Olathe Northwest High School Chapter National Honor Society By-Laws
Article 1 Name and Purpose
Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Olathe Northwest High School 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 students of Olathe Northwest High School.
Article II The Principal
Section 1. The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter.
Section 2. The principal shall be a part of the appeal process for non-selection or dismissal cases.
Article III The Chapter Advisor(s)
Section 1. The Chapter Advisor(s) shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions.
Section 2. The Advisor(s) shall regularly review each member for compliance with NHS standards and obligations.
Section 3. The Advisor(s) shall approve all activities of the Olathe Northwest High School NHS prior to their implementation.
Section 4. The Advisor(s), with principal approval, shall select five faculty members to serve on the Faculty Council for a one-year term. The term may be extended by the Principal.
Article IV Membership
Section 1. Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary and graduate. Active and honorary members become graduate members at graduation. The graduate members have no vote.
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. Once selected, members have the responsibility to maintain the standards on which they were selected.
Section 3. Members shall be required to perform community and school service as follows: Forty (40) hours of service to Community and School for the year following their induction unless inducted as a senior: 30 hours of service to community and 10 hours of service to school. The service hours are due by April 1 for second-year members. If the hours are not completed, documented, and turned into the Chapter Advisor(s) or Chapter Membership Chairman as required, the member will be given one warning and placed on probation. If the hours are not completed by May 15, the student will be dismissed from National Honor Society and ordered to return/surrender the membership certificate and membership received at induction.
Section 4. Members who are seniors in good standing are eligible to be nominated by their chapters to compete in the National Honor Society Scholarship Program.
Section 5. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership in the National Honor Society, or its benefits, even if their resignation or removal was at another school. The Olathe Northwest Chapter of the National Honor Society will follow the dismissal policy as stated in Article X of the National Constitution and in the handbook (revised 1997) and ordered to return/surrender the membership certificate and membership card received at induction. (see Article VI)
Section 6. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been a junior or senior in attendance at Olathe Northwest High School for a period of one semester. Transfer students will seek recommendation from their previous school principal prior to and pursuant to their selection. Based on the recommendation, the Faculty Council may waive the semester regulation.
Section 7. Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be members of the junior or senior class. Candidates eligible for selection to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75 weighted or unweighted at the end of their sophomore year (for juniors), or junior year (for seniors). Candidates with modified curriculum who meet the minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75 (weighted or unweighted) at the end of the sophomore year, shall be considered for admission to honorary candidacy. A final grade below a “C” in a course may result in prevention from induction, or removal from NHS. All students who 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.
Section 8. If the cumulative semester grade point falls below a 3.75 (semester grades are January and the end of the school year), the student will be on academic probation for ONE semester. Failure to raise his or her grade point to 3.75 in one quarter will mean dismissal from NHS, or may prevent NHS intern from induction that year.
Section 9. Candidates will be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, and character by current and former teachers, and three activity sponsors. One activity sponsor must be from Olathe Northwest and one from the community.
Section 10. The Advisor(s)y and/or Faculty Council shall review each candidate based on his or her personal data packet and on teacher/sponsor recommendations. The candidate must have no more than one “no” rating among the teacher recommendations. In the event a student has been involved in situations involving ISS, OSS, or FAD, each will be individually reviewed, and the determination of the faculty council will be the final decision. The selection of each member-elect to the Olathe Northwest Chapter shall be by majority vote of the Faculty Council. The decision of the Faculty Council is final.
Section 11. Candidates who meet these standards will then be designated members-elect and will participate in a service internship between October 1 and February 28 of the school year. If the member-elect successfully completes the fifteen-hour community service internship and the five-hour school service internship within the designated time period and has retained the high standards on which the faculty council designated him or her a member-elect, he or she will then be invited to become a full member of the Olathe Northwest High School Chapter of the National Honor Society.
