Stratford HS National Honor Society By-laws
PLEASE NOTE ADJUSTMENTS FOR COVID-19. ANY FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE COMMUNICATED AS THEY OCCUR!
Purpose
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 at Stratford Senior High School.
Membership
Membership in this chapter shall be known as active and graduate. Active members become graduate members at graduation. 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. If an applicant has committed an infraction that would warrant removal of a current member, including but not limited to in-school or out of school suspension, the faculty council can decline acceptance of the applicant.
Service
Discipline and Dismissal
Purpose
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 at Stratford Senior High School.
Membership
Membership in this chapter shall be known as active and graduate. Active members become graduate members at graduation. 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. If an applicant has committed an infraction that would warrant removal of a current member, including but not limited to in-school or out of school suspension, the faculty council can decline acceptance of the applicant.
Service
- Required 50 hours of community service. (Modified for 2020-2021 school year to 30 hours)
- It is your responsibility to record your service hours on the provided form and turning it in by the appropriate due date. Keeping your service record up to date is your responsibility.
- Point deadlines: These are firm dates. You will be expected to turn in your hours sheet to room 327 by 3:30pm the day they are due. Turning them in at the meetings is strongly recommended. You must meet these deadlines or face disciplinary action by the Faculty Council.
- You will need 10 hours by October 15
- You will need 20 hours by January 21
- You will need 30 hours by April 29
- Meetings: There will be 3 mandatory meetings scheduled throughout the school year. They will be on the same day that hours are due at the beginning of the school year. Missing one mandatory meeting will lead to a warning. Failure to attend 2 mandatory meetings could lead to disciplinary action by the Faculty Council.
- Individual Service—You can earn up to 10 hours service hours anytime during the year. Examples—work camp / Special Olympics / Habitat for Humanity / any work for a non-profit charity organization, etc. You cannot get NHS points for an event if it is sponsored by another SHS club or organization (Student Council, Care Club, etc) Keep a record of what you do and get a sponsor’s signature and phone number. If in doubt, ask your sponsors. Babysitting and tutoring do NOT count.
- NHS Community Service—Minimum 30 hours. It is your responsibility to check your email regularly for possible ways to earn your NHS community service hours. Email is the main mode of communication for NHS. Be sure your email is updated and checked frequently.
- If you sign up for a service commitment, please consider it an important commitment. Check your calendar before you sign up. If a conflict arises, get someone to replace you and let Mrs. Russo/Mrs. Parizot know. If you sign up for an event and do not show up without finding a replacement AND notifying Mrs. Russo/Mrs. Parizot, you will be docked an equal number of hours.
- If you know of any service opportunities, please notify Mrs. Russo/Mrs. Parizot at least two weeks in advance for posting on the board. Part of being a leader is generating service projects.
- Do not ask for service hours for projects already completed.
- Service hours or points will only be awarded for hours completed before or after the regular school day. (7:50—3:00). The only exception to this is school schedule changes (ie: half days/ late start)
Discipline and Dismissal
- Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character or service may be considered for dismissal from the Stratford Senior High chapter of the National Honor Society. A member of the NHS is expected to maintain his or her academic standard and take an active role in service and leadership to his or her school and community.
- If a member’s cumulative GPA falls below the standard in effect when he or she was selected (6.0 GPA), he or she will be given a written warning and a time period for improvement. If the cumulative GPA remains below the standard (6.0) 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.
- 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. If the obligation remains unmet at the end of the warning period, the student will be subject to disciplinary action by the Faculty Council, which may include dismissal from the chapter.
- Violation of the law or school regulations can result in 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.
- Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absence, excessive tardiness, N’s or U’s in conduct, etc) will receive a written warning notification. If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member will be considered for dismissal.
- In all cases of pending dismissal:
- The member will receive written notification indicating the reason for possible dismissal from the advisor or Faculty Council. The member and advisor 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 or her at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to the vote on dismissal. The Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss, place on probation (with specific terms) or take no action. 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 (pin and certificate) to the advisor.
- The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal.
- 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.
- In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.