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John F. Parker Middle
School National Junior Honor Society BY-LAWS |
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ARTICLE
I: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section
1: The name of this chapter shall
be the Taunton Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society of John F. Parker
Middle School.
Section
2: The purpose of this chapter
shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to
render service, to promote worthy leadership and citizenship, and to encourage
the development of character in students of John F. Parker Middle School.
ARTICLE
II: MEMBERSHIP
Section
1: Membership in this chapter
shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate. Active members become graduate members at the end of their
enrollment. Graduate and honorary
members have no vote in chapter affairs.
Section
2: Membership in this chapter is
an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty, and shall be based on
the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Citizenship, and Character.
Section
3: Eligibility
a.
Candidates
eligible for election to this chapter must be second semester sixth graders or
in grades 7 – 8.
b.
To
be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must
have been in attendance for a period of one semester at John F. Parker Middle
School.
c.
Candidates
eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade
point average of 85% or a B+. This
scholastic level of achievement 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.
d.
Upon
meeting the grade level, attendance, and GPA standard requirements, candidates
shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, citizenship, and
character.
ARTICLE
III: SELECTION OF MEMBERS
Section
1: The selection of members to
this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council consisting of
five faculty members appointed by the principal. The chapter adviser shall be the sixth, non-voting,
ex-officio member of the Faculty Council.
Section
2: Prior to selection, the
following shall occur:
a.
Students’
academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
b.
Students
who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified
and asked to complete and submit the Student Activity Information Form
for further consideration for selection.
c.
The
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.
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.
Section
5: An active member of the
National Junior Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given a
letter indicating the status of his/her membership and signed by the Principal
or adviser.
Section
6: An active member of the
National Junior Honor Society 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, character, citizenship, or service may be
dismissed from the Taunton chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. A member of the National Junior Honor Society
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
(85% or B+), he/she will be given a written warning and a time period for
improvement. If the cumulative
grade point average remains below standard at the end of the warning period,
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 stealing,
destruction of property, cheating, truancy, or possession, selling, or being
under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related
activities.
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 another violation of the school
conduct code, the member may be dismissed.
Section
5: In all cases of pending
dismissal:
a.
The
member will receive written notification indicating the reason for
possible dismissal from the adviser/Faculty council. The member and adviser will discuss the written notification
in a conference. Situations that
involve flagrant violations of school rules or the law can warrant disciplinary
action without a written warning although a hearing must still be held.
b.
The
member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him/her
at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to the vote on dismissal (in
accordance with due process identified in Article X of the National
Constitution). The member has the
opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or in writing. The Faculty Council will then vote on
whether to dismiss. A majority
vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member.
c.
The
results of the Faculty Council vote will be reviewed by the principal, and then
if confirmed, expressed in a letter sent to the student, parents, and
principal. Dismissed members must
surrender any membership emblems to the adviser.
d.
The
Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and
afterwards through the school district discipline policy.
e.
When
a student is dismissed or resigns, he/she is no longer a member and may never
again be considered for membership in the National Junior Honor Society.
Section
6: In lieu of dismissal, the
Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed
appropriate.
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 last meeting of each school year. All returning active members are
eligible to run for a position as an officer. All active members of the chapter are eligible to vote.
Section
3: A majority vote shall be
necessary to elect any officer of this chapter. If the first vote does not yield a majority, a second vote
shall be taken of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
Section
4: It shall be the duty of the
president to preside at the meetings for this chapter.
Section
5: The vice-president shall
preside in the absence of the president and shall keep a record of
members’ contribution to leadership and service.
Section
6: The secretary shall keep the
minutes of meetings and be responsible for all official chapter correspondence.
Section
7: The treasurer shall keep the
record of chapter expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the
chapter.
Section
8: Should an officer be relieved
of their duties due to disciplinary action, an election shall be held
immediately or as soon as possible to fill the vacancy.
ARTICLE
VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section
1: The executive committee shall
consist of the faculty adviser and the chapter officers.
Section
2: 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
VII: MEETING
Section
1: Meetings of this chapter shall
be monthly.
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.
Section
4: Meeting attendance is
mandatory. Any unexcused absence
may result in dismissal from the society.
ARTICLE
VIII: 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
which 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
IX: 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.
ARTICLE
X: DUES
Section
1: Annual dues for this chapter
shall be $10.00.
Section
2: Dues will be payable to the
chapter treasurer within 30 days of induction.
ARTICLE
XI: 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
amplify 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
XII: AMENDMENTS
Section
1: These by-laws may be amended by
a 2/3 vote of the chapter, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been
given to members at least one month prior to the vote. The exceptions are Article III and IV
(selection and discipline), which are developed by the Faculty Council with the
approval of the principal.
Section
2: By-laws and amendments must be
consistent with the Constitution of the National Junior Honor Society.
Date:
Chapter
President Signature Chapter
Secretary Signature
Chapter
Adviser Signature Principal
Signature