The National Junior Honor Society Bylaws
Rowlett Middle Academy
Chapter By-Laws The by-laws of the National Junior Honor Society are a constitutional mandate (Article XVI). Therefore, be it known that these by-laws conform to the guidelines and regulation of the National Constitution of the National Junior Honor Society of Secondary Schools
Article 1: Name and Purpose
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the The National Junior Honor Society of Rowlett Middle Academy
Section 2. The purpose of the organization shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate desire to render service, to promote leadership, to develop character, and to encourage citizenship.
Article II: The Principal
Section 1. The Principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the Chapter.
Section 2. The Principal shall annually appoint Chapter Advisors who may serve consecutive terms.
Section 3. The Principal shall be a part of the local school district appeal process for non-selection or dismissal cases.
Article III: The Chapter Advisor & Co-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, student, and community.
Section 2. The Chapter Advisor 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 IV: Membership
Section 1. Membership is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by a Faculty Council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, service, and citizenship.
Section 2. Candidates become members when inducted at a special annual ceremony.
Section 3. A National Junior Society member who transfers from another school and brings a letter from the former Principal or Chapter Advisor to the Rowlett Middle Academy Chapter Advisor shall be accepted automatically as a member in the Rowlett Middle Academy Chapter. Transfer members must meet the Chapter’s standards within one semester in order to retain membership.
Section 4. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.
Article V: Selection of Members
Section 1. Candidates must be in the second semester of sixth grade or in seventh grade. Candidates must have been in attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester.
Section 2. Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.70 and have not had more than one official office referral recorded for the year that they are being considered as a candidate. For current seventh grade students, a cumulative grade point average from sixth grade and the first semester of seventh grade is required. Candidates shall then be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Candidates will fill out a Student Activity Form and Service Information Form in order to be considered for membership.
Section 3. Prior to selection, the following shall occur:
a. Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
b. The application timeline will be published in the school newsletter/web site. Applications will be available in school offices.
c. Advisors will evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official evaluation form in order to determine eligibility for membership.
Section 4. A description of the selection procedure shall be published in an official school publication which is widely available in a timely fashion to all students and parents of the school. The selection procedure shall be determined by the advisors and shall be consistent with the rules and regulations of the National Junior Honor Society.
Section 5. An active member of the National Junior Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this Chapter. The advisors shall grant to the transferring member one semester to attain the membership requirement and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his or her membership.
Article VI: Dismissal
Section 1. The advisors in compliance with the rules and regulation of the National Junior Honor Society shall determine the procedure of dismissal. Members who fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection shall be promptly warned in writing by the Chapter Advisor. A copy of the warning shall be signed by the member and his or her parent and returned to the Chapter Advisor. The member shall be placed on probation and given 9 weeks to correct the deficiency. At the end of the probation period, if the deficiency is not corrected, the member may be dismissed.
Section 2. In case of flagrant violation of the school rules or civil laws a member is subject to immediate dismissal.
Section 3. It is expected that National Junior Honor Society members will maintain the highest standard of behavior. Behavior referrals resulting from any violation of school code/policy are subject to review from the advisors each quarter. Members can be dismissed from the National Junior Honor Society if the Faculty Council deems that the degree or frequencies of such referrals are inappropriate to the integrity of the National Junior Honor Society.
Section 4. Violation of the law or school regulation can result in dismissal of a member. These violations include, but are not limited to, stealing, assault, destruction of property, cheating, truancy, or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities.
Section 5. An offender of the school conduct code (these infractions include the use of profanity, bullying, failure to comply, unexcused absence, excessive tardiness; will receive a written warning notification. As this point, the advisors, student or parent will request a conference. If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member will be dismissed.
Section 6. A member who has been dismissed may appeal the decision of the advisors to the school Principal. The Principal’s decision is final.
Section 7. The National Council and the NASSP shall hear no appeals in dismissal cases.
Article VII: Meetings
Section 1. The Rowlett Middle Academy chapter shall hold regular meetings. Meetings are generally held the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month. The annual meeting schedule is published before the first week of September each school year.
Section 2. Special meetings approved by the executive committee may be called by the Chapter Advisor.
Articles VIII: Activities
Section 1. The Chapter shall determine a number of projects for each year.
Section 2. Members are required to complete a minimum of 8 community service hours outside of school time for non-NJHS related projects. (4 hours in semester 1 and 4 hours in semester 2)
Section 3. All members shall regularly participate in service projects at Rowlett Middle Academy.
Section 4. These projects shall have the following characteristics:
- Fulfill a need within the school or community.
- Have the support of the administration and faculty.
- Be appropriate and educationally defensible.
- Be well planned, organized, and executed.
Section 5. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in a service project that reflects his or her particular talents and interest. This is in addition to the Chapter project(s) to which all members contribute.
Section 6. Each member shall complete 8 hours of service each year, the hours must be documented and the documentation turned into the Chapter Advisor at the end of the school year by 15 May.
Section 7. The Chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.
Article IX: Amendments
These by-laws will be reviewed annually by the Chapter Members.
