Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the National Honor Society of Oak Park High School.
Section 2. The purpose of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in students of Oak Park High School.
Section 1. Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate. Active members become graduate members at graduation. Graduate and honorary members have no vote in chapter affairs.
Section 2. Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty, and shall be based on the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.
Section 3. Eligibility; Membership is based on the following criteria:
Scholarship-
A student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on the unweighted scale.
Candidates eligible for induction in this chapter must be members of the sophomore, junior or senior class.
Leadership-
Students must demonstrate that they have taken the initiative to lead others, either by directing an activity or program or innovating some idea or concept either in school or within the community while in high school.
Students must exhibit on-going and consistent leadership.
Students must demonstrate this from the start of grade 9 until selection.
Service-
Students must have made a significant and consistent contribution in some activity or organization (on a strictly volunteer basis) which promotes the idea of improving the quality of life for others.
Students must demonstrate this from the start of grade 9 until selection.
Character-
Students must demonstrate on a consistent basis maturity, sensitivity, high ethical/moral values, good sportsmanship, and above all- honesty.
Students should be a role model for other students in his/her daily conduct and attitude.
Students with more than one disciplinary action will not be considered for eligibility.
Section 4. Membership in the National Honor Society is permanent unless a student’s performance falls below the standards by which the student was selected. See Article IV.
Section 1. The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council consisting of three faculty members appointed by the principal.
Section 2. Prior to selection, the following shall occur:
Students’ academic and discipline records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
Members of the class of 2026 and beyond must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on the unweighted scale.
Members of the classes of 2024 and 2025 are grandfathered for the duration of their high school membership to a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on the unweighted scale as this was the criteria when the organization was an informal club at Oak Park High School.
Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the OPHS National Honor Society Application, which will be reviewed for selection.
Section 3. The selection of new members shall be held once a year, following official Oak Park Unified School District’s distribution of semester grades over the summer.
Section 4. Candidates become members when inducted at a ceremony each Fall.
Section 5. Upon request, an active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given a letter indicating the status of his/her membership and signed by the Principal and Advisor.
Section 6. An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school, with proof of active membership, will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter. The Faculty Council shall grant to the transferring member one semester to attain the membership requirements and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership.
Section 1. A member is expected to fulfill all expectations of membership. Members who fail to meet these expectations may face probation or dismissal. A member put on probation will receive a written notification from the NHS advisor stating the reason for probation and the steps required to return to the NHS as a member in good standing. The member will have one full semester to take corrective action. Students placed on probation who fail to meet expectations will face a dismissal hearing.
Section 2. A member of the National Honor Society is expected to maintain his/her academic standing, take an active role in service and leadership and exhibit exemplary character while a member of the National Honor Society. Members who fail to maintain those standards may be dismissed from the Oak Park High School Chapter of the National Honor Society.
Section 3. If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below the standard in effect when he/she was selected, the member will be given a written warning and will be placed on probation until the end of the semester to return his/her GPA to NHS standards. If the cumulative grade point average remains below the minimum standard at the end of the probationary period, the student will be subject to dismissal from the chapter.
Section 4: Failure of members to complete 4 service activities by the end of April each school year may result in disciplinary action decided on by the Faculty Council. This may be grounds for probation or dismissal.
Section 5. Violation of the law will result in dismissal of the member. These violations include, but are not limited to: DWI, stealing, destruction of property, truancy, possession, bullying, selling or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Section 7. Violation of the school conduct code may result in a disciplinary hearing and the potential dismissal of the member. These violations include, but are not limited to: use of profanity, cheating, failure to comply, unexcused absence, excessive tardiness.
Section 8. Disciplinary Hearings:
The member will receive written notification from the Advisor indicating the reason for the disciplinary hearing and possible dismissal from the chapter. The member and advisor will discuss the written notification in a conference.
The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him/her at a hearing before the Faculty Council (in accordance with due process identified in Article X of the National Constitution). The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or in writing. The Faculty Council will then discuss whether no action, probation for a specific period of time or dismissal is more appropriate. A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member.
The advisor will send a letter to the member and his/her parents that explain the result of the Faculty Council vote. If the Faculty Council votes for probation, they may suggest the member complete certain tasks to remain in the National Honor Society. Those tasks must be listed in the letter. If the Faculty Council votes for dismissal, the letter sent by the advisor will go to the student, parents, guidance counselor and principal. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the advisor.
The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterwards through the school district discipline policy. When a student is dismissed or resigns, he/she is no longer a member and may never again be considered for membership in the National Honor Society.
Section 1. The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, historian, and treasurer. These officers shall be elected by the membership in the spring of each school year.
Section 2. Student officers shall be elected at the April meeting of each school year. All returning active members who are current with their dues payment are eligible to run for a position as an officer. All active members of the chapter are eligible to vote.
Section 3. A majority vote shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter. If the first vote does not yield a majority, a second vote shall be taken of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings of the chapter and serve as the official representative of the chapter at school and community functions.
Section 5. The vice president shall preside in the absence of the president and shall keep a record of members’ meeting attendance and contributions to leadership and service events.
Section 6. The secretary shall keep the minutes and attendance records for meetings and be responsible for all official correspondence.
Section 7. The historian shall be responsible for maintaining and updating the OPHS NHS website and social media platforms.
Section 8. The treasurer shall keep the record of business expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the chapter.
Section 8. If, in the opinion of the advisor, an officer is not accomplishing their assigned duties in a timely manner, then the membership will be asked to vote on the removal of the offending officer. This vote should be by secret written ballot, counted in the presence of the advisor by the remaining officers. The announcement of the impending vote will occur during one meeting and the vote during the next scheduled meeting.
Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the NHS advisor and the chapter officers.
Section 2. The executive committee shall have general charge of the meetings and the business of the chapter, but any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members.
Section 1. Meetings of this chapter shall be once a month.
Section 3. All chapter members are expected to attend all chapter meetings. If unable to attend, members must let the historian know in writing prior to the meeting of any conflict. Members shall miss no more than 2 meetings in any given school year. Failure to attend meetings may be grounds for probation or dismissal.
Section 1. The chapter shall determine one or more service events for each year.
Section 2. All members shall regularly participate in these events.
Section 3. These service events shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community, have the support of the administration and the faculty, be appropriate and educationally defensible, and be well-planned, organized, and executed.
Section 4. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in service event/s which reflects his or her particular talents and interests.
Section 5. Each member must complete 4 service events during a school year to be considered in good standing.
Section 6. The chapter shall publicize its service events in a positive manner.
Section 1. Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to the membership standards, member obligations & service event requirements shall have the privilege of wearing the National Honor Society cords at graduation.
Section 2. Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is not in good standing with the chapter shall not wear the cords at graduation.
ARTICLE X: DUES
Section 1. Dues in the amount of $25.00 will be paid annually to Oak Park High School National Honor Society. Dues will be payable to the chapter within 30 days of the induction.
Section 1. The chapter advisor(s) is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal.
Section 2. The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter.
Section 3: These bylaws are designed to amplify provisions of the National Constitution and cannot contradict any components thereof. The chapter is obligated to adhere to the provisions of the National Constitution in all activities it undertakes.
Section 1: These bylaws will be approved upon receiving a two-thirds affirmative vote of all active members of the chapter, and approval by the principal.
Section 2: These bylaws shall be reviewed and if necessary, revised within five years from the date of approval noted on this document.
Section 1. By-laws and amendments must be consistent with the Constitution of the National Honor Society. Articles II, III and IV (Membership, Selection and Discipline), which are developed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the principal.
Date: Spring 2023