Bylaws of Stafford Middle School National Junior Honor Society ARTICLE I NAME AND PURPOSE The name of this organization shall be the Stafford Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). The purpose of this organization shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, to develop character, and to encourage citizenship. ARTICLE II THE PRINCIPAL The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter. The principal shall annually appoint a chapter advisor and faculty council, who may serve consecutive terms. The principal shall be a part of the local district appeal process for non-selection or dismissal cases. ARTICLE III THE CHAPTER ADVISOR The chapter advisor shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter and act as liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community. The chapter advisor shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions. The chapter advisor shall regularly review each member for compliance with Society standards and obligations. ARTICLE IV FACULTY COUNCIL The faculty council shall consist of up to five voting faculty members appointed annually by the principal. The faculty council shall meet twice a year, at the beginning of the semester, to select members. Other meetings may be held as needed. The principal, advisor, and faculty council may develop and revise, when necessary, all chapter procedures for selection, disciplining, and dismissal of members.
ARTICLE V MEMBER SELECTION Section 8. Section 9. Section 10. Membership in the chapter is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by faculty council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, service, and citizenship. Once selected, members have the responsibility to demonstrate these qualities. A National Junior Honor Society member who transfers to Stafford Middle School and brings a letter from the former principal or chapter adviser to the Stafford Middle School chapter adviser shall be accepted automatically as a member. Transfer members must meet all the chapter s standards within one semester in order to retain membership. To become eligible for membership students must be a member of the seventh or eighth grade and must be in attendance at Stafford Middle School. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 94% for the previous semester in all core subjects. Before determining the average, six points shall be added to the semester grade in each course which is deemed to qualify as an honors class. This qualification is provided by the district. Students must have citizenship grades of E or S in all classes for the qualifying semester. Students must NOT have been assigned to multiple ShortTerm ISS placements, ISS, or OSS for the current school. Candidates who qualify scholastically shall then be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Upon receiving an invitation to join NJHS, candidates will be required to attend an informational meeting and complete a Candidate Questionnaire/Acceptance form and return it within the qualifying window with two teacher recommendations and dues to be considered for membership. The selection of each member shall be by a majority vote of the faculty council. Notification will be within two weeks of the qualifying deadline. Dues will be returned to any candidate who is not selected for membership. There will only be a spring induction and a candidate must be present at both the rehearsal and the induction to be selected for membership in the NJHS. ARTICLE VI MEMBERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES Candidates are required to uphold all standards by which they were selected according to the NJHS Bylaws once they have been notified of qualifying for the NJHS. Once inducted as full members, members must maintain the same standards by which they were selected. Members must maintain an overall average of 94% across ALL classes for each six week period, with no individual core class average below 80%. Before determining the average, six points shall be added to the six weeks grade in each course which is deemed to qualify as an honors class.
Members must maintain citizenship grades of E and S in all classes and must not have been assigned to multiple Short-term ISS placements, ISS, or OSS. Members must complete at least 4 community service hours each six week period, for a total of 20 hours by the end of the 5th six weeks. Service hours must be turned into Sponsor within two school days after the end of the six weeks period in order to qualify. New members are responsible for completing 4 service hours for the 6th six weeks only. All service hours must be documented on the service hour sheet designated by the sponsor. If a member chooses to complete service hours over the summer, they may use these for the first six weeks requirement only. If a member chooses to complete service hours over the winter holiday break, they may use these for the fourth six weeks requirement only. Members must attend all official meetings of the chapter. Official meetings will be held at least once each six weeks. Each member may be absent up to 2 meetings for the school year providing they provide at least 1 day notice to the Sponsor and review meeting minutes provided. Failure to attend meetings without prior approval from the sponsor may result in probation or impending dismissal from the chapter. In particular, when a member incurs his/her second unexcused absence from a chapter meeting, he/she will be placed on probation. Continued failure to attend meetings will result in dismissal. Attendance at the spring induction ceremony is required. ARTICLE VII PROBATION, DISMISSAL, AND RESIGNATION Members who fail to maintain the academic and/or citizenship requirements stipulated in the Membership Selection and Membership Responsibilities section of these bylaws shall be placed on probation. Evaluation will occur at the end of each six weeks grading period. A member will be placed on probation if any of the following apply: receives an N or U in citizenship in any class receives a cumulative grade point average in core classes under 94% (6-point rule will apply) receives a grade below 80% in any core class has been assigned to multiple short-term ISS, OSS, or Friday Night Reflections does not meet the 4 service hours The probation period will be for the next six week period. If a member is placed on probation a second time during the school year, the member is subject to dismissal. The member will be notified in writing of the right to a hearing to explain any extenuating circumstances related to the second probation. The member has the right to resign. Resignation from the NJHS shall involve the submission of a written statement by the resigning member that is dated and signed by both the student and his/her parent(s). Verbal resignations are insufficient to end membership. A member who resigns or is dismissed will not be eligible for the NJHS the following year.
ARTICLE VIII DUES Each member shall pay dues of $ 20.00 per year to support the activities of the organization, as determined is needed at the beginning of the school year. Membership shall not be denied as a result of the inability to pay dues. ARTICLE IX OFFICERS Section 8. Section 9. Officer positions for this organization may include president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and historian. The president shall preside over meetings, ensure order through the use of parliamentary procedure, establish committees as needed, and monitor the status and follow through of all committee work. The vice president shall take over presidential duties when the president is unable to do so and shall be in charge of service projects. The secretary shall record minutes at meetings, present minutes for approval at each meeting, keep attendance, and handle chapter correspondence. The treasurer shall collect dues and maintain an accurate financial record. The historian shall take pictures of chapter activities, provide the local newspaper with information about activities, and maintain a scrapbook. Officers shall serve for one school year or until their successors are elected and installed. Each officer shall be a member in good standing and shall be installed at a special ceremony. A majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to elect an officer. ARTICLE X EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The executive committee shall consist of the officers and the adviser. The executive committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the chapter between its business meetings and shall make recommendations to the chapter. All actions and recommendations of the executive committee shall be subject to the review of the chapter membership. The executive committee shall have the responsibility for ensuring that chapter activities and procedures follow school policy and regulations. ARTICLE XI MEETINGS The chapter shall hold official meetings once each six weeks during the school year. Additional meetings may be called based on need.
Regular attendance to meetings is required. Failure to attend two meetings during the school year without prior approval from the advisor may result in probation or impending dismissal from the chapter. ARTICLE XII ACTIVITIES Members shall aid teachers in various activities, including tutorial periods by working with other students who have been assigned to the teacher s tutorials. Members shall aid the school in various activities, including special events such as Camp Sparta and Multicultural Night. All members are encouraged to identify activities within their community. Members must obtain parental approval for all activity involvement. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in a service projects which reflect his or her particular talents and interests. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.