Qualifications for membership

To earn membership in the SHH:

To be eligible for membership in the SHH, students must meet the following criteria:

a) Student must be actively enrolled in an upper level Spanish class (Spanish III or higher)

b) Student must have completed at least four semesters of Spanish.

c) Transfer students must have spent one full semester in the Whiteland Community High School program before eligibility.

d) Student must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

e) Student must have a cumulative SPANISH GPA average of 3.3 or higher from all previous courses.

f) Student must never have failed a class due to attendance.

g) Student must have a good behavior record and no discipline issues on record.

Students who believe they meet the qualifications above may apply to join the “IN el Guaraní” chapter. The students will submit an application where they answer a series of questions. The students will also need 2 (two) teacher recommendations to be considered for membership. The students will be selected according to their desires and commitment to be a member of the chapter. 

Qualifications for continued membership

To continue membership in the SHH, students must:

1. Each year members commit to fulfilling an activity from each of the following categories: Academic Commitment and Community Commitment.

2. Academic commitment may be defined in part as: current enrollment in a Spanish class and/or another world language while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.3.

3. Academic and Community Commitment may be defined as fifteen points of active participation. At least five of the points must be community service hours either provided by the SHH chapter or related to Spanish. Examples are participation in the following: in an appointed SHH leadership role; in a donation or fundraising drive benefiting a local, national or international Latino community/organization; or working on a special project that serves Spanish-speaking people in any city area, participating in SHH-sponsored events/fundraisers, preparing for SHH State Conference.

a) If a member is enrolled in a Spanish class (or another World Language offered at Whiteland Community High School), the student will fulfill 10 points for the academic school year.

b) If a member is NOT enrolled in a Spanish class (or another World Language offered at Whiteland Community High School), the student will fulfill 15 points for the academic school year.

c) All points are based on the hours of active participation in service/volunteering, academic, language, or cultural activities.

4. Students meet monthly at the discretion of the SHH sponsor with a 75% attendance rate with the purpose to discuss, plan, and generate participation for: the initiation ceremony, Spanish tutoring, fundraisers and drives, holiday cultural exposure, application and preparation for the Junior Travel Award and the Senior Scholarship Award, submissions to Albricias, etc.

5. Students must continue to demonstrate academic integrity and character: i.e. no recorded incidents of cheating, plagiarism, misconduct, insubordination or intentional dishonesty.

6. If a student does not complete the Community Commitment or Academic Commitment, he or she may be placed on probationary status for one semester. If requisites for that semester are not met, the student may be removed from the SHH Chapter. 

a) All students must earn a minimum of one third (1/3) of the required points by the end of the first semester. Failure to meet the minimum, will result in probationary status.

7. If a student does not continue in the study of Spanish, he or she is considered an Associate Member during any year not enrolled in a Spanish class. Associate Members may participate in chapter activities and receive graduation regalia, provided that they meet the Academic and Community Commitment of the chapter.

8. Active membership includes participating in at least ONE of the required events/volunteering. Members will be given one required activity opportunity per semester.