school year.

2.      The faculty advisor or the president with the approval of the faculty advisor may call special meetings.

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