Oakcrest High School
National Honor Society - Bylaws
Article I: Selection of Members
Section 1. The Andrew S. Moreland Chapter of National Honor Society
at Oakcrest High School shall select and induct students once a year,
in the spring.
Section 2. Candidates must be juniors or seniors with a minimum weighted
GPA of 90. The only weighted GPA calculation accepted is the one displayed
on the official high school transcript.
Section 3. The student must have attended Oakcrest High School for
at least one semester before he/she is eligible for selection.
Section 4. The selection process shall be published and kept on file
in the Oakcrest High School NHS archives.
Section 5. During February, all candidates who meet the academic eligibility
requirements shall receive a letter inviting them to complete a selection
packet and submit it, by the 2nd week in March (The date will be announced
when the packet is distributed).
Section 6. The completed selection packet shall be reviewed by a principal-appointed,
five member faculty council. The Faculty Council shall consider activities
and information, which has occurred during the high school years of
enrollment only.
Section 7. The Faculty Council shall notify the advisors of all accepted
candidates.
Section 8. The advisors shall notify the inductees with an invitation
to the induction ceremony.
Section 9. An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers
to Oakcrest High School will be accepted for membership in this chapter,
after the advisors have verified the transfer student’s NHS membership
in his/her last school of attendance. To maintain membership the transfer
student must meet all continued membership requirements in the Oakcrest
High School NHS Chapter.
Section 10. Non-selection: If a student or parents have questions pertaining
to non-selection they must first contact the chapter advisors. Should
students or parents still not be satisfied, the next level of discussion
should take place with the NHS Supervisors. Any further questions should
follow the Appeal Process outlined in the school calendar and student
tracker.
Article II: Continued Membership Requirements
Section 1. All members must maintain a minimum cumulative weighted
GPA of 90. The only weighted GPA calculation accepted is the one displayed
on the official high school transcript.
Section 2. All members must
a. Attend after school monthly meetings, no more than three meetings
can be missed per year.
b. Attend the induction rehearsals.
c. Attend the induction ceremony.
d. Meet the minimum 4-service hour requirement per month.
e. Participate in a minimum of one fundraising activity per semester.
f. Exemplify positive leadership to the Society and the Oakcrest High
School community.
g. Meet the standards of character that are the basis for selection
into National Honor Society.
Article III: Meetings
Section 1. General membership meetings shall be at 2:40 PM on the first
Wednesdays of the month for each academic year. A calendar will be
presented to members on the first meeting of the year.
Section 2. All general membership meetings shall be conducted by Robert’s
Rules of Order.
Section 3. The Executive Board will meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays
of each month to develop upcoming events and meeting agendas.
Section 4. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Board.
Section 5. Missing a meeting due to a sporting event (not including
practice) or a school activity event (not practice) will be excused
but will still need to follow Section 6.
Section 6. Absences from a meeting requires a written explanation for
the absence. Members are also responsible for turning in their monthly
service hours and getting the meeting agenda. The service hour missed
by the absence must be “made up” – including excused
absences.
Article IV: Gold Cords And Gold Diploma Seal
Section 1. Gold Cords may only be worn by seniors who:
a. Meet the minimum 40 service hour requirement for the academic year.
b. Attend after school monthly meetings with no more than three meetings
missed per year
c. Attend the induction rehearsal and induction ceremony.
d. Participate in a minimum of one fundraising activity per semester.
e. Maintain a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 90 (the only weighted
GPA calculation accepted is the one displayed on the official high
school transcript);
f. Exemplify positive leadership to the Society and the Oakcrest High
School Community.
g. Meet the standards of character that are the basis for selection
into National Honor Society
Section 2. The NHS Advisors reserve the right to make
the final determination on the presentation of gold cords.
Section 3. National Honor Society Gold Seals may only be affixed to
diplomas of seniors who:
a. Have at least 35 service hours for the academic year.
b. Attend after school monthly meetings with more than three missed
meetings.
c. Attend the induction rehearsal and/or induction ceremony.
d. Participate in a minimum of one fundraising activity per year.
e. Maintain a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 90 (the only weighted
GPA calculation accepted is the one displayed on the official high
school transcript);
f. Exemplify positive leadership to the Society and the Oakcrest High
School Community.
g. Meet the standards of character that are the basis for selection
into National Honor Society
Section 4. The NHS Advisors reserve the right to make the final determination
on the presentation of gold seal.
Article V: Election Procedures
Section 1. Elections shall take place at the beginning of every school
year for: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian,
and Public Relations Officer. Students wishing to run for office shall
nominate themselves for the positions.
Section 2. Nominees may run unopposed.
Section 3. Members shall be specifically informed of the date of elections,
but the elections shall take place regardless of attendance and the
majority shall rule.
Article VI: Duties of Officers
Section 1. The President shall provide leadership to the membership,
conduct meetings, and serve as chairperson of the induction committee.
Section 2. The Vice President shall provide leadership for committees,
assist the President, and fill in during any of the president’s
absences.
Section 3. The Secretary shall create the meeting agenda, take the
minutes, maintain the NHS files including collecting letters from the
members who miss meetings, chart probationary status, and provide monthly
reports to the advisors. The secretary should be proficient with Word
and Excel and have access to a computer.
Section 4. The treasurer shall be responsible for the service hour
calculation of eligibility for continued membership, gold cords, and
seals. Weekly reports will be posted on the NHS bulletin board. Monthly
reports will be submitted to the advisors along with names of members
who have not fulfilled their hourly requirement following each monthly
meeting.
Section 5. The Historian will maintain a pictorial history of the NHS
activities.
Section 6. The Public Relations Officer shall promote NHS activities
on Falcon TV, on Channel 2, in the Falcon Flyer, on the web page, and
write press releases for the local press. The PR officer will also
keep the membership, school, and community informed of the chapter’s
activities and reserve meeting space.
Section 7. The Executive Committee shall be the President, the Vice
President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Historian, and the Public
Relation Officer.
Article VII: Dismissal
Section 1. Failure to maintain a cumulative weighted GPA of 90 is grounds
for dismissal. The only weighted GPA calculation accepted is the one
displayed on the official high school transcript. This will be evaluated
at the end of each semester.
Section 2. Failure to earn the minimum service hours required to remain
a member in good standing is grounds for dismissal.
Section 3. Failure to attend 70% of the general/social meetings per
year, the induction rehearsal, or the induction ceremony is grounds
for dismissal.
Section 4. A member shall be subject to dismissal on character issues
that include but are not limited to:
a. Cheating
b. Alcohol or drugs (including tobacco);
c. Weapons
d. Fights
e. Disrespect for property (graffiti, vandalism, etc.), faculty, administration,
staff, or students.
Section 5. A member shall be subject to dismissal for failure to exemplify
positive leadership to the Society, the Oakcrest High School community
or the Mays Landing community.
Section 6. Officers shall be subject to dismissal for:
a. Sections 1 – 4 above
b. Failure to meet the standards
of character that are the basis for selection into National
Honor Society.
c. Failure to provide a positive leadership role to the Society and
the Oakcrest High School Community.
f. Officers who do not correct the discrepancies according to the guidelines
set forth in the bylaws, will appear before the faculty council to
determine whether the offense warrants dismissal from office or dismissal
from NHS.
Article VIII: Disciplinary Procedures and Dismissal Procedures
Section 1. Reasons for Disciplinary Action or Dismissal include but
are not limited to:
a. Failure to maintain a cumulative weighted GPA of 90 (The only weighted
GPA calculation accepted is the one displayed on the official high
school transcript.) This will be evaluated each semester.
b. Failure to attend 70% of the general/social meetings per year, the
induction rehearsal or the induction ceremony:
c. Failure to meet the 4 monthly-required hours of service for consecutive
months.
c. Failure to meet the standards of character that are the basis for
selection into National Honor Society
d. Failure to provide a positive leadership role to the Society, the
Oakcrest High School Community.
Section 2. A member shall be placed on membership probation and be
given one quarter to remedy:
a. Failure to maintain the 90 weighted GPA minimum
-Student’s next quarter weighted GPA must be raised to the minimum
90
b. Failure to meet the minimum service hours required to remain a member in
good standing
-Students on probations must attain at least 4 service hours per month for
3 consecutive months
c. Failure to attend monthly meeting – when a member has 3 unexcused
meetings – they are put on probation
-Students on probations must attended every meeting for the rest of the year
or have excused absence
d. Failure to attend induction practice and/or the induction ceremony
-Students on probations must go without any other infractions in order to obtain
a gold cord or seal
e. Failure to meet the standards of character that are the basis for selection
into National Honor Society
-Students on probation may not receive discipline referrals (other than lateness)
or any other disciplinary action during the remainder of the school year. Students
receiving a second offense concerning their character will appear before the
NHS Faculty Council for dismissal.
f. Failure to provide a positive leadership role to the Society, the Oakcrest
High School Community.
-Students on probation may not receive discipline referrals (other than lateness)
or any other disciplinary action during the remainder of the school year. Students
receiving a second offense concerning their character will appear before the
NHS Faculty Council for dismissal
Section 3. Senior member may not list NHS as an activity on their college resume
while they are on probation. A list of senior NHS members on probation will
be provided to all guidance counselors.
Section 4. The member, the member’s parent/guardian, and the supervisors
shall be notified in writing of:
a. The deficiencies
b. The advisors’ suggested remedies for the deficiencies
c. The advisors’ request for a conference with the member
d. One quarter will be given to address the deficiencies.
Section 5. At the beginning of the probationary quarter, the advisors shall
notify, in writing, the member, the member’s parent/guardian, and the
supervisors of the student’s probationary status. Requirements for getting
off probation will be included with this notification.
Section 6. If after one quarter, the deficiencies are not remedied, the Advisors
may request the Faculty Council to consider the dismissal of the Honor Society
member.
Section 7. If the Faculty Council determines dismissal may be warranted, the
member shall be notified in writing of the violation and the possibility of
dismissal.
Section 8. A meeting shall be held with the Faculty Council, the member in
question, and the NHS advisors. The member will present their case, the Council
will deliberate, and the advisors will be notified of the decision. The member
will return to the meeting and the Council will hand down their decision.
Section 9. If a member is dismissed, written notice of the decision shall be
sent to the member, the member’s parent/guardian, and the supervisor.
The member must then surrender the NHS certificate and card. If the member
is unwilling to do this, the matter shall be treated as a school disciplinary
matter.
Section 10. The dismissed member may appeal, under the rules governing disciplinary
appeals in the school district, following the normal channels, for a district
appeals process.
Sections 11. In the case of dismissal appeals, the principal shall follow the
district appeals process and inform the next level if not resolved.
Section 12. The National Council and the NASSP shall not hear or make any decisions
regarding appeals in dismissal cases.
