Once inducted into the National Honor Society, students must maintain the same high standards in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character that were the basis for their selection.
Academic Standards
To maintain membership, students are required to maintain the academic standards stated in the By-Laws effective at the time of induction. Students must maintain a cumulative overall average of at least an 88.0, as well as a cumulative average of at least 88.0 in the core curriculum courses.
Service Requirements
Members of the National Honor Society are required to perform twenty-five hours of community service each school year (June to May). All hours performed during the summer will count towards the requirement. To receive credit for community service hours, a member must complete the Community Service form which must be signed by an adult supervisor, and turned in by the deadline set by the chapter adviser.
Community service hours may be turned in to the adviser at any time during the year as they are completed. Certain deadlines for turning in hours must be observed, however, in order to ensure that students are on track for completing hours by the end of the school year. Failure to turn in service hours by the deadlines posted for the National Honor Society will result in a warning in accordance with the warnings and dismissals policy.
2011-2012 Dates for Community Service Hours Completion
Jan. 6, 2012 – National Honor Society deadline for completion of at least 12 hours; community service forms due
May 7, 2012 – Deadline for all students to qualify for the “Week of Service Award” (40 hours) or “100 Hours of Service Award;” community service forms due
May 21, 2012 – National Honor Society deadline for completion of 25 hours; community service forms due
Character and Honor
In addition to providing school leadership in the areas of academics and service, members of the National Honor Society are models for character and honor among the student body. Members are expected to demonstrate the same high standards of conduct and attendance as those required in the selection process. Members who receive disciplinary action for conduct or attendance resulting in an in-school detention will receive a warning from the National Honor Society faculty advisory committee in accordance with the warnings and dismissals policy. Members’ disciplinary and attendance records should continue to reflect a commitment to upholding the ideals of character and honor as set forth by the National Honor Society. According to the National Honor Society Handbook, 2005, members of the National Honor Society should:
• Demonstrate the highest standards of honesty and reliability
• Consistently observe school rules and regulations
• Be punctual to school and to classes
• Consistently exemplify desirable qualities of behavior
• Avoid cheating in written work
If a member of the National Honor Society is found to be in violation of the Norfolk Collegiate School Honor Code, then the faculty advisory committee will hold a hearing to discuss the case. The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the warnings and dismissals policy. An honor violation is always a serious matter and immediate dismissal may be recommended by the faculty advisory committee.
Warnings and Dismissals
Members are expected to maintain the same high standards in the areas of academics, character, and service by which they were selected. Members who fall below the standards which were the basis for their selection are promptly warned by the chapter adviser.
Students who fall below membership standards receive a verbal warning for the first occurrence followed by a written warning for the second occurrence. If a student should fall below standards for a third time, he or she will receive written notification of a hearing to consider dismissal. A parent/guardian may be present with the member at the hearing. The primary focus of the hearing is to allow the member to present his/her case.
Members who are found in violation of the Norfolk Collegiate School Honor Code, or civil law, or those who commit a major offense as stipulated in the Norfolk Collegiate School Parent/Student Guide, do not necessarily have to be warned. Instead, they may be called immediately before the National Honor Society faculty committee for a hearing to consider dismissal.
If the NHS faculty committee votes for dismissal, written notice of the decision is sent to the member, his/her parents, and the Head of the Middle and Upper School. The dismissed member may still appeal: first to the Head of the Middle and Upper School, then to the Headmaster.
If a Junior NHS member is dismissed, the student may be eligible for membership in the senior division in his/her sophomore year if he/she meets the requirements.
In the Senior NHS, however, once dismissed, a student may not be a member again.
Any questions regarding the rules for maintaining membership in the senior division of the National Honor Society should be directed to Mrs. Blair Swoope, National Honor Society adviser.