National Junior Honor Society
The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for middle school students. Membership in the National Junior Honor society is both an honor and responsibility. Eighth grade students that meet the application criteria will be invited to apply for membership into the Hopewell Junior School National Junior Honor Society in the fall. Please click any of the links on the left or at the bottom of this page for more information.
Contact: Todd Hummer
By-laws
Descriptions of Application Areas
Dismissal Criteria
Selection Process
Standards for Application
Descriptions of Application Area
Service - contributions you have made to your school and community. Any activities you have been or are involved in which demonstrate how you have volunteered your time without any personal gain in return should be listed here. Some activities might include service projects you have participated in with church groups, Scouts, clubs, volunteer groups, community art endeavors, etc. These SHOULD NOT be a paid activity.
Extracurricular Activities - all activities in which you have participated during junior high school. You can include clubs, teams, musical groups, etc., and any major accomplishments you achieved in each. These can be school sponsored and/or nonschool sponsored activities.
Leadership Positions - all elected or appointed leadership positions held in school, community, or work activities. Only those positions in which you were directly responsible for leading or motivating others should be included. For example: elected student body positions, class or club officer, committee chairperson, team captain, editor of a school publication, or community leader.
Work Experience, Recognition, and Awards - any job experiences, honors, or recognition that you have received. Due to the fact that eligibility for application is partially based on your high academic standing, honor roll should not be included. Work experience may be paid.
Dismissal Criteria
• Members who fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection or members who fall below the membership obligations may be dismissed from the Hopewell Junior School 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.
• Members who fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection or members who fall below the membership obligations shall be promptly warned in writing and/or in person by the chapter advisor(s). Members will be given a three week probationary period to correct the deficiency.
• If, during the probationary period, a member does not correct the deficiency that caused them to be put on probation, they may be dismissed from the Hopewell Junior School National Junior Honor Society. If, while on probation, this member becomes deficient in any other citizenship/conduct and/or scholarship standard or they fail to meet the before mentioned membership obligations, they may be dismissed from the Hopewell Junior School National Junior Honor Society.
• In cases of pending dismissal:
• The member may receive written notification indicating the reason for recommendation of dismissal from the chapter advisor(s). The member and advisor(s) may discuss the notification in a conference.
• The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him/her at a hearing before the assistant principal and/or chapter advisor(s) prior to the decision on dismissal. The member must schedule this hearing within one school week from when the member receives written notification of the recommendation for dismissal. The school administration and/or the chapter advisor(s) will then decide on whether to dismiss. If the member chooses not to schedule a hearing, a letter will be sent to the student and parents indicating the dismissal.
• If a hearing is scheduled, the results of the hearing will be expressed in a letter sent to the student and parents. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the advisor(s).
• The dismissal may be appealed to the building principal and afterwards through the school district discipline policy.
• 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.
• Violation of the law and/or violation of the Lakota Code of Conduct can result in automatic dismissal of a member. In such cases, a member may or may not be given a probationary period to correct the deficiency; they can be automatically recommended for dismissal. These violations include, but are not limited to, stealing, destruction of property, truancy, or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities.
• In lieu of dismissal, the school administration, National Junior Honor Society advisor(s), and/or the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.
• A written description of the dismissal procedure shall be available to interested parties.
Selection Process
1. The school office will create a list of all students that meet the following criteria:
Scholarship
- 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average for all five quarters
- No individual quarter from seventh or eighth grade may have below a 3.0 grade point average.
Citizenship/Conduct
- No record of being truant
Candidates shall have a total of two or fewer of the following office consequences: office detentions, removals from the bus, or Saturday school assignments. Candidates shall have zero removals from school for any reason for all four quarters of seventh grade and first quarter of eighth grade.
All scholarship, citizenship, and conduct standards are based on all four quarters of the student’s seventh grade year and first quarter of their eighth grade year.
2. Students on this list will be invited to attend an informational meeting to discuss the selection process, requirements for membership, activities of the organization, and responsibilities of membership.
3. Each student desiring membership will complete a Hopewell Junior School National Junior Honor Society application. This packet must be filled out completely, with all required signatures, and returned by the designated date. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted. For extra assistance, sample applications are available in the Media Center.
4. A list will be compiled of all students that completed applications for membership. This list will be given to each Hopewell Junior School teacher. If a teacher believes any student on this list should not be considered for membership, they may indicate the specific reason in writing.
5. The Faculty Council will consist of five Hopewell Junior staff members appointed by the building principal. This Faculty Council will meet to review applications and teacher feedback to make the final selection of members. Names and any other identifying information will be removed from applications prior to the Council review to ensure objectivity. The principal, assistant principal, and/or advisors may participate in this discussion but will not have a vote.
6. Each Council member will vote yes or no. In order to be accepted for Hopewell Junior School NJHS membership, a student must receive a yes vote from the majority of the Council.
7. Students and their parents will be notified by mail if they have or have not been selected for membership. Information regarding the induction ceremony and requirements for maintaining membership will be included with congratulatory letters.
8. Selection for membership in a chapter of the National Junior Honor Society is an honor; not all applicants will be selected. Furthermore, selection is not based on grades alone, but includes consideration of student’s leadership, service, citizenship, and conduct. Members that resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership in any NJHS chapter. However, non-selection to, resignation of, or dismissal from the Hopewell Junior School NJHS in no way prevents a student from selection to a high school National Honor Society chapter.
9. If