The National Junior Honor Society

Brentwood Middle School

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I:  NAME AND PURPOSE

 Section 1.  The name of this chapter shall be The National Junior Honor Society of Brentwood Middle School.

 Section 2.  The purpose of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service demonstrating citizenship, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in students of Brentwood Middle School.

ARTICLE II:  MEMBERSHIP

 Section 1.  Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon a student.  Selection for membership is by a five-member Faculty Council appointed by the Principal and is based on outstanding scholarship, leadership, service/citizenship, and character.  Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.  Annual membership dues are $10.00 to be paid at the October chapter meeting. 

 Section 2.  Eligibility:

a.       To be eligible to be considered for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must be a seventh grader and must have been in attendance for a period of one semester at Brentwood Middle School.

b.       Candidates eligible for election to this chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75 (out of 4.0) at the end of the 7^th quarter of middle school (three quarters of seventh grade in addition to four quarters in sixth grade). This 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 to membership.

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

d.       All decisions regarding eligibility made by the Faculty Council are final.

ARTICLE III: SELECTION OF MEMBERS

Section 1. The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council.  The Chapter Adviser and Principal shall be the sixth and seventh, non-voting, ex-officio members of the Faculty Council.

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

a.       Students’ core (Language Arts—reading; Math; Science; and Social Studies) academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.

b.       Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified. Those requesting consideration for membership into this chapter must obtain and submit a Student Activity Information Form no later than 3 p.m. on April 22, 2005, for further consideration for selection.

c.       The total faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official evaluation form provided by the Chapter Adviser.

d.       The Faculty Council shall review the Student Activity Information Form and faculty evaluations in order to determine membership.  The Faculty Council will score candidates for membership 1-10 points in each area of

?leadership (minimum of one leadership position—each 5 pts.),

?service/citizenship (active in minimum of three service projects in the school and/or community—each 2pts.), and

?character (integrity, behavior, ethics, and cooperation with both students and faculty—each 2 pts).

Candidates must receive a minimum of 5 points not to exceed 10 in each    category with a required total of 20 points to be extended an invitation to membership.

e.       The Chapter Adviser and the Principal shall notify new members of their selection into this chapter.

 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 in September of the following school year.

Section 5.  An active member of the NJHS who transfers from this school will be given a letter  upon request indicating the status of his/her membership and signed by the Principal.

 Section 6.  An active member of the NJHS 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, service/citizenship, and character may be dismissed from the Brentwood Middle School chapter of the National Honor Society.  A member of the NJHS 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 3.75, he/she will be given a written warning and a time period of four weeks for improvement.  If the cumulative grade point average remains below standard at the end of the four weeks, 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 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.  Members who exhibit flagrant or consistent violation of school rules will be subject to immediate termination.

Section 4.  Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absence, excessive tardiness, etc.) will receive written warning notification.  A conference may be requested by either party (Faculty Council or student/parent).  If the member is involved in a second violation of the school conduct code, the member may be dismissed.

 Section 5. Members who fail to earn five activity points in a semester will then have one quarter to remedy that failure.  Both members and their parents will be notified verbally and in writing that members have not earned five points.

ARTICLE V:  OFFICERS

Section 1.  The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Section 2.  Student officers shall be elected at the first chapter meeting of the school year.  Active members of the chapter are eligible to vote.

Section 4.  Duties of the officers of the chapter:

                        ?The president shall preside at the meetings for this chapter.

?The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president and shall also keep a record of members’ contributions to leadership and service/citizenship.

?The secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings, record attendance of members, and be responsible for all official chapter correspondence.

?The treasurer shall keep the record of chapter expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the chapter.  Annual dues of $10.00 shall be collected from each member at the October meeting.

 Section 5.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chapter Adviser and the chapter officers.

 Section 6.  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 VI:  MEETINGS

 Section 1.  Meetings of this chapter shall be the second Monday of each month immediately following the regular school day.

 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.

ARTICLE VII:  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 that 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.

ARTICLE VIII:  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 Junior Honor Society.

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

Section 3.  Chapter members who are in good standing shall be granted the privilege of being honored at the Awards Ceremony at the end of the academic school year.

ARTICLE IX:  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 simplify 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 X:  AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  Administration or faculty may propose amendments to these Bylaws.  Amendments must be ratified by a majority vote of the Faculty Council.

 Section 2.  Bylaws and amendments must be consistent with the Constitution of the National Junior Honor Society.