NJHS Bylaws
Membership in the FSCS National Junior Honor Society is an honor and a privilege. Selection for membership is based on outstanding scholarship, citizenship, character, leadership and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.
The following are by-laws for this organization:
Name and Purpose
The name of this chapter shall be the Frankfort-Schuyler Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society of Frankfort-Schuyler Middle School.
The purpose of this chapter shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, to develop character and to encourage good citizenship in the students of secondary schools.
Powers
This chapter operates under the direction of and in full compliance with the National Constitution of NJHS. See www.njhs.us/constitutions. In addition, this chapter will maintain active affiliation with the national organization on an annual basis.
The chapter advisor is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal. Final authority on all activities and decisions of the chapter resides with the school principal.
Our chapter of NJHS maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent discrimination against any qualified candidate or member on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all practices, including the chapter administration and the selection, discipline, and dismissal of members.
Membership
Membership in the FSCS National Junior Honor Society is an honor and a privilege. Selection for membership is based on outstanding scholarship, citizenship, character, leadership and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.
Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be in the second semester of seventh grade or members of the eighth grade class. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been enrolled for a period equivalent to one semester at Frankfort-Schuyler Middle School.
Scholarship
The scholarship requirement is considered highly important and is based on a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA), which is an average of the student’s overall averages from each middle school grade level completed (beginning with 6th grade), as well as marking periods completed in the current year. The minimum GPA allowable for the Frankfort-Schuyler chapter of the NJHS is 90.0. The scholarship requirement will be reviewed at the end of each marking period.
Leadership
The criteria for leadership includes a variety of areas. A NJHS member is expected to exemplify leadership in school as well as in the community. The student who exercises leadership:
- Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities,
- Exercises a positive influence on peers by upholding school ideals,
- Exemplifies positive attitudes and inspires positive behaviors in others,
- Demonstrates reliability and dependability and maintains a loyal school attitude.
Service
Service is generally considered to be those actions undertaken by a student which are done with or on behalf of others, excluding family members, without any direct compensation or academic credit. Some examples of these activities are:
- Volunteering at a church or community organization (altar server, singing in church choir, boy/girl scouts, AYSO referee, other youth sports, ...)
- Actively participating in fundraising or collecting donations for non-profit organizations, such as St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (Math-A-Thon), Holiday Gift donations (Gram Lorraine, Toys for Tots, etc.), American Cancer Society (Relay for Life, etc.), American Heart Association (Heart Run/Walk), etc.
Members will complete a service form to be signed by a parent to notify the NJHS of any service activity performed outside of school. Members are expected to volunteer or participate in at least 2 service activities per school year.
Character
A person of character demonstrates respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, citizenship and follows the school code of conduct. A student displays character by:
- Taking criticism willingly and accepting recommendations graciously,
- Upholding principles of respect, morality and ethics,
- Regularly showing courtesy, concern and respect for others,
- Having powers of concentration and discipline,
- Showing the highest standards of honesty by not cheating on any schoolwork, plagiarizing or showing willingness to profit by the mistakes of others.
- Acknowledging and demonstrating obedience to school rules such as attendance, appropriate dress and proper conduct at all times.
Selection Procedure
The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the faculty council which consists of five faculty members appointed by the principal. The chapter adviser shall be the sixth, non voting member of the faculty council.
The selection of active members shall be held once a year during the second semester of the school year. Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur:
- Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
- The faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official input form provided by the chapter adviser.
- All students who are eligible (i.e., candidates) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the candidate information form for further consideration.
- The faculty council shall review the candidate information forms, faculty input, and other relevant information to determine those who fully meet the selection criteria for membership.
Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.
Meetings
The NJHS will hold regular meetings. Special meetings may be called as needed. Meeting dates will be posted at least one week in advance.
Members are expected to attend all meetings as important information will be discussed and activities decided. If a member is unable to attend a meeting, he/she must see the advisor or a committee member for information missed at the meeting.
Activities
The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year. All members shall regularly participate in these projects, as they are able.
These projects shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community; have the support of the administration and the faculty; be appropriate and educationally defensible; and be well planned, organized, and executed.
The chapter shall publicize and promote its projects in a positive manner.
Discipline and Dismissal Procedures
A member of the NJHS is expected to maintain his/her academic standing, demonstrate exemplary character and take an active role in service and leadership to his/her school and community. Any member who falls below the standards may be dismissed from the NJHS.
- If a member fails to maintain a cumulative 90.0 GPA at the end of any quarter, he/she will be issued a written warning. If the member’s cumulative GPA remains below 90.0 for a 2nd consecutive marking period, a written warning letter will be mailed home. The student will then be given one marking period to raise their grades to the required level before the NJHScommittee discusses possible dismissal.
- Violation of the law or school regulations can result in dismissal of a member. These violations include, but are not limited to, bullying, stealing, destruction of school property, cheating and/or truancy.
- Students who have been reported by any faculty or staff member to have fallen below the standards of character and/or leadership will be discussed by the faculty committee.
Documented offenses of the school code of conduct (such as use of profanity, insubordination, excessive tardiness, misuse of social media, etc.) will be reviewed by the faculty committee and may result in a written warning or dismissal. A conference may be requested by the student, parent or the faculty committee. If the student is written up for an offense a second time, the member may be dismissed.
- In all cases of pending dismissal:
- The member will receive written notification indicating the reason for consideration of dismissal from the NJHS Advisor/Committee. The member has the right to respond to the charge(s) against him/her at a hearing before the faculty council prior to any vote on dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in Article X of the National Constitution). The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or via a written statement presented in lieu of the face-to-face hearing. Following the hearing, the faculty council will then vote on whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the NJHS Committee is needed to dismiss any member.
- The results of the NJHS Committee vote will be reviewed by the principal.
- The NJHS Committee’s decision may be appealed to the building principal.
- The member will receive written notification indicating the reason for consideration of dismissal from the NJHS Advisor/Committee. The member has the right to respond to the charge(s) against him/her at a hearing before the faculty council prior to any vote on dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in Article X of the National Constitution). The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or via a written statement presented in lieu of the face-to-face hearing. Following the hearing, the faculty council will then vote on whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the NJHS Committee is needed to dismiss any member.
- A member who is dismissed or resigns may never again be considered for membership in the National Junior Honor Society.
Ratification, Approval and Review
These bylaws will be approved upon receiving a two-thirds affirmative vote of all active members of the chapter, a majority affirmative vote of the faculty council, and approval by the administration. These bylaws shall be reviewed and if necessary, revised within five years from the date of approval noted on this document.
Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the chapter, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given to members at least one month prior to the vote. The exceptions are Articles III, IV, and VII, which are developed by the faculty council with the approval of the principal.
NJHS Advisor
Mrs. Jodi Reid
NJHS Committee
Mrs. Andrea Cordero
Mrs. Kristina Newtown
Ms. Isa Hudziak
Mrs. Holly Lawrence
Ms. Judi Zollweg
Principal
Mr. Michael Stalteri