Alan B. Shepard High School National Honor Society HANDBOOK 2016-2017 Mrs. Meghan Sisk Mrs. Lisa Mahoney Sponsors FORWARD: This handbook was compiled in order to provide students with the information needed to understand the expectations they are asked to fulfill in the National Honor Society and the responsibilities they have in being a member. Membership in the National Honor Society is not a right, but a privilege. Membership is an honor bestowed upon a student because he/she has demonstrated qualities of excellence in the areas of leadership, service, character, and scholarship. All members must continue to demonstrate these qualities throughout their time here at Alan B. Shepard High School.
MEETINGS There will be meetings one Wednesday each month, unless otherwise noted. Members are expected to attend and sign in at each meeting. Leaving any meeting early will result in not being counted as present for attendance purposes. Failure to attend at least 6 meetings during the year will result in a member not being considered in good standing and being placed on probation. If circumstances prevent you from attending a meeting, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what occurred. Service projects and current activities are topics at each meeting. The dates for each meeting are: Wednesday, August 31, 2016 Seniors only Wednesday, September 28, 2016 Seniors only Wednesday, October 26, 2016 Seniors only Wednesday, November 30, 2016 Wednesday, January 18, 2017 Members placed on probation only Wednesday, January 25, 2017 Wednesday, February 22, 2017 Wednesday, April 19, 2017 (Pass out election packets; packets due Friday, May 5) Wednesday, May 10, 2017 (Election for next year s officers; current Juniors and Officers present) Wednesday, May 17, 2017 (Meeting for current senior officers and next year s officers) *There MAY also be mandatory emergency meetings throughout the school year for special events (i.e. Blood Drive, Induction, and/or Fund Raisers). *It is important that you regularly check Shepard s daily bulletin and sign up for Remind101 for upcoming meetings or changes in meetings.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Service: Each chapter shall determine one or more service projects for the year. This project shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community; have the support of the administration and faculty; be appropriate and educationally defensible; be well planned, organized, and executed. Additionally, members shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in individual service projects that reflect their particular talents and interests. Service must directly benefit the school or community. Service Requirements & Guidelines: 30 hours of community service is mandatory for all members each year. At least 5 of these hours must be school activities. A list of activities will be provided for early sign up. You must participate in a minimum of two different community activities, and they must benefit the community not an individual. You cannot count fundraising efforts for sports teams/clubs as community service hours. You cannot count fundraising efforts for clubs/sports/school organization as community service hours. No double dipping! If your club/sport/school organization requires you to be at an event, you may not count that time as service for NHS. If you are a member of LEO Club or Key Club, you can use only a total of 5 hours of service from either LEO Club or Key Club to count towards your NHS requirements. You must complete a service hour form for these hours and get the signature of the LEO Club sponsor. You may not use your Freshmen Workroom Mentor experience for service hours. Ambassador hours and NHS hours are two separate things. No double dipping! A NHS log must be completed and submitted if you want the service hours to count as NHS hours. If you have a part-time job, you cannot earn service hours for anything you do at your place of employment. You may not count anything that you have earned monetary compensation for. Caretaking for younger siblings, parents, friends, neighbors, sick relatives, etc. does not count. Housesitting, pet sitting, babysitting, etc. does not count. Tutoring a peer must be overseen by a teacher & that teacher must sign your hour log. Service hours cannot be signed by a parent, guardian, or immediate family member. Service must directly benefit the school or the community. The best way to make sure your service hours will be accepted by NHS is to ask the sponsors BEFORE the event takes place. We reserve the right to reject any hours that do not meet the requirements. Lying about hours or forging a signature will result in an automatic drop from the organization. Please note that we follow up on any hour log that appears to be questionable. If you are having trouble finding places to accumulate service hours, you may want to try: PADS/Homeless Shelters Libraries Girls/Boys Clubs Knights of Columbus Food banks Kiwanis Club www.volunteermatch.org
DUE DATES Senior members first 15 hours: December 16, 2016 no later than NOON New members first 10 hours: December 16, 2016 no later than NOON *All SIGNED hour sheets should be placed in the NHS bin located in the Activities Office. Please place sheets in your folder. Remaining Junior hours due: Friday, April 28, 2017 no later than 3:15pm Remaining Senior/Graduating Juniors hours due: Thursday, April 14, 2017 no later than 3:15pm *It is your responsibility to keep track of your own hours. You may use the additional space provided in this handbook. *Filling out the hour log properly is very important. The more information you provide, the better.