NOTE: BY-LAWS MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY CONSTITUTION AND HANDBOOK. The advisors and the Principal must approve any recommended change. Upon approval of the recommended change, it will be reviewed and put to a vote by the Chapter membership. Two-thirds vote will establish a change. Sections dealing with revision to the procedures for selection, only the Faculty Council can change disciplining, and dismissal of a member, though input from the Chapter is allowed
Article 1: Name and Purpose
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the The National Junior Honor Society of Rowlett Middle Academy
Section 2. The purpose of the organization shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate desire to render service, to promote leadership, to develop character, and to encourage citizenship.
Article II: The Principal
Section 1. The Principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the Chapter.
Section 2. The Principal shall annually appoint Chapter Advisors who may serve consecutive terms.
Section 3. The Principal shall be a part of the local school district appeal process for non-selection or dismissal cases.
Article III: The Chapter Advisor & Co-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, student, and community.
Section 2. The Chapter Advisor 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 IV: Membership
Section 1. Membership is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by a Faculty Council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, service, and citizenship.
Section 2. Candidates become members when inducted at a special annual ceremony.
Section 3. A National Junior Society member who transfers from another school and brings a letter from the former Principal or Chapter Advisor to the Rowlett Middle Academy Chapter Advisor shall be accepted automatically as a member in the Rowlett Middle Academy Chapter. Transfer members must meet the Chapter’s standards within one semester in order to retain membership.
Section 4. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.
Article V: Selection of Members
Section 1. Candidates must be in the second semester of sixth grade or in seventh grade. Candidates must have been in attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester.
Section 2. Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.70 and have not had more than one official office referral recorded for the year that they are being considered as a candidate. For current seventh grade students, a cumulative grade point average from sixth grade and the first semester of seventh grade is required. Candidates shall then be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Candidates will fill out a Student Activity Form and Service Information Form in order to be considered for membership.
Section 3. Prior to selection, the following shall occur:
a. Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
b. The application timeline will be published in the school newsletter/web site. Applications will be available in school offices.
c. Advisors will evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official evaluation form in order to determine eligibility for membership.
Section 4. A description of the selection procedure shall be published in an official school publication which is widely available in a timely fashion to all students and parents of the school. The selection procedure shall be determined by the advisors and shall be consistent with the rules and regulations of the National Junior Honor Society.
Section 5. An active member of the National Junior Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this Chapter. The advisors shall grant to the transferring member one semester to attain the membership requirement and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his or her membership.
Article VI: Dismissal
Section 1. The advisors in compliance with the rules and regulation of the National Junior Honor Society shall determine the procedure of dismissal. Members who fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection shall be promptly warned in writing by the Chapter Advisor. A copy of the warning shall be signed by the member and his or her parent and returned to the Chapter Advisor. The member shall be placed on probation and given 9 weeks to correct the deficiency. At the end of the probation period, if the deficiency is not corrected, the member may be dismissed.
Section 2. In case of flagrant violation of the school rules or civil laws a member is subject to immediate dismissal.
Section 3. It is expected that National Junior Honor Society members will maintain the highest standard of behavior. Behavior referrals resulting from any violation of school code/policy are subject to review from the advisors each quarter. Members can be dismissed from the National Junior Honor Society if the Faculty Council deems that the degree or frequencies of such referrals are inappropriate to the integrity of the National Junior Honor Society.
Section 4. Violation of the law or school regulation can result in dismissal of a member. These violations include, but are not limited to, stealing, assault, destruction of property, cheating, truancy, or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities.
Section 5. An offender of the school conduct code (these infractions include the use of profanity, bullying, failure to comply, unexcused absence, excessive tardiness; will receive a written warning notification. As this point, the advisors, student or parent will request a conference. If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member will be dismissed.
Section 6. A member who has been dismissed may appeal the decision of the advisors to the school Principal. The Principal’s decision is final.
Section 7. The National Council and the NASSP shall hear no appeals in dismissal cases.
Article VII: Meetings
Section 1. The Rowlett Middle Academy chapter shall hold regular meetings. Meetings are generally held the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month. The annual meeting schedule is published before the first week of September each school year.
Section 2. Special meetings approved by the executive committee may be called by the Chapter Advisor.
Articles VIII: Activities
Section 1. The Chapter shall determine a number of projects for each year.
Section 2. Members are required to complete a minimum of 8 community service hours outside of school time for non-NJHS related projects. (4 hours in semester 1 and 4 hours in semester 2)
Section 3. All members shall regularly participate in service projects at Rowlett Middle Academy.
Section 4. These projects shall have the following characteristics:
- Fulfill a need within the school or community.
- Have the support of the administration and faculty.
- Be appropriate and educationally defensible.
- Be well planned, organized, and executed.
Section 5. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in a service project that reflects his or her particular talents and interest. This is in addition to the Chapter project(s) to which all members contribute.
Section 6. Each member shall complete 8 hours of service each year, the hours must be documented and the documentation turned into the Chapter Advisor at the end of the school year by 15 May.
Section 7. The Chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.
Article IX: Amendments
These by-laws will be reviewed annually by the Chapter Members.
NOTE: BY-LAWS MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY CONSTITUTION AND HANDBOOK. The advisors and the Principal must approve any recommended change. Upon approval of the recommended change, it will be reviewed and put to a vote by the Chapter membership. Two-thirds vote will establish a change. Sections dealing with revision to the procedures for selection, only the Faculty Council can change disciplining, and dismissal of a member, though input from the Chapter is allowed