National Honor Society Chapter Bylaws

The idea that one has an obligation to use one’s talents, skills, and knowledge for the betterment of others is the cornerstone of the Society’s membership, activities, and projects. Some qualifications are:

Service

1. Willingness to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude.
2. Involvement in the school community. A minimum of two school related activities is required. Participation in some outside activities or service is encouraged.
3. Willingness to represent the school in inter-scholastic competition, community projects, or special events.
4. Serve the school when called upon.

Character

Character consists of a willingness to adhere to school rules and regulations in spirit and practice. Some guidelines are:

1. Uphold principles of the school as enumerated in the student handbook.
2. Accumulate no suspensions.
3. Uphold principles of morality and ethics.
4. Demonstrated the highest standards of honesty.
5. Show courtesy and respect for others.
6. Observe instructions and rules; demonstrate punctuality and faithfulness both inside and outside the classroom.
7. Manifest truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in any form, and show no willingness to profit from the mistakes of others.

Leadership

Leadership is a highly important criterion for membership selection. Leadership is not confined to elected positions in school and community organizations, but includes active participation in verified organizations. Some guidelines for leadership are:

1. Resourcefulness in proposing new programs, applying principles, and making suggestions.
2. Demonstrate leadership in promoting school activities,
3. Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideas.
4. Contributes ideas to improve the civic life of the school.
5. Successfully holds school positions of responsibility and is reliable.
6. Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted.

1. Students must have been in this school the equivalent of one semester.
2. Academic requirements are set by the National Council and are based on a student’s cumulative scholastic average. The required standing of excellence for the National Honor Society at West Chester B. Reed Henderson High School is as follows:

Effective for the Fall of 2011, prospective and current members must maintain a weighted cumulative academic GPA of:

1. 1. 3.5000 or higher for members of the Classes of 2012 thru 2014
   2. 4.0000 or higher for members of the Class of 2015 and beyond All current members of the National Honor Society will not earn a failing grade in any subject for any marking period. If a student earns a failing grade in any marking period (including 4th marking period for inducted juniors), they will be dismissed from the National Honor Society and will not be honored as society members at graduation.

3. All prospective members must have no Disciplinary Level II or III Offenses in grades 9-10. If there is an offense, it will be reviewed by the Faculty Advisory Council prior to the candidate being asked to join. If there is more than one offense, the candidate will not be considered for membership to the National Honor Society. If there is a Level II offense in Grade 11 or 12 the student will not be considered for admission to the National Honor Society. Receipt of a Disciplinary Level ii or III Offense will result in the immediate dismissal of the candidate member from the review process and current members of the National Honor Society will be dismissed from membership. If a student is rejected from the membership process in their junior year due to Level II or III disciplinary offenses or other character issues (to include plagiarism, cheating, violations of Extra-Curricular Code of Conduct), they will not be considered for membership in their senior year.

4. All prospective and current members will abide by the WCASD attendance policy. The issuance of a Saturday School obligation resulting from excessive tardiness will result in the review of the individual’s membership status in the National Honor Society.

5. Character is an important pillar of the National Honor Society. In acknowledgment of this, prospective and current members of the National Honor Society will be held to the tenets presented in the Extra-Curricular Code of Conduct. Violations of this code both on and off campus will result in review of the member’s status within the National Honor Society. In addition, cheating and plagiarism of any form will result in the immediate review of a prospective or current member’s status in the National Honor Society.