Heritage Middle School By-Laws 2023 2024

Article I

NAME AND PURPOSE

The name of this organization shall be the National Junior Honor Society of Secondary Schools (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 good citizenship in the students of secondary schools.

Article II

PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization is to promote excellence in scholarship, citizenship, leadership, service, and character.
Students will participate in service projects that:
fulfill a need within the school or community;
have the support of the administration and the faculty;
are appropriate and educationally defensible;
are well planned, organized, and executed.

Article III

THE PRINCIPAL

The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities of the chapter.
The principal shall receive appeals in cases of non-selection of candidates and dismissal of members.

Article IV

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 regularly review each member for compliance with Society standards and obligations.

Article V

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in local chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student.
Selection for membership is by a Faculty Council and is based on outstanding scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.
Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.
A National Junior Honor Society member who transfers to another school and brings a letter from the former principal or chapter advisor to the new school advisor shall be accepted automatically as a member in the new school's chapter. Transfer members must meet the new chapter's standards within one semester in order to retain membership.
Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership [in NJHS] or its benefits.

Article VI

SELECTION OF MEMBERS

All eighth grade students with a cumulative grade point average of 90% and above in their core classes, who do not have a C in any classes, and whose conduct grade is Exemplary (E) or Satisfactory (S) in all classes for the semester preceding induction and the third nine weeks will be considered for membership. Courses will not be weighted.
Recommendations from the faculty and an application and essay completed by eligible students will be considered by the advisor. Final selection will be made by the Faculty Council.

Article VII

DISMISSAL

Members who fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection shall be promptly warned in writing by the chapter advisor and given a reasonable amount of time (the following nine week grading period) to correct the deficiency. No more than one warnings will be allowed during each year. In the case of flagrant violation of school rules or the law, a member may be dismissed at the discretion of the advisor, Faculty Council, and Principal.
Cumulative grade point averages must remain at 90% or better each nine weeks in core classes. Additionally, no C may be earned in any class. If not, the member will be placed on nine weeks probation. If the member fails to raise the grade point average after the probationary period, the membership will be reviewed by the advisor.
Conduct Grades are expected to be no lower than Satisfactory. Need Improvement or Unsatisfactory is not acceptable.
Students shall receive no more than 3 demerits in a school year. One demerit will be earned for any and each failure to comply with the by-laws. If the member receives a 4th demerit, dismissal from NJHS may be considered.
To be considered for dismissal, students will be notified in writing / or by phone (person-to-person) / or in person of the date chosen for him or her to attend a formal hearing with the Faculty Council. They will then have a formal hearing with the Faculty Council. After deliberation, the Faculty Council will issue demerits ranging from 0 to 4, with 4 being dismissal. If the students does not attend the hearing, he or she will be automatically dismissed from NJHS.

Article VIII

CHAPTER OFFICERS

Officers will be nominated by majority vote; selection will also be based on an interview with the adviser. Up to three nominees will be chosen for each office for the vote.
Officers shall be:

President

Know how to handle many types of situations
Be mature
Be organized with good time management skills
Have sound judgment
Have energy
Be able to work with many different kinds of people and personalities
Have a good relationship with the chapter, faculty, and student body
Work with the other officers and faculty advisors to help plan the program of the organization
Meet with the other officers and faculty advisors prior to the meetings to prepare the agenda
Conduct all meetings according to parliamentary procedures
Begin and end meetings on time
Maintain discussion of relevant items on the agenda
Call on committee chairs to give reports on specific functions or activities
Clarify discussion on activities and projects and makes sure plans are carried out
Call on the other officers for input as the discussion relates to their area of specific responsibilities
Attend all scheduled meetings
Delegate responsibilities to appropriate officers and committees
Encourage participation of all members and visitors Be committed to maintaining the aims and purposes of the organization—leadership, service, character, citizenship, and scholarship.

Vice-President

Know how to handle many types of situations
Be mature
Be organized with good time management skills
Have sound judgment
Have energy
Be able to work with many different kinds of people and personalities
Have a good relationship with the president, chapter members, committees, and the student body

Secretary

Be the keeper of the records, designer of the agenda
Be organized
Know nearly everything about every meeting
Be alert to the calendar and the progress of committees
Be knowledgeable about meeting procedures
Spend time planning and organizing the chapter’s work.
Take pictures at the meetings, activities, service projects, etc.
Work cooperatively with the vice-president to make sure the following are at each meeting: meeting minutes, officer notebooks, master calendar, records, correspondence, committee and individual assignments, roster, and attendance records.

Committee Leaders

Scholarship—to lead a group of members who provides mentoring and tutoring project supervision, honor roll postings, academic motivation and organization programs, etc.
Service—to lead a group of members who fulfill the chapter obligations to both school and community, organizing and implementing projects; also assists in keeping track of service hours of members
Character—to lead a group of members who are charged with monitoring a code of ethics for all members; organizing and implementing the student of the month program; promoting a positive school culture
Citizenship—to lead a group of members who are charged with creating posters and informational handouts to promote all NJHS events; promoting involvement in school activities; supporting the induction and graduation ceremonies

Officers will be given a copy of their duties and along with the advisor shall constitute the executive council.

Article IX

MEETINGS

Chapter meetings will be held approximately once a month during the school year, are called by the adviser, and are mandatory.
One unexcused absence will be allowed without penalty. There will be occasions when you will not be able to attend, but you must personally see the adviser in advance or within one week after the meeting for an excuse. A demerit will be earned for each consecutive unexcused absence.
The officers will meet to plan the agenda before each meeting.

Article X

ACTIVITIES

Each chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.
All members shall regularly participate in these projects.
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;
be well planned, organized, and executed.

Members are required to complete 15 hours of community service per year.
If you sign up to participate in a service project and do not attend, you will be given a demerit. If there is a valid reason for not participating, it is your responsibility to see the adviser within one week to explain. Or, if you get someone to come in your place the adviser may grant an excuse. The adviser will make the decision whether or not to grant an excuse.

Article XI

OFFICIAL INSIGNIA

Each active or honorary member in good standing with the chapter shall be entitled to wear this emblem.
Any member who resigns or is dismissed shall return the emblem to the chapter advisor.
The motto of the National Junior Honor Society shall be "Light Is the Symbol of Truth."
The official colors of the National Junior Honor Society shall be blue and white.

Heritage Middle School

National Junior Honor Society

Service Opportunities and Log

By-Laws

NJHS Officer Duties