Constitution
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is more than just honor roll. Rules for membership are based upon a student’s outstanding performance in the areas of: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Character, and Citizenship. These criteria for selection form the foundation upon which the organization and its activities are built.
Scholarship
A student must have a minimum average of 93 to be eligible. This average is based on grades in English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and Conduct. This average must be maintained while a student is a member of the NJHS.
Leadership
A student should exhibit leadership roles in the school and in the community. Examples of leadership include, but are not limited to:
- Demonstrating initiative in school activities
- Exercising a positive influence on peers
- Ability to delegate responsibility
- Positive attitude
- Demonstrates reliability
- Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility
Service
Service is defined as the voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit. Service contributions may have been made to the school, classmates, and/or the community. Examples of service include, but are not limited to:
- Providing dependable, well-organized assistance
- Works well with others
- Cheerfully renders services when asked
- Completes work without complaint
- Willingness to represent the school
- Participation in activities outside of school
- Mentoring
- Courtesy to visitors, teachers, and students
Citizenship
The student who demonstrates citizenship understands the importance of civic involvement, has a high regard for freedom, justice, and democracy, and demonstrates mature participation and responsibility through involvement with such activities as scouting, community organizations, and school clubs.
Selection Criteria
- Students must have attended St. Matthew’s School for at least one full semester before being eligible for selection.
- Membership is open to all students in grades 6-8 who are academically eligible.
- The selection process will be conducted at the conclusion of the second nine weeks.
- The Faculty Council will receive input from other members of the faculty through the use of a faculty evaluation form.
- Selection will be determined by a majority vote of the Faculty Council.
- Students will be notified in writing of their selection to the SMS Chapter of the NJHS.
Faculty Council
Will meet at least once a year to review the procedures of the chapter, select members, and to consider nonselection, dismissal, other disciplinary actions, and warning cases.
Will develop and revise, when necessary, all chapter procedures for selection, discipline, and dismissal of members.
Discipline/Dismissal
Members who fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection shall be promptly warned in writing by the chapter adviser and given a reasonable amount of time to correct the deficiency, except that in the case of flagrant violation of school rules or the law (cheating, violence, theft, plagiarism, bullying, et al.), a member does not necessarily have to be warned.
The Faculty Council shall determine when an individual has exceeded a reasonable number of warnings. In all cases of pending dismissal, a member shall have a right to a hearing before the Faculty Council.
For purposes of dismissal, a majority vote of the Faculty Council is required.
A member who has been dismissed may appeal the decision of the Faculty Council to the principal and thereafter under the same rules for disciplinary appeals in the school district.