Section 12. The Chapter Advisor(s) shall decide the date for initiation of new members. The Advisor(s) shall determine deadlines for selection of members in order to meet the initiation date.
Section 13. Standards for election to the Olathe Northwest High School Chapter of the National Honor Society are also outlined in Appendix A, Membership Guidelines.
Article V Selection of Members
Section 1. The final 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 advisor(s) shall be the sixth, non-voting ex-officio member of the Faculty Council. The decision of the Faculty Council regarding inducting students into NHS is final.
Section 2. Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur:
Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
Students who are eligible scholastically shall be notified and asked to complete the Student Activity Information Form for further consideration for selection.
Students must maintain the minimum GPA of 3.75 during their internship to maintain eligibility for induction. In the event their GPA drops below 3.75, they will no longer be eligible for induction during that year’s selection.
Eligible students shall complete the required hours of school and community service, as well as complete all other requirements as deemed and directed by the By-laws adopted by the Faculty Council.
The faculty shall be requested to comment on candidates determined to be scholastically eligible.
The administrative staff shall be requested to identify and comment on candidates who might have been involved in ISS, OSS, or FAD.
The Student Activity Information Form and faculty comments shall be reviewed by the Faculty Council.
Section 3. The selection of active members shall be held once a year during the second semester of the school year. Thereafter, the selection of active members shall be held once a year during the first or second semester of the school year.
Section 4. An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given a letter indicating the status of his or her membership and signed by the Principal.
Section 5. 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 will, within one semester, attain and then maintain the membership requirements for this chapter in order to retain his or her membership.
Section 6. Any member, who has been convicted, adjudicated, or who is on diversion, may not be eligible for National Honor Society and may be required to appear before the Faculty Council. (See Article VI)
Article VI Dismissal
Section 1. Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the Olathe Northwest High School Chapter of the National Honor Society. A member of the National Honor Society is expected to maintain an active role in service and leadership to his or her school and community.
Section 2. If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below the standard in effect when he or she was selected (3.75), he or she will be given written warning and a time period (one semester) for improvement. If the cumulative grade point average remains below 3.75 at the end of the warning period, the student may be dismissed from the chapter.
Section 3. Violation of criminal law or school regulations can result in dismissal without warning of a member. These violations include, but are not limited to , DWI/DUI, 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 use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absence, excessive tardiness, etc.) will receive written warning notification. Either party (Faculty Council or student/parent) may request a conference. If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be dismissed without warning.
The Olathe Northwest Chapter of National Honor Society will follow the dismissal policy as stated in Article X of the National Constitution and in the handbook (revised 1997). Specific guidelines as adopted by the faculty council in November 2003 are hereby stated.
If a member is involved in any type of school suspension (ISS, OSS, or FAD), the Faculty Council will review the situation and decide of disciplinary action is warranted. Disciplinary action may range from a warning to dismissal, and such dismissal may be without warning. In the event of a meeting of the Faculty Council, the member will receive written notice of the outcome of the meeting.
If a member is involved in multiple suspensions, he or she faces dismissal and will receive a written notice to appear before the faculty council.
If a National Honor Society member is arrested for a civil or criminal offense, the member shall receive written warning and shall be placed on probation of one semester, or may be dismissed without warning. The Faculty Council may also review the situation and decide if a hearing is warranted. If the council so decides, the member will appear before the Faculty Council to explain the circumstances. The member shall receive a written notice of the outcome of the meeting.
If a member is convicted of a crime, he or she faces dismissal and will appear before the Faculty Council for a hearing.
If a member incurs multiple arrests with no convictions, he or she will appear before the Faculty Council for dismissal.
Hearings include: the National Honor Society member, his or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s), all members of the Faculty Council, the Faculty Advisor(s), and an administrator. Only the Faculty Council has voting rights.
If a member is dismissed, the membership card and pin must be returned to the Faculty Advisor(s) as stated in the constitution.
Section 5. Student members who have been convicted, adjudicated, or who are on diversion may be placed on probationary membership.