DISCIPLINE & DISMISSAL FROM THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY: Members who fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection shall be warned in writing and in person by the chapter adviser or officers and given a reasonable amount of time to correct the deficiency. If 1 st semester minimum service requirements (10 service hours) have not been met by January 1, 2017, you will be notified at the January meeting. Additionally, you will receive a written warning indicating that you have been placed on probation. This letter will go home to parents as well. o Alternatives and deadlines will be set for your probation by the faculty sponsors to determine how to put you back into good standing with the organization. If you do not comply with what is asked of you by the given deadline, there will be a phone meeting with your parents/guardians and a stamp on your file indicating that you have been dismissed from the National Honor Society. SENIORS: If annual service requirements (30 total service hours) have not been met by April 14, 2017, you will be notified in writing and in person by the faculty sponsors and/or officers and given a brief probationary period to correct the deficiency. The terms of the probation will be set by faculty sponsors. o Parents will be notified of those terms at this time. o You will have until April 28, 2017 to correct the deficiency and meet the terms of your probation. o Failure to comply with what is asked of you by the given deadline will result in dismissal from the National Honor Society. There will be a phone meeting with your parents/guardians and a stamp on your file indicating that you have been dismissed from the National Honor Society. If annual attendance requirements (6 meetings and induction ceremony attendance) have not been met by April 19, 2017, you will be dropped from the organization. JUNIORS: If annual service requirements (30 total service hours) have not been met by April 28, 2017, you will be notified in writing and in person by the faculty sponsors or officers and given a brief probationary period to correct the deficiency. The terms of the probation will be set by faculty sponsors. o Parents will be notified of those terms at this time o You will have until May 16, 2017 to correct the deficiency and meet the terms of your probation. o Failure to comply with what is asked of you by the given deadline will result in dismissal from the National Honor Society. There will be a phone meeting with your parents/guardians and a stamp on your file indicating that you have been dismissed from the National Honor Society. If annual attendance requirements (6 meetings and induction ceremony attendance) have not been met by May 10, 2017, you will be dropped from the organization. ALL: In cases of pending dismissal, a member has the right to a meeting with the Faculty Council. This meeting is required and is considered due process for all members. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits PLEASE NOTE: In the case of flagrant violation of school rules or the law, a member does not have to be warned before dismissal.
SCHOOL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES 8 th Grade Open House November 17, 2016 (6:00-8:00pm) Lemon Family Food Drive Monday, November 21, 2016 (3:15-5:30pm) & Wednesday, November 23, 2016 (1-2:30pm) See Mr. Fisher or Mrs. McLean to volunteer to help sort and deliver food. Adopt a Family Between Thanksgiving and Winter Break Sponsor a family in need for the holiday season. Peer Tutoring Ongoing Cool Place, after school homework help, & Saturday School Registration 10 possible hours (these are only available to junior members) August 2017, Date TBD Parent / Teacher Conference (Spring) 2 hours Senior Awards Night Juniors only - Date and Hours TBD Graduation Juniors Only May 2017 *Additional opportunities will be communicated via Remind and at regularly scheduled NHS meetings.
Name: ID# NHS Participation Checklist ***** Use this sheet as a personal record of your participation in NHS. ***** Meetings: The dates for each meeting are: August 31, 2016 (Seniors Only) September 28, 2016 (Seniors Only) October 26, 2016 (Seniors Only) November 15, 2016 November 30, 2016 January 18, 2017 (Address students on probation) January 25, 2017 February 22, 2017 April 19, 2017 (Pass out officer election packets; packets due Friday, May 6) May 10, 2017 (Election for next year s officers; current Juniors and Senior officers present) May 17, 2017 (Meeting for current senior officers and next year s officers) Induction Practice: November 16, 2016 (8 th period) Induction: November 16, 2016 Community Service First 10 hours due December 18, 2016 Activity 1: # of hours: Activity 2: # of hours: Activity 3: # of hours: Activity 4: # of hours: Activity 5: # of hours: Activity 6: # of hours: Remaining 20 Hours due April 14, 2017 (Seniors) April 28, 2017 (Juniors) Activity 1: # of hours: Activity 2: # of hours: Activity 3: # of hours: Activity 4: # of hours: Activity 5: # of hours: Activity 6: # of hours:
Alan B. Shepard National Honor Society Member Consent Form I,, have thoroughly read and understand the terms of membership of the Alan B. Shepard Chapter of the National Honor Society. By signing this document, I am indicating that I agree to maintain excellence in the areas of leadership, service, character, and scholarship. Additionally, my signature indicates that I understand and agree to the requirements for meeting attendance and service hours, and I understand the discipline and dismissal policies outlined in this handbook. Signature Date Student Phone Number Student Email Address Alan B. Shepard National Honor Society Parent/Guardian Consent Form I,, have thoroughly read and understand the terms of membership of the Alan B. Shepard Chapter of the National Honor Society. By signing this document, I am indicating that I will help my student maintain excellence in the areas of leadership, service, character, and scholarship. Additionally, my signature indicates that I understand and agree to the requirements for meeting attendance and service hours, and I understand the discipline and dismissal policies outlined in this handbook. Signature Date Parent/Guardian Phone Number Parent/Guardian Email Address