NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETYROCK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTER

Adam Vrooman & Aaron Kunk, Advisors

The National Honor Society: The National Perspective

What is the National Honor Society? The purpose of this organization shall be to create enthusiasm

for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.

The National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are the nation's premier organizations established to recognize outstanding high school and middle level students. More than just an honor roll, NHS and NJHS serve to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character (and Citizenship for NJHS). These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since their beginnings in 1921 and 1929.

Today, it is estimated that more than one million students participate in activities of the NHS and NJHS. NHS and NJHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. Territories, and Canada. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.

The National Honor Society: What does the chapter advisor do?

The chapter advisor shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter and act as liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community.

The chapter advisor shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions. The chapter adviser shall send the annual report to the national office.

The chapter advisor shall regularly review each member for compliance with Society standards and obligations.

The chapter advisor shall help the chapter officers understand and carry out their duties.

The chapter advisor shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth member of the Faculty Council.

The National Honor Society: What is the Faculty Council? The Faculty Council shall consist of five voting faculty members

appointed annually by the principal. The chapter adviser shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth member of the Faculty Council. No principal or assistant principal may be included on the Faculty Council.

The term of the Faculty Council shall be one year. Members may be appointed to consecutive terms.

The Faculty Council shall meet at least once a year to review the procedures of the chapter, select members, and to consider non-selection, dismissal, other disciplinary actions, and warning cases.

The Faculty Council will develop and revise, when necessary, all chapter procedures for selection, discipline, and dismissal of members, all of which must remain in compliance with this Constitution and NHS policies.

The National Honor Society: What does membership entail?

Membership in local chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by a Faculty Council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.

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

The Faculty Council shall reserve the right to award honorary membership to school officials, principals, teachers, NHS advisers, adults, students with disabilities, or foreign exchange students in recognition of achievement and/or outstanding service rendered to the school in keeping with the purposes of the National Honor Society.

Honorary members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony. Members who are seniors in good standing are eligible to be nominated by their

chapters to compete in the National Honor Society Scholarship Program. An NHS member who transfers to another school and brings a letter from the

principal or chapter adviser to the new school adviser shall be accepted automatically as a member in the new school's chapter. Transfer members must meet the new chapter's standards within one semester in order to retain membership.

Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.

The National Honor Society: How does a student become a member?

To be eligible for membership the candidate must be a member of those classes (junior, senior) designated as eligible in the Rock Ridge High School chapter bylaws.

Candidates must have been in attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester.

The minimum standard for scholarship at Rock Ridge for the current school year is a cumulative 3.50 grade point average (juniors/seniors) garnered from the start of the freshman year, first semester through the end of the sophomore year, second semester.

Candidates shall then be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, and character.

The selection of each member to the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council. Prior to notification of any candidates, the chapter adviser shall review with the principal the results of the Faculty Council’s deliberations.

BRHS National Honor Society: How does a student become a member?

During October at Rock Ridge, eligible students will be selected for the Phoenix Chapter of the NHS. All academically eligible students are then given the opportunity to complete information forms (Student-Created “Information Packet”) relating to their character, service, and leadership.

As a minimum, each candidate must demonstrate full participation in at least two school activities, have verifiable community and school service, practice leadership through either elective office or positions of responsibility, and exemplify the highest standard of character. (i.e. discipline reports = negative)

Membership in the NHS is an honor, not a right, and is based upon outstanding achievement in each of the four areas mentioned.

Eligible students* were distributed letters in their 8th Block Starting Monday, September 28th

The letters instructed students to see access a copy of the student information packet on VISION: Nomination to NHS via grade point average and completion of the packet does NOT

guarantee membership. Students who fail to turn in the documentation to VISION or Mr. Vrooman’s hands by

Friday, October 9, 2015 at 4:30pm will not be eligible for the review process for NHS.

The National Honor Society: Is membership permanent once earned? DISCIPLINE AND DISMISSAL

Members who fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection shall be promptly warned in writing by the chapter adviser and given a reasonable amount of time to correct the deficiency, except that in the case of flagrant violation of school rules or the law, a member does not have to be warned.

The Faculty Council shall determine when an individual has exceeded a reasonable number of warnings.

In all cases of pending dismissal, a member shall have a right to a hearing before the Faculty Council.

For purposes of dismissal, a majority vote of the Faculty Council is required.

A member who has been dismissed may appeal the decision of the Faculty

Council to the principal and thereafter under the same rules for disciplinary appeals in the school district.

NASSP shall hear no appeals in dismissal cases.

The National Honor Society: What does a member of the NHS have to do once selected?

Each chapter shall have required regular meetings during the school year on days designated by the elected student executive committee (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Parliamentarian) and in accordance with school policy and regulations.

2014-2015 Rock Ridge High School NHS meetings are designated on our developing webpage… The chapter president or other designated student leader may call special meetings approved by the executive committee.

Chapters shall conduct meetings according to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised in all points not expressly provided for in this Constitution or the chapter bylaws.

The National Honor Society: What does a member of the NHS have to do once selected?

Each chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.

Rock Ridge HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE PROJECTS: TUTORING and COMMITTEE

PROJECTS According to the National bylaws, our service projects must

directly benefit the school or community; have the support of the administration and the faculty; be appropriate and educationally defensible; be well planned, organized, and executed.

Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in an individual service project that reflects his or her particular talents and interests. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.

Each chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner. (i.e. newsletters / website)

The National Honor Society: Student Information Packet Procedure

Let's look at the packet itself now, page by page, to ensure that you are filling it out correctly. BE SURE TO ASK MR. VROOMAN or KUNK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY PART OF THE PACKET! COMPLETE IT ALL!