National Honor Society

Hayfield Secondary School Chapter Bylaws

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1

The name of this organization shall be the Hayfield Secondary School Chapter of the National
Honor Society at Hayfield Secondary 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 exemplary character in
the students of Hayfield Secondary School.

Article II: 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 voice or 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

a. Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be members of the junior or senior class.

b. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for a
period of one semester at Hayfield Secondary School. The semester requirement may be waived by a vote of
the faculty council for a student who transfers to Hayfield under circumstances such as, but not limited to,
relocation of a parent. Students requesting this waiver must complete the following: complete a Student
Activity Information Form by the given deadline, obtain a letter of recommendation from their previous school,
and write a letter detailing the reason for transfer to Hayfield.

c. Candidates eligible for selection to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 (out of 4.0).
This scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed, and shall be the required minimum level of scholastic
achievement for admission to candidacy. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard
may be admitted to candidacy for selection to membership.

d. Upon meeting the grade level, attendance, and GPA standard requirements, candidates shall then be
considered based on their service, leadership, and character.

Article III: 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,
nonvoting, ex-officio member of the Faculty Council.

Section 2

Prior to selection, the following shall occur:

 

a. Students' academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.

b. Students who are eligible scholastically ("candidates") shall be notified and asked to complete and submit
the Student Activity Information Form and 3 paragraphs to describe student qualification for each of the 3
standards (character, leadership, and service) for further consideration for selection.

c. The faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the
official evaluation form provided by the chapter adviser.

d. The Faculty Council shall review the Student Activity Information Form, 3 paragraphs of standards, and
faculty evaluations in order to determine membership.

Section 3. Selection process:

a. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in the 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.

b. Students in the 11 th and 12 th grades are eligible for membership. For the scholarship criterion, a student
must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale. Those students who meet this criterion are
invited to complete a Student Activity Information Form and 3 paragraphs of standards that provide the
Faculty Council with information regarding the candidate's character, leadership, and service.

c. To evaluate a student's character, leadership, and service, the Faculty Council evaluates the paragraph
written on each of these standards in which the student describes his/her qualifications of each with specific
examples. These paragraphs 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 or nonselection before the winter holiday.

d. 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 attendance at chapter meetings held during
the school year.

Section 3A. Appeals Process for Nonselection:

a. Appeals must be registered with the chapter adviser within 15 days of notification. If no appeal has been
registered within this time period, all records pertaining to this selection will be destroyed.

b. All appeals will be reviewed by the principal that oversees the chapter society. The principal has the
following options: reject the appeal; request that the Faculty Council reconsider the case; or overturn the
decision of the Faculty Council.

Section 4

The selection of new active members shall be held once a year during the first semester of the
school year. (Alternative or additional selection periods may be added.)

Section 5

Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.

Section 6

Once selected and inducted, all members are expected to maintain the standards by which they
were selected and maintain all obligations of membership.

Section 7

An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from Hayfield to another school will
be given a letter indicating the status of his or her membership and signed by the principal or chapter adviser.

Section 8

An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to Hayfield will be automatically
accepted for membership in this chapter. The transfer member will be asked to verify their membership by
presenting a letter from their previous principal/adviser or a membership certificate or card to the chapter
adviser. The transfer member will attain within one semester, and then maintain, the membership
requirements for this chapter in order to retain his or her membership.

Article IV: Discipline and Dismissal

Section 1

Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be
considered for dismissal from the Hayfield chapter of the National Honor Society. A member of the National
Honor Society is expected to maintain his or her academic standing and take an active role in service and
leadership to his or her school and community.

Section 2

If a member's cumulative GPA falls below the standard in effect when he or she was selected (3.5),
he or she will be given a written warning and a time period for improvement. If the cumulative GPA remains
below standard at the end of the warning period, the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the
Faculty Council, which may include consideration of dismissal from the chapter.

Section 3

If a member fails to perform any of the published obligations of membership, he or she will be given
a written warning and a time period for improvement (probation). If the obligation remains unmet at the end of
the warning period, the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the Faculty Council, which may
include dismissal from the chapter. Members who accrue more than one probation may be subject to
dismissal.

Section 4

Flagrant violation of the law or school regulations can result in dismissal of a member. These
violations include, but are not limited to: DUI; stealing; destruction of property; cheating; misrepresentation;
truancy; or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related
activities.

Section 5

Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused
absence, excessive tardiness, insubordination, etc.) will receive written warning notification. A conference
may be requested by either party (Faculty Council, student, or parent). If the member is involved in another
violation of the school conduct code, the member may be considered for dismissal.

Section 6. In all cases of pending dismissal:

a. The member will receive written notification indicating the reason for possible dismissal from the adviser or
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 (see Section 4 above) can warrant disciplinary action
without a written warning although a hearing must still be held (see below).

b. The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him or her at a hearing before
the Faculty Council prior to the vote on dismissal (see Section 8 below). The Faculty Council will then vote on
whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member.

c. 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 or certificates to the adviser.

d. The Faculty Council's decision may be appealed to the principal and afterwards in accordance with the
FCPS discipline policy.

e. When a student is dismissed or resigns, he or she is no longer a member and may not be reconsidered for
membership in the National Honor Society.

