The purpose of this organization shall be to foster enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to develop character and citizenship in the students of Darien High School. The Darien High School Chapter of the National Honor Society shall be under the sponsorship and supervision of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), 1904 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1537.

 

The following are excerpts from the Constitution and Bylaws of the DHS NHS:

 

Selection of Members:

1. Members are to be selected on the basis of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character.
2. In the fall of either the junior or senior year, students who meet the minimum academic requirement (minimum GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale) will be notified of their eligibility for membership by mail by the Chapter Advisor.
3. Candidates who wish to be considered for membership must attend an informational meeting describing the privilege, honor, and responsibilities that are part of the National Honor Society, as well as the process by which one becomes a member.

At that time, candidates will be instructed how and when to complete a Student Activity / Information Package that includes:

1. Leadership Activities – Each candidate shall demonstrate leadership by active membership in at least two organizations, one of which is affiliated with Darien High School, in which the candidate has lead others to a clear goal or objective.
2. Service Activities – Each candidate shall demonstrate service by having completed at least three service projects involving a total of at least twelve hours of service within the past two years. At least one project of three hours must have been done directly through Darien High School or as part of a club or organization at DHS. Service is defined as a positive, non-self-serving contribution to the welfare of others. Activities for which a candidate received a grade or credit in a class,
   received monetary or other remuneration, or was part of a fundraising activity designed to directly benefit the candidate, among other things, are not considered service.
3. Personal Essay – Each candidate shall write a personal essay on a topic to be provided by the Chapter Advisor (all candidates will receive the same topic).
4. Character Reference – Each candidate shall submit one letter of recommendation from an unrelated individual who can specifically attest to the candidate’s character. (Disciplinary records of all candidates will be checked by the Chapter Advisor, and any disciplinary referrals occurring after the freshman year will be shared with the Faculty Council.)

The names of candidates who have submitted completed Student Activity / Information Packages on time will be included on a Faculty Evaluation Form that is to be distributed to all faculty members, coaches, and staff. Each staff member will be asked to provide a rating of character, leadership, citizenship, and service for each candidate with whom they are familiar. Each staff
member will also be encouraged to include comments, which will be shared with the Faculty Council.

 

Disciplinary records of all candidates will be checked by the Chapter Advisor, and any disciplinary referrals occurring after the freshman year will be shared with the Faculty Council.

A summary of the materials will then be produced (without the names of the individual candidates attached) and provided to the members of the Faculty Council.

Once the Faculty Council has had time to review the submitted/collected materials, they will convene (in closed session) to discuss and vote on candidates. Candidates must receive at least 3 of 5 votes to qualify for membership.

 

The Chapter Advisor shall notify all candidates in writing of the decision made by the Faculty Council.

Members are publicly inducted at the annual Induction Ceremony.

 

 

1. Membership in the Darien chapter, as in all National Honor Societies, is an honor, a privilege, and a responsibility bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by a Faculty Council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, citizenship, leadership, and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility of continuing to demonstrate these qualities.
2. Members of the National Honor Society shall continue to demonstrate the qualities upon which their selection was based, striving to provide exemplary leadership and volunteer service to Darien High School and the community.
3. All NHS members are expected to attend NHS functions, including, but not limited to, fund raising activities, service activities, and the annual Induction Ceremony. NHS members must attend all monthly society meetings. A member who has more than one unexcused absence from a scheduled activity will risk dismissal from the NHS.
4. All NHS members must display exemplary character. Any act that calls a member’s character into question may result in dismissal from the NHS.
5. All NHS members must display exemplary scholarship. NHS members must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.7 (on a 4.0 point scale) and a quarterly scholastic average of 3.7 (on a 4.0 point scale) in order to maintain membership. Academic averages will be examined at the end of each quarter and cumulative GPA’s will be examined at the end of each semester. NHS members who fall below the aforementioned standard shall be given one quarter in which to bring their academic standing back to level required for membership. This accommodation will be made no more than once for any member
6. All NHS members must perform ongoing community service.

• 30 hours of community/school service must be completed each school year (3 hours per month).
• 15 of the 30 required hours are to be earned as part of a project that is not sponsored by the National Honor Society or another Darien High School organization (see Article XI – Section 4 of the DHS NHS Constitution).

1. There shall be no such thing as ‘automatic dismissal’ from the Darien Chapter of the National Honor Society.
2. Students may receive a warning for failing to maintain the standards by which they were selected for membership. The warning shall be in the form of a letter from the Chapter Advisor. A copy of the letter will also be sent to
   the parents of the member and the Darien High School Principal. (Please refer to Article VII – Section 2 of the Darien NHS Constitution for situations that do not warrant any warning prior to the initiation of dismissal proceedings).
3. Failure to maintain the required academic standing will result in the member being placed on probation for a period of one quarter. If, at the end of that quarter, the deficiency has not been corrected, the Chapter Advisor (s) may initiate dismissal proceedings.
4. Any member who fails to address service deficiencies after the first warning (and subsequent penalty) will risk dismissal.
5. Members are allowed a single warning for minor infractions. If a second infraction takes place after the initial warning, notification of the initiation of dismissal proceedings will be sent to the student along with details regarding the procedure for a hearing before the Faculty Council.
6. In all cases of impending dismissal, a member shall have the right to a hearing before the Faculty Council. After being notified of the initiation of dismissal proceedings, it is the responsibility of the member to contact the Chapter Advisor within five school days to schedule a mutually convenient meeting time. After five days, the Chapter Advisor may choose to continue with dismissal proceedings without the aforementioned hearing.
7. The Faculty Council shall meet, in closed session, to discuss the details of the pending dismissal and vote on whether or not to dismiss the member.
8. The decision of the Faculty Council will be communicated in writing to the member, the parents of the member, the Darien High School Principal, and the National secretary of the National Honor Society.
9. The member may appeal the Faculty Council’s decision to the Darien High School Principal.
10. Students who are dismissed are never again eligible for membership in the National Honor Society.
11. Resignation from the Darien Chapter of the National Honor Society shall be done in writing. Verbal resignations are insufficient to terminate membership.

1. Regular meetings of the chapter shall be held monthly the first Thursday of the month during the school year.
2. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held semimonthly during the school year.
3. Committee meetings shall be scheduled by the Committee Chairperson as needed.
4. Attendance at all meetings and the annual Induction Ceremony is required for all members. A complete, updated list of meeting times for the current academic year may be viewed at www.darienps.org/nhs.

 

 

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