Capítulo María

Sponsor: Lorena Llano-Herbst

Spanish Honor Society Constitution

The name of this organization is the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica , Capítulo María also known as the Spanish Honor Society, Maria Chapter, and shall be referred to in this document as “SHH”.

Article II  --   Preamble

The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica is an honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and Portuguese and is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Formally organized as the Spanish National Honor Society in 1953, the name was changed in 1959. At present there are over 1,700 national and international chapters.

The purpose of the society is to recognize high achievement of high school students in the Spanish and Portuguese languages and to promote a continuing interest in Hispanic and Portuguese studies.

The offices are as follows: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and one Historian. The President shall preside over all meetings.  In the event the President can not preside over the meeting; the Vice President over the meeting. The Treasurer shall maintain all financial records.   The Secretary shall keep records of  attendance. The Historians shall be responsible for the year’s scrapbook.

Article IV --   Selection of Officers

Prospective Nominees must turn in a letter of intent to the club sponsor stating their interest in qualifications for the position.  Qualifications for holding an office are as follows: be a member of the SHH, a member of Las Avispas and be currently enrolled in a Spanish class.

Article V --   Term of Office

One full academic year.  Officers are elected in May for the following school year.

Article VI --  Voting

Voting will be based on grades and teacher recommendations.

Article VII --  Vacancies 

When an officer resigns or is removed, the vacancy will be filled following the procedure in Article IV.

Article VIII  --  Membership 

Induction takes place in March and membership criteria is as follows:

1.       Be currently enrolled in Spanish III  Honors or above

2.       Be a junior or senior

3.       Earn three consecutive semesters of “A”  in Spanish (level II, III H and above) and maintain a GPA pf 3.5 (unweighted) .

4.       The student must exhibit good citizenship.

5.       Member of Las Avispas (Spanish Club) for two years.  A gap of one year between Spanish Club memberships is allowed as long as you are a member of the Spanish Club the same year as induction into SHH(i.e freshman year membership and junior year membership(as long as at the year of the induction you are a registered member). 

6.       Member must render 10 hours of community service per semester on the year they are active as members.

7.       A one time $65* fee is required.   This includes National Dues, Induction Fees and the Honor Cords.    (*  This fee is subject to national fee increases.)

8.       Individuals who meet the criteria will be sent a letter of invitation by the Sponsor to join SHH. 

9.       Students who are accepted into SHH will sign an honor agreement wherein they are advised that if they have two absences from the meetings or events, they may not wear the gold and red honor cords during graduation.  

A.      Members who drop out of Spanish after having been inducted as Honor Society members will no longer have  membership. The individual will be sent a letter terminating his/her membership in SHH.  The individual whose membership is terminated will not be permitted to wear the red and gold honor cords at graduation.

B.      Renewal of Membership – Each member who earns an “A” (unweighted) in Spanish every semester after induction and exhibits good citizenship will have his/her membership renewed.

1.       To serve as tutors. (2 absences equals one overall absence.)

2.       To help the Spanish teachers in any manner they see fit, as well as the school community when necessary (i.e. school tutoring, tutoring migrant workers, fundraiser-Bake sale, collecting items for different organizations, Spanish Honor Society approved community services)

3.       To adhere to the Honor Agreement of Chapter María and of Bishop Moore Catholic High School.

4.       To uphold the pledge of excellence in the studies of the Spanish language.

5.       To participate in the activities of the Chapter such as mandatory meetings, bake sales, school projects, school supplies collections, clothes collections (Two absences equals a loss of membership and you will not receive Honor Cord.)

Article IX  --   Finances  

The Sponsor’s signature is required for any financial transaction. Funds are to be spent according to Chapter’s needs.

Article X  --   Meetings -Attendance

Meetings are called approximately once a month (first Thursday of the month- 3:15 pm), but if a special meeting is needed, one will be held.  The members will notified by the school’s morning announcements and emails sent by the Sponsor. Attendance to all functions is mandatory.  (Two absences equals a loss of membership and you will not receive Honor Cord.)

The advisor (Sponsor) shall be a teacher  that supports the club and what it stands for.  He/she must be consulted on all orders of business before they may be carried out.  He/she must  be present at all of the organization’s gatherings.

Article XII  --  Publications

All publications of the organization must comply with the Office of Student Development’s “Advertising and Signs” regulations and other pertinent regulations in this document.  The Office of Student Development must formally approve all publications.  Any requirements shall be specified.

Article XIII  --   Authority/Supremacy

All student organizations are subject to the policies and procedures of Bishop Moore High School and the Office of Student Development.

Article XIV --   External Affiliations

The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica is affiliated with the AATSP (American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese).