Union Christian Academy

Union Christian Academy Hadar הֲדַר

High School Honor Society

And Junior Honor Society Bylaws

 

Purpose:  To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of UCA.

 

Membership:  Membership into the UCA High School Honor Society is an honor bestowed upon a student.  Membership is not a right or an elected position, but a privilege enjoyed by those students who demonstrate outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service.  Membership is not automatically conveyed simply because a student has a 3.00 GPA. 

 

UCA High School Honor Society shall include students 10th through 12th grade and induct new students in mid-March.  UCA Junior Honor Society shall include 7th grade students through 10th grade and will induct new students in mid-March.  Honor Society will also be responsible for holding an Honor’s Banquet the first Tuesday in May. 

 

Membership Process and Benchmarks:

1.      Achieve cumulative 3.00 GPA on a 4.0 scale

-Grades will be checked in January for the induction ceremony in February

Student induction into the UCA High School Honor Society shall be in at least 10th grade and shall have at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA in the Louisiana State Transcript System and should include all high school credits.

Student induction into the UCA Junior Honor Society shall be in at least 7th grade and shall have at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA from grades 6th through the current semester.

2.       The sponsor shall notify the prospective inductees with a written letter which should include a Candidate Application Form and should be returned before the set deadline along with the $5 membership fee.  (the fee will be returned if student is not approved)  Students who fail to complete the honor society application form or fail to turn the form in by the due date will not be considered for membership.

3.      Students will be evaluated and approved by majority vote of the UCA Faculty Council on the basis of service, leadership, and character. 

4.      The sponsor shall notify the inductees and their parents with an invitation to the induction ceremony which will be held on the second mid-March.

 

Non-Selection.  If a student or parent/guardian(s) have questions pertaining to non-selection they must first contact the chapter sponsor.  Should students or parents not be satisfied, the next level of discussion should take place with the principal.

 

Transfer Members.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to Union Christian Academy should bring a letter from their former principal or former sponsor and will be accepted on probation membership for one semester in this chapter.  To maintain membership the transfer student must meet all UCA Honor Society membership requirements.

 

After being accepted the member must:

1.      Maintain a 3.00 GPA

2.      Complete 15 hours of community service per year February to February with a maximum of 7 hours obtained during summer

3.      Actively participate in the society sponsored project

4.      Uphold the honor society standards

5.      Attend a minimum of 75% of meetings/activities

 

Responsibilities of the Advisor:

  1.  Set an example of scholarship, leadership, character, and service for others to follow.
  2. Approve all chapter activities and inform the Principal of such activities.
  3. Maintain all chapter records and send the annual report to the national office.
  4. Attend all meetings and assure that proper procedure is followed by the officers.
  5. Provide direction to the chapter members concerning opportunities for service.
  6. Work with the Faculty Council in selecting, disciplining, or dismissing members.
  7. Promote chapter activities.
  8. Stimulate positive action by members.

 

Responsibilities of Members:

  1.  Set an example of scholarship, leadership, character and service for others to follow.
  2.  Maintain the standard by which they were selected.
  3. Attend 75% of meetings/activities.
  4. Participate in a majority of the planned chapter service projects.
  5. Document a minimum of 15 hours of community service each year.
  6. Attend and participate in the induction ceremony for new members.

 

 

Election of Officers

Junior Honor Society.  9th graders wishing to run for an office shall notify the sponsor by the last Tuesday of February.  Elections will take place the first week of March in a scheduled JHS meeting.  The exchange of officers will be observed at the induction ceremony in mid-March.

 

High Honor Society.   Juniors wishing to run for an office shall notify the sponsor by the third Thursday of April.  Elections will take place the last week of April in a scheduled NHS meeting.  The exchange of office will be observed at the Honor Society banquet which is held the first week of May.

 

 

Procedure for Election.

  1.  Candidates shall be listed on one ballot in alphabetical order.  
  2. Members shall vote by secret ballot for up to four candidates to fill the 5 positions.  There will be no electioneering in the area around voting.  A ballot will be discarded if too many votes are cast.
  3. The five candidates who receive the most votes will be offered the positions.  The candidate who receives the most votes will be offered their choice position, the candidate with the next votes will be offered and so forth.
  4. The principal will be notified of the election results.
  5. Exchange of officers will take place at the respective ceremonies.

 

Duties and Responsibilities of Officers.  All officers are required to help decorate for the Induction Ceremony and Banquet. 

