• National Junior Honor Society By-Laws
    BAILEY APAC MIDDLE SCHOOL

     ARTICLE I

    Name and Purpose

    Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Bailey APAC Middle School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.

    Section 2. 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 in the students of Bailey APAC Middle School.

     

    ARTICLE II

    THE CHAPTER ADVISOR

    Section 1. 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.

    Section 2. The chapter advisor(s) shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions.

    Section 3. The chapter advisor shall regularly review each member for compliance with Society standards and obligations.

    Section 4. The chapter advisor shall help the chapter officers understand and carry out their duties.

     

    ARTICLE III

    FACULTY COUNCIL

    Section 1. The faculty council shall consist of five voting faculty members appointed annually. No principal shall be included on the faculty council.

    Section 2. The term of the faculty council shall be one year. Members may be appointed to consecutive terms.

    Section 3. The chapter advisor shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth member of the faculty council.

    Section 4. The faculty council shall meet at least once a year to select members and to consider dismissal, non-selection, and warning cases.

     

     ARTICLE IV

    Selection Procedures

    Section1.  Selection to NJHS is a privilege bestowed upon students by the faculty of the school and should not be considered a right inherent to any student.

     Section 2. The advisor(s) develop and revise, when necessary, all chapter procedures for selection, disciplining, and dismissal of members. Selection is conducted by an anonymous committee made up of 5 staff members from Bailey APAC Middle School.

    Section 3. Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified.

    Section 4. To be eligible for consideration for membership, the candidate must have attended Bailey APAC Middle School the equivalent of one full semester and must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 90%. Grade point average is calculate for 8th graders based on final averages of 6th grade year final averages of 7th grade year and final average for 1st semester of 8th grade.  Grade point average is calculate for 7th graders based on final average 6th grade year and final average for 1st semester of 7th grade.  The scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed, and shall be the required minimum scholastic level of achievement for admission to candidacy.  All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard may be admitted to candidacy for selection of membership.

    Section 5.  A student would also be eligible if the student is a NJHS member who transfers from another school and brings a letter from the principal or chapter advisor to the Bailey APAC Middle School Adviser. Upon receipt of the letter by the Bailey APAC Middle School Advisor, the transfer student shall be accepted automatically as a member in Bailey APAC Middle School's chapter. Transfer members must meet the new chapter's standards within one semester in order to retain membership.

    Section 6.  Students who have 2 or more ISS placements or any OSSs for the current school year will not be considered for membership in the NJHS. Also, students who do not meet character and leadership standards will not be considered for membership in the NJHS.

    Section 7. Students meeting academic and citizenship requirements will then be considered for membership based on leadership, and character.  Service, leadership, and character requirements will be determined by each student’s current teachers by way of recommendation forms.

    Section 8. A candidate must complete and return the requested information with membership dues before the deadline to be selected for membership in the NJHS.

    Section 9. All selections made by the Selection Committee are final.

    Section 10. Inductions will be held the last week of January and a candidate must be present at both the rehearsal and the induction to be selected for membership in the NJHS.

     

    ARTICLE V

    Membership Responsibilities

     Section 1. Candidates are required to uphold all standards by which they were selected according to the NJHS By-Laws 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.

    Section 2. Members must maintain an overall average of 93% in core classes for each nine weeks, with no individual core class average below 85%. In the event that a member petitions a grade change from a teacher, it will be the policy of the chapter to honor the grade printed on the report card until official notification is received by the chapter sponsor. Members must not be assigned to ISS or OSS.

    Section 3. Members must complete and turn in to the sponsor at least 4 service hours EACH nine weeks, for a total of 20 hours by the end of the 4th nine weeks. All service hours must be documented on the correct nine week 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 nine weeks requirement. All other service hours will be counted in the nine weeks during which they are performed.

    Section 4.  The chapter will provide a variety of service activities to fulfill the service hour’s requirement.  At least one project per nine weeks must be open to participation by the entire membership.  All projects must be pre-approved by the advisor to receive service points.  There may be projects deemed mandatory by the advisor(s). An alternate activity will be considered for those members, deemed by the advisor(s), as having a valid excuse for missing a mandatory project.

    Section 4. Members must attend all regular and special meetings of the chapter. If a member is absent from school on the day of a meeting, it is his/her responsibility to turn in all service hours to the sponsor on the day of his/her return. Regular meetings will be held at the end of each nine weeks grading period. 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 first unexcused absence from a chapter meeting, he/she will be placed on probation. If there is a second offense, it will result in grounds for dismissal from the NJHS.

    Section 5. Attendance at the January rehearsal ceremony is required.

     

    ARTICLE VI

    Probation, Dismissal, and Resignation

    Section 1. Members who fail to maintain the academic and/or citizenship requirements stipulated in the Membership Responsibilities section of these bylaws will be placed on probation.

    Section 2. A member will be placed on probation if his/her overall average falls below 93% in his/her core classes or if he/she receives a grade below 85% for any grading period in a core class. A member will also be placed on probation for failing to turn in the required number of service hours by the deadlines set by the advisor. If a member is suspended, expelled, or displays flagrant violations of school rules or civil law, the member will be subject to immediate dismissal.

    Section 3. Members on probation will be notified in writing and will not be allowed to participate in chapter activities during the probation period, but will still be required to attend the meetings. The probation period will be for one entire nine weeks.

    Section 4. 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 by the advisor(s) of the right to a hearing to explain any extenuating circumstances related to the second probation. The member also has the right to resign prior to the dismissal.

    Section 5. For purposes of dismissal, the member will be notified in writing of the decision by the advisor(s).

    Section 6. 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.

    Section 7. A member who resigns or is dismissed will not be eligible for the NJHS the following year.

     

    ARTICLE VII

    Attitude

    Section 1.  All NJHS members are expected to have a respectful relationship with all members of the school staff, the principal(s), and other students.

    Section 2.  NJHS members are encouraged to be active in other organizations.

    Section 3.  NJHS members are expected to be supportive of all school activities including, but not limited to, athletic events, concerts and performances, pep-rallies, P.B.I.S., and other special events.

     

    ARTICLE VIII

    Officers

    Section 1. Prior to officer elections, NJHS members will be afforded the opportunity to self-nominate for various officer positions. Upon nomination, each candidate must agree to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the office being sought. These duties and responsibilities are set forth by the NJHS advisor(s). These nominations will be placed on a ballot and voted upon secretly by all current NJHS members.

    Section 2. Once elected as an officer, he/she must abide by all the NJHS By-Laws.  In addition, if an officer is placed on probation for any behavioral infraction, academics, citizenship, is tardy for 2 or more required meetings, and/or misses any required meetings, it will be grounds for immediate dismissal as an officer. Officers will also be expected to complete all tasks assigned by the sponsor.

    Section 3.  NJHS officers will be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  These officers will comprise the Executive Council. 

    Section 4. If an officer is dismissed from office, the NJHS sponsor will appoint a current officer to fulfill his/her duties for the remainder of the current academic year.

    Section 5. Other committees may be appointed as deemed appropriate by the chapter advisor(s) or the Executive Council for the general operation of the chapter.

    Section 6.  Officers should attend all functions whenever possible.  If an officer misses three activities, including meetings, that officer may be dismissed.  Officers must: hold an Executive Committee meeting no less than two days before each NJHS meeting, plan and conduct all meetings in such a manner that members’ time is well spent, direct business affairs of the chapter, coordinate committees and members appointed to help with projects or duties, plan and communicate community service projects with the advisor(s), and make recommendations concerning bylaws, time and place of meetings special projects, and member obligations to the advisor(s).

    Section 7.  Specific duties of each officer are as follows:

    • President

               Maintain Close communication with the Advisor(s).

                Preside at meetings.

                Be responsible for turning in announcements.

                Maintain communication with the other officers.

                Coordinate activities.

                Complete any projects or responsibilities given to the office.

                Head the Service Teams.

               

    • Vice President

                Preside at meetings in the absence of the president.

                Keep track of service points of members.

                Serve as chairman of the telephone/email committee.

     

    • Secretary

                Take roll at all meetings.

                Take and post the minutes of each meeting in an organized manner.

                Keep track of service points for the service team.

                Write thank-you notes and other correspondence as needed.

     

    • Treasurer

                Keep all records of all financial matters.

                Have a general charge of NJHS funds, collections, and distributions.

                Present a financial statement at the end of each school year.