NJHS Bylaws

BYLAWS: NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY

JAMES GARLAND WALSH MIDDLE SCHOOL

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1.  The name of this chapter shall be the James Garland Walsh Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society of Walsh Middle School.

 Section 2.  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, to encourage good citizenship in the students of Walsh Middle School, and to act in accordance with the provisions contained within the NJHS Constitution.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate.  Active members become graduate members at graduation.  Graduate and honorary members have no vote in chapter affairs.

Section 2.  Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty, and shall be based on the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Character and Citizenship.

Section 3.  Eligibility:

a.       Candidates eligible to apply for selection to this chapter must be second-semester 7th graders or members of 8th grade.

b.      To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for the equivalent of one semester at Walsh Middle School

c.       Candidates eligible to apply for selection to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 95 in their core (language arts, math, social studies, science) and HS credit classes.  HS credit core classes: Algebra, Geometry, and English I will receive additional points.  7th grade candidates’ eligibility will be based upon on their 6th grade fall semester average, 6th grade spring semester average, and 7th grade fall semester average. 8th grade candidates’ eligibility will be based upon 6th grade fall semester average, 6th grade spring semester average,  7th grade fall semester average, 7th grade spring semester average, and 8th grade fall semester average.

d.      Upon meeting the grade level, attendance, and GPA standard requirements, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, character and citizenship. 

ARTICLE III: SELECTION OF MEMBERS 

Section 1.  The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council consisting of five faculty members appointed by the principal.  The chapter adviser shall be the sixth, non-voting, ex-officio member of the Faculty Council.

Section 2.  Prior to selection, the following shall occur:

a.  Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.

b.  Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the Candidate Form for further consideration for selection.

c.  The faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official evaluation form provided by the chapter adviser. Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, disrespectful behavior, cheating, etc.) may not be considered for acceptance into NJHS.

d.  The Faculty Council shall review the Candidate Form and faculty evaluations in order to determine membership. Prior to notification of any candidates, the chapter adviser shall review with the principal the results of the Faculty Council’s deliberations. 

Section 3.  The selection of new, active members shall be held once a year during the second semester of the school year.  

Section 4. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.

Section 5.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given a letter indicating the status of his/her membership and signed by the Principal [alt., adviser].

Section 6.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter.  The Faculty Council shall grant to the transferring member one semester to attain the membership requirements and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership.

 ARTICLE IV: DISCIPLINE and DISMISSAL 

Section 1.  Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed or placed on probation from the James Garland Walsh Middle School chapter of the National Honor Society.  A member is expected to maintain his/her academic standing and take an active role in service and leadership to his/her school and community.

 Section 2.  If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below the standard in effect when he/she was selected, he /she will be given a written warning and a time period for improvement.  If the cumulative grade point average remains below standard at the end of the warning period the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the Faculty Council that may include dismissal from the chapter.

Section 3.  Violation of the law or school regulations can result in immediate dismissal of a member.  These violations include, but are not limited to stealing, destruction of property, cheating, truancy, or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities or in the community.

 Section 4.  Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, disrespectful behavior, cheating, etc) may lose their good standing in NJHS.  A conference may be requested by either party (Faculty Council or student/parent). Students who break the school conduct code must report the incident to the NJHS sponsor in writing within 3 days.  Failure to do so may result in dismissal.

 Section 5. Chapter officers, as representatives of the chapter, can be removed from their positions as a consequence of disciplinary action taken by the faculty council.  

Section 6: In all cases of pending dismissal:

a. The member will receive written notification indicating the reason for possible dismissal from the adviser/Faculty Council. The member and adviser will discuss the written notification in a conference. Situations that involve flagrant violations of school rules or the law can warrant disciplinary action without a written warning although a hearing must still be held (see below).

b.  The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him/her at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to the 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 in writing. The Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member.

c. The results of the Faculty Council vote will be reviewed by the principal, and then if confirmed, expressed in a letter sent to the student, parents, and principal. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the adviser.

d.  The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterwards through the school district discipline policy.

e.  When a student is dismissed or resigns, he/she is no longer a member and may never again be considered for membership in the National Honor Society.

 Section 6.  In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.

 ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

 Section 1.  The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, philanthropy chair, and historian.

Section 2.  Student officers shall be elected at the first meeting of each school year.  All returning active members are eligible to run for a position as an officer. All active members of the chapter are eligible to vote.

Section 3.  A majority vote shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter.  If the first vote does not yield a majority, a second vote shall be taken of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.

 Section 4.  It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings for this chapter.

 Section 5.  The vice-president shall advise and assist the president, preside over meetings in the absence of the president, and shall also keep a record of attendance for each monthly meeting.

 Section 6.  The secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings, prepare slides and agendas for meetings, manage calendar activities, and handle communications for the NJHS members including written correspondence.

 Section 7.  The philanthropy chair shall research to find monthly service opportunities within the community, seek and contact community members on how Walsh Chapter can volunteer its service, and keep an accurate record of service hours accumulated by members.

 Section 8.  The historian shall handle publicity for events, manage social media posts, and gather pictures and posts to add to chapter end of year slideshow, yearbook photos, or news releases.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 Section 1.  The executive committee shall consist of the faculty adviser and the chapter officers.

 Section 2.  The executive committee shall have general charge of the meetings and the business of the chapter, but any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members.

 ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

 Section 1.  Meetings of this chapter shall be monthly.

 Section 2.  This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order.

 Section 3. All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly-scheduled chapter meetings. 

 Section 4. Meetings may be held virtually as needed. 

ARTICLE VIII: ACTIVITIES

 Section 1.  The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.

 Section 2.  All members shall regularly participate in these projects.

 Section 3.  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.

 Section 4.  Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in an individual service project which reflects his or her particular talents and interests and as approved by the chapter adviser. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.

 Section 5.  The chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.

 Section 6.  All members shall be required to complete 15 hours of service to remain in good standing. Special considerations will be made regarding this requirement due to COVID 19 limitations in service, such as including alternative types of service and advocacy. 

 ARTICLE IX: EMBLEM

 Section 1.  Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to the membership standards and member obligations shall have the privilege of wearing the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society.

Section 2.  Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is dismissed from the chapter shall return the emblem to the chapter. [Note to advisers: If the members purchased such emblems, the chapter is obligated to reimburse the student for said expense.]

ARTICLE X: DUES

Section 1.  Students will be responsible for purchasing their own t-shirt and NJHS pin.

Section 2.   Chapter members will be notified if additional dues are needed.

 ARTICLE XI: POWERS

 Section 1. The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal.

 Section 2. The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter.

 Section 3: These bylaws are designed to amplify provisions of the National Constitution and cannot contradict any components thereof. The chapter is obligated to adhere to the provisions of the National Constitution in all activities it undertakes.

 ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

 Section 1.  These by-laws may be amended by a 2/3 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 II, III and IV (selection and discipline), which are developed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the principal.

 Section 2.  By-laws and amendments must be consistent with the Constitution of the National Honor Society.

 Date: February 2019

 Signatures: Chapter President, Secretary, Adviser, Principal

Statement of non-discrimination: The Chapter of NHS 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, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all practices, including the chapter administration and the selection, discipline, and dismissal of members.