Section 6. In the case of a pending dismissal:
The member will receive written notification of the reason for possible dismissal from the Advisor(s)/Faculty Council. The member and advisor(s) will discuss the written notification in a conference.
The member will be offered a hearing with the Faculty Council prior to dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in the National Constitution). The member has the opportunity to present his or her defense. The Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss.
A letter of dismissal will be sent to the principal, student and parents if the student is dismissed. The dismissed member must surrender any membership emblems to the advisor(s).
The member may appeal the Faculty Council’s decision to the principal.
When a student is dismissed or resigns, he or she is no longer a member of National Honor Society and may never again be considered for membership in the National Honor Society.
Section 7. The Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.
Section 8. Appendix B contains a detailed outline of the dismissal process for the Olathe Northwest Chapter of the National Honor Society. Both candidate and parents will receive a copy of said Appendix B and will sign a form acknowledging their awareness of such procedures.
Section 9. In the event of dismissal, the student will be asked to return/surrender the membership certificate and membership card received at induction.
Article VII Officers
Section 1. The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, and membership chair.
Section 2. Student officers shall be elected at the last meeting of each school year. All returning members are eligible to run for a position as an officer.
Section 3. A simple majority vote shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter. If the first vote does not yield a simple 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 prepare an agenda for each meeting prior to that meeting’s date and to provide the Chapter Advisor(s) with a copy of that agenda for approval at least 48 hours prior to meetings. The president will then provide all officers with a copy of that approved agenda at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. 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. When it is necessary for the vice-president to preside over meetings in the president’s absence, the vice-president shall comply with the requirements set out in Section 4 above.
Section 6. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings and be responsible for correspondence. The secretary shall also maintain member records regarding service hours served by each NHS member.
Section 7. The membership chair shall keep the chapter history and coordinate chapter projects.
Article VIII Executive Committee
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the faculty advisor(s) and the 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.
Section 3. Any member of the Executive Committee may be impeached and removed from membership on the committee for the following reasons:
Failure to attend two (2) consecutive meetings – or – meetings of the executive committee (see Article VII, Section 2).
Failure to complete the duties and requirements as outlined by their membership on the Executive Committee.
Article IX Meetings
Section 1. Meetings of this chapter shall be held quarterly at a minimum. Additional meetings may be called according to the discretion of the Executive Committee or Chapter Advisor(s).
Section 2. Members are required to attend all meetings and must submit a written excuse to the chapter secretary if they are absent from a meeting. If the absence is unexcused as determined by the Chapter Advisor(s) and Executive Board, the member will be placed on probation. Two excused absences will also be grounds for probation. A second unexcused absence or a third excused absence will require a hearing before the Faculty Council and may result in dismissal from NHS.
Section 3. An absence from a meeting will be determined to be excused if the Attendance Office records an excused absence from the student’s first hour class, or the student has an excused absence for that day.
Section 4. This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Article X Activities
Section 1. The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.
Section 2. All projects and activities must be approved in advance by the Chapter Advisor(s).
Section 3. All members shall regularly participate in these projects.
Section 4. 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 5. 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 advisor(s). This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.
Section 6. The chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.
Section 7. All publicity and/or public announcements or advertisements of chapter activities must be approved in advance by the Chapter Advisor(s).
Article XI 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 to the chapter.
Article XII Dues
Section 1. Annual dues for this chapter shall be $20.00.
Section 2. Members who are able to and wish to do so may pay an amount over and above $20.00. Any amount over the $20.00 will be placed into a Dues Scholarship Account for distribution to those members who are financially unable to pay the $20.00 dues.
Section 3. Dues will be payable to the chapter treasurer within 30 days of induction.
Section 4. Failure by chapter members to pay dues within 30 days of notice may result in suspension from chapter activities.
Article XIII 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 for at least one month prior to the vote. The exceptions are Articles III and IV, 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.