What is National Junior Honor Society?
The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is an organization that recognizes student excellence in middle school. The National Honor Society of Secondary Schools (NHS) was established in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to recognize and encourage scholastically outstanding high school students. Its founders wanted to form a society modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, the undergraduate collegiate honor society. The National Junior Honor Society of Secondary Schools (NJHS) was established in 1929 to honor younger, middle-level students for similar reasons.
It's more than just the honor roll. Students qualify for the honor roll strictly based on their academic achievements. Students selected to serve in the NJHS must qualify with many other aspects. The areas students must qualify for membership are:
Scholarship- the ability to learn and demonstrate understanding of new concepts and ideas
Leadership- the act of helping others with a need without compensation
Service- the ability to lead, guide, encourage and direct others to achieve a goal
Character- the moral and ethical behavior of a person
Citizenship- the way an individual interacts with the community
These characteristics have been associated with NJHS since it began in 1929. NJHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. Territories, and Canada. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service. Membership is both an honor and commitment.
Who Qualifies for NJHS?
The first area a student must qualify is in the area of Scholarship. Students must have a 3.00 GPA (B average) for the semester prior to applying for NJHS. If they meet this criteria, they will receive an application to apply. Just because a student receives an application doesn't mean they are automatically accepted. They must meet the criteria for acceptance in all areas- Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Character and Citizenship. After submitting their application, Rosman Middle Shool NJHS Faculty Committee will decide who gets selected for membership. This Faculty Committee also determines if a member gets dismissed. The Chapter Advisor has no vote for who gets selected, rejected or dismissed.
What Does a Good Candidate for NJHS Look Like?
Scholarship:
Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), as established by the local school's Faculty Committee.
Leadership:
Student leaders are those who are resourceful, good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, dependable, and persons who exemplify positive attitudes about life. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities while working with or for others.
Service:
Students with service are those who make voluntary contributions to the school, community or other non-familial members, that were done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit.
Character:
Students of good character are "role models" which uphold principles of moral and ethical behavior, are cooperative, demonstrate high standards of honesty and reliability, show courtesy, concern, and respect for others, and generally maintain a lifestyle that is viewed positively by others.
Citizenship:
Students with good citizenship are students that are accepting to other cultures, challenges injustices, understands the value of the circumstances of those around them and are willing to work to contribute making positive changes. They are not selfish and seek to do selfless acts to benefit many people in their community.
Rosman Middle School NJHS's Chapter Advisor is Mrs. Laura Smith.
Please contact me if you have any further questions at lasmith@tcsnc.org