Section 7

In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions (e.g., additional service
hours) upon a member as deemed appropriate.

Section 8. Dismissal hearings

a. If the Faculty Council determines that a member's actions warrant consideration for dismissal, the member
will be notified in writing of the violation and the possibility of dismissal. The member will also be advised of
the need for scheduling a hearing with the Faculty Council.

b. The member is allowed to appear before the Faculty Council and explain his or her view of the
circumstances. A parent or guardian may be present with the member; however, the primary purpose and
focus of the meeting is to allow the member to present his or her own case.

c. Anyone, including the member, may submit a written statement for consideration by the Faculty Council.
The Council will not view these statements until the hearing. Verbal statements from persons other than the
member (character references) are allowed; however, as stated in paragraph b. above, the primary purpose
of the meeting is to allow the member to present his or her own case.

d. Hearing Agenda:

1) Introduction of attendees

2) Explanation of proceedings by Chapter Adviser, to include review of charges

3) Statement of the case - member responds to charges

4) Question-and-answer period - opportunity for Faculty Council to seek clarification

5) Final statement by member

6) Excusing of member - deliberations and vote by Faculty Council

e. The results of the Faculty Council's decision will be shared first with the principal prior to written notification
of the member or parent.

Article V: Officers

Section 1

The officers shall include at least a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, 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 simple majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to elect an officer of the chapter. Only
current juniors who are members of NHS shall vote in the election of officers who will serve during the
following year. The election will be conducted by secret ballot, with each eligible member casting one vote.

Section 4

The President shall preside over meetings of the chapter and delegate responsibilities of other
officers as appropriate.

Section 5

The Vice President shall fill the role of the president in his/her absence.

Section 6

The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, any records of business, and record service
hours documentation for all members in an efficient and accurate manner. The Secretary will also serve as
the chapter focal point for all service hour opportunities.

Section 7

The Treasurer shall keep accurate financial records of all the assets and liabilities of the chapter to
include an account of all receipts and disbursements of the chapter. The Treasurer is also responsible for
collecting and keeping record of chapter dues.

Article VI: Executive Committee

Section 1

The executive committee shall consist of the faculty adviser 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

A request for the removal of an officer for not fulfilling his/her responsibilities may be made by any
member of the society or by the chapter adviser. This request should be made to the adviser. The officer will
have an opportunity to address the executive committee. The officer will be removed only by a majority vote of
the executive committee. If an officer is removed, a new election will be held for that office.

Article VII: Meetings

Section 1

Meetings shall be scheduled as necessary, at least one meeting per month.

Section 2

All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly scheduled chapter meetings. Members
are responsible for all information and policies presented at a meeting whether or not they attend.

Article VIII: Activities

Section 1

The chapter may determine one or more chapter service projects for each year.

Section 2

All members shall regularly participate in these chapter 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 that reflects his or her particular talents and interests and as approved by the chapter adviser.
Members are expected to complete at least 12 service hours per year for their individual project. This is in
addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.

Article IX: Community Service

Section 1

Service is considered to be those actions that are done with or on behalf of others without any
direct financial or material compensation. All students must complete at least 12 hours of approved
community service per year.

Section 2

Keep in mind that the purpose of service is to expand your experience with the community and its
activities and to help those in need on a voluntary basis. Try to be creative; service does not have to be one of
the below activities if it is pre-approved.

a. Some types of acceptable service are:

• Any activity approved in writing by the NHS chapter advisor

• Any volunteer work for any community agency, such as the Red Cross, a homeless shelter, homes for the
aging, hospitals, civil defense or fire department, child care center, church activity if it deals with a community
function (such as caroling at a nursing home), county fair, political campaign

• Tutoring

• NHS Induction Ceremony

• Recycling drives

• Volunteering at the County/community library

b. Some types of unacceptable service are:

• Any activity for which you are paid with money or favors, even if the job is in the acceptable category.

• Any activity in which you are directly helping a family member, relative, or friend, such as babysitting.

• Any service associated with a club or any class, unless the club/class is on a field trip doing one of the
acceptable activities.

• Attending church is not a service unless the particular function involves a community activity or charity.

• Assisting a teacher or school staff member with filing, grading papers, etc.

If you are unsure about the suitability of an activity for use in service hours, please see the NHS chapter
advisor.

Article X: 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 adviser.

Section 3

Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the
honor stole or other insignia adopted at the local level at graduation.

Article XI: Dues

Section 1

Dues are $30 per year, payable within 14 days after the announcement during the first meeting of
the school year. Dues will be payable to the chapter adviser or treasurer.

Section 2

For new inductees, dues will be payable to the chapter adviser or treasurer within 30 days of
induction.

Article XII: Amendments

Section 1

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds 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

Bylaws and amendments must be consistent with the constitution of the National Honor Society.