            The President shall have the following duties:

1.       Oversee daily operations of the organization

2.      Decide on yearly project with advisor

3.      Make decisions with the advisor for the organization

4.      Interact with the principal

5.      Be aware of discipline problems in the organization

6.      Make sure all materials are present for induction ceremony

7.      Preside at the Induction Ceremony and give a speech on “Leadership”

 

The Vice-President shall have the following duties:

1.       Obtain guest speaker for the induction ceremony

2.      Oversee fundraisers with the treasurer

3.      In charge of refreshments for teachers and guest before/after the induction ceremony

4.      Organize signs for projects and fundraising

5.      Deliver an Induction Ceremony speech on “Character”

 

The Secretary shall have the following duties:

1.      Keep track of community service hours

2.      Keep attendance at meetings

3.      Keep minutes of all meetings

4.      Send letters to guests for induction ceremony

5.      Deliver an Induction Ceremony speech on “Scholarship”

 

The Treasurer shall have the following duties:

1.       Collect dues

2.      Maintain financial record with advisor

3.      Work on fundraising with the vice-president

4.      Assist secretary with tracking community service hours

 

 

The Historian shall have the following duties:

1.       Organize publicity

2.      Collect clippings and photos in the UCA Honor Society Scrapbook

3.       Help vice-president with refreshments at induction ceremony

4.      Keep the UCA Honor Society Member Book to be signed at the induction ceremony

5.      Deliver an Induction Ceremony speech on “Service”

 

 

Removal of officers.  The removal of officers may be affected by a 2/3 vote of the membership.  Written documentation detailing the reason(s) for removal shall be provided to the officer facing removal by the chapter advisor, and the officer shall have an opportunity to defend himself/herself before the membership.  In the event an office comes open during the school year, the procedure for election will be followed in order to fill the vacancy.

 

 

Dismissal Process:

1.      Except in the case of a flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws, a member is entitled to written warnings from the Chapter Advisor concerning the nature of their deficiency and the steps required to correct the deficiency.  A copy of these warnings shall be sent to the parent(s) of the students and to the Principal.

2.       The sponsor must schedule a hearing before the faculty council with the student present to discuss student’s offense.  The faculty council must agree by majority vote to dismiss the student.  The student will be informed of the council decision that day and will receive a written notice of the decision that shall be sent to the member, the member’s parent/guardian, and the principal.

3.      If a member is dismissed, the Faculty Council shall provide written notice of the decision to the member, his or her parents, and the principal. 

4.      The dismissed member may appeal to the principal.

5.      A dismissed member shall never again be eligible of membership or its benefits. 

 

 

Member can be referred for dismissal:

1.      Students shall be put on probation if his/her GPA falls below the mandatory 3.00.   A student shall have a period of 2 consecutive 9 weeks to raise their grade point average to the mandatory 3.00 GPA.  If the goal is not met after the probation period the student will be dismissed from the NHS.

2.      Failure to maintain 15 documented hours of community service per year.

3.      Failure to attend 75% of meetings/activities

4.      Two office referrals for strikes per year

5.      Failure to uphold character issues that include but not limited to:  cheating; alcohol or drugs; fights; disrespect property, faculty, staff, or another student

6.      Failure to exemplify positive leadership to the society, school, or community

 

 

 

 

 

Character Qualities:

 

Scholarship

High Honor Society must maintain a 3.00 GPA in all high school courses according to the Louisiana Transcript System.  GPA will be checked every semester.

Junior Honor Society must maintain a 3.00 overall GPA for classes accumulated from 6th grade to present.  GPA will be checked every semester.

 

Leadership

            The number of offices a student has held in school or community organizations or role as a captain of a sports team is an important aspect of leadership.  However, leadership also exists outside elected/appointed positions including effective participation in other co-curricular activities.  The following are some examples of a student who exemplifies leadership.

a.        Identifies issues and purposes solutions to problems

b.      Promotes school activities

c.       Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideals

d.      Seeks positions of responsibility

e.       Is reliable and dependable

 

Character

            A student of character demonstrates the following qualities:

a.        Honesty and integrity

b.      Respect for self and others

c.       Responsibility and Reliability

d.      Fairness, compassion, and caring

e.       Observes instruction and rules

f.       Actively helps improve the school environment

g.      Faithful both inside and outside of school

h.      Does the right thing even when not being observed

 

Service

            Service is considered to be those actions that are done with or on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation.  Service may include contributions to school, classmates, or to the community.  A student who demonstrates service exhibits the following:

a.       Volunteers and provides dependable and well organized assistance

b.      Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school

c.       Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students

d.      Participates in some outside community activity

e.       Works well with others (team player) and is willing to take on difficult tasks without being asked.

f.       Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service for the school.

 

Citizenship

            Both actions and attitudes are important for good citizenship.  An aspect of good citizenship is a person’s willingness to work hard to help his/her family, school, and community.  Good citizenship shows caring and concern for vulnerable members of the wider community.  Good citizenship is demonstrated by the following:

a.        Peacefully settling disputes

b.      Responsibility for family, school and community

c.       Treating others as one would like to be treated

d.      Respect for the US Flag

e.       Respect for one’s parents and home

f.       Respect for others’ views and beliefs

g.      Protects the environment

h.      Challenges injustice to make a positive difference.

 

 

 

Some types of unacceptable service hours are as follows:

1.       Any activity which you are paid with money or favors

2.      Any activity in which you directly help a family member, relative, or friend, such as babysitting

3.      Attending church

 

 

Meetings:

 

  1. The chapter shall have regularly called meeting during the school year designated by the advisor and officers.  The chapter advisor reserves the right to cancel meetings provided they be rescheduled.   An attempt should be made to hold one meeting each nine weeks.
  2.  Members are required to attend at least 75% of the meetings/activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This bylaw will preside over Union Christian High and Junior Honor Society.

 

 

Revised 2-15-2011