Constitution of National Junior Honor Society of Tuckahoe Middle School
Article I
Name and Purpose
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Tuckahoe National Junior Honor Society (TNJHS).
Section 2. 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 citizenship.
Section 3. The TNJHS shall be under the sponsorship and supervision of Tuckahoe Middle School, its principal and teacher advisers.
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 a chapter adviser, who may serve consecutive terms.
Article III
The Chapter Adviser
Section 1. The chapter adviser shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter and act as liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community.
Section 2. The chapter adviser shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions.
Section 3. The chapter adviser shall regularly review each member for compliance with Society standards and obligations.
Section 4. The chapter adviser shall help the chapter officers understand and carry out their duties.
Article IV
Faculty Council
Section 1. The faculty council shall consist of three to four faculty members or staff appointed annually by the principal.
Section 2. The faculty council shall meet at least once a year to select members and to consider dismissal, non- selection, and warning cases.
Article V
Membership
Section 1. 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, character, leadership, service, and citizenship. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.
Section 2. The faculty council shall reserve the right to award honorary membership to school officials, principals, teachers, TNJHS advisers, or citizens in recognition of outstanding service rendered the school in keeping with the purposes of the National Junior Honor Society.
Section 3. New members shall be inducted at a special ceremony.
Sections 4. An NJHS member who transfers to another school and brings a letter from the former principal or chapter adviser to the new school adviser 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.
Article VI
Selection of Members
Section 1. To be eligible for membership the candidate must be a member of the sixth or seventh grade class. Candidates must have been in attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester.
Section 2. Candidates must have a cumulative scholastic average of at least 3.7 for three consecutive marking periods (on a 4.0 scale). Candidates shall then be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, character, and citizenship.
Section 3. The selection of members to the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the faculty council.
Section 4. A description of the selection procedure shall be published each year.
Article VII
Dismissal
Section 1. The procedure for dismissal shall be determined by the faculty council. Students must maintain a 3.7 cumulative GPA.
Section 2. Members who fall below the standards which were the basis for their selection shall be promptly warned in writing by the chapter adviser and given one quarter to correct the deficiency, except that in the case of flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws a member does not necessarily have to be warned.
Section 3. The faculty council shall determine when an individual has failed to live up to the codes of TNJHS.
Section 4. In all cases of impending dismissal, a member shall have a right to a hearing before the faculty council.
Section 5. A member who has been dismissed may appeal the decision of the faculty council under the same rules for disciplinary appeals in the school district.
Article VIII
Chapter Officers
Section 1. The officers of the chapters, their duties and the method of their election shall be determined by the members of the chapter. They shall include president, vice president, and secretary.
Section 2. A majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to elect and chapter officer.
Section 3. New officers shall be installed at a special ceremony.
Article IX
Executive Committee
Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the chapter and the chapter adviser.
Section 2. The executive committee shall have the responsibility for ensuring that chapter activities and procedures follow school policy and regulations.
Article X
Meetings
Section 1. The TNJHS chapter shall have regular meetings during the school year on days designated by the executive committee and in accordance with school regulations.
Section 2. Special meetings approved by the executive committee may be called by the president.
Section 3. Chapters shall conduct meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised in all points not expressly provided for in this constitution or the chapter bylaws.
Article XI
Activities
Section 1. The TNJHS 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 participation in a service project which reflects his or her particular talents and interests. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.
Section 5. The TNJHS chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.
Article XII
Official Insignia
Section 1. This organization shall have an official emblem selected by the National Council. The emblem shall be uniform.
Section 2. The distribution of the emblem and the rules for its use shall be under the exclusive control of the National Council.
Section 3. Each active or honorary member shall be entitled to wear this emblem.
Section 4. Any member who resigns or is dismissed shall return the emblem to the chapter adviser.
Section 5. The motto of the TNJHS shall be “Light Is the Symbol of Truth.”