Guidelines For National Honor Society
ADVERTISEMENT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9Guidelines for National Honor Society
Effective 2015-2016
Philosophy of the Club: According to the National Honor Society Constitution, 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. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who
have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. NHS promotes and
provides leadership development opportunities to prepare and empower students to serve their schools and
communities.
Attendance
NHS meets on the fourth Thursday of every month (except November, December and May when we meet on
o
nd
the 2
Thursday), at 7:55 AM, normally in the auditorium. Attendance to all the meetings is required.
If you cannot attend a meeting and you are aware beforehand, you may obtain an excused absence form from
o
Mrs. Williams in E104 or on the NHS website. Fill it out and return it prior to the day on which you will be
absent. If you are absent from school from an illness or other unforeseen circumstance, you may fill out the
excused absence form when you return without penalty if you attach an excused absence note from the
front office.
One unexcused absence is permitted without penalty, but it still counts toward your total absences allowed
o
until dismissal from the club. Any absence after this (whether excused or unexcused) requires one penalty hour
per absence
in addition to
the twenty required.
Once you have missed two meetings (excused or unexcused) you will be notified of your probationary status
o
with the club. At this point, you cannot miss another meeting and maintain membership. After missing three
meetings, excused or unexcused, you will be removed from the club. In order to truly participate in the spirit
of the club, attendance is necessary; skipping an entire year of meetings and then making up a large number of
hours misses the point of membership.
Requirements for
Service
Hours
A minimum of 20 hours is required for all members, juniors and seniors. You are encouraged to complete
o
your hours as early as possible, especially since the greatest number of projects appear around the winter
holiday season. This also relieves crunch time around finals and AP exams at the end of the school year, a
time when few projects are typically offered.
At least 10 hours must be from club-sponsored (in-club) projects. These projects appear on the agenda, are
o
announced at a meeting, and/or have sign up sheets available through the club.
No more than 5 hours may be obtained through direct monetary donations for an in-club fundraiser. Usually a
o
$10 donation represents one hour.
At least 10 hours must be from active service. Active service is where you attend a project site and help out
o
for the stipulated amount of time. (These 10 hours may but do not have to overlap with your 10 in-club
hours.)
Hours that you have already turned in to another club such as Beta, Key, or Anchor cannot be transferred to
o
NHS.
In order to facilitate the accurate tracking of hours, turn in completed forms within two weeks of the project
o
date. (Since the form would be complete with signatures and contact information at the end of the event, all
you have to do is drop by E104 and put it in the box, or give it to one of the sponsors or officers.) Hour forms
filled out more than two weeks after the project will not be considered and counted toward your service
requirement.
Participating in Projects
NHS offers projects throughout the year for its members. However, other opportunities outside of the club,
o
such as through church or a scout organization, are also available. If you wish to turn in hours from such a
project, you must get the project pre-approved by one of the sponsor. Out-of-club/Pre-approval forms are
available from Mrs. Williams in E104; fill out the Pre-approval part and have Mrs. Williams (E104) or Ms.
Foti (E103) sign the form before you perform the service. Projects that you have completed and attempt to
approve “ex post facto” will not be considered.
ADVERTISEMENT
0 votes
Related Articles
Related forms
Related Categories
Parent category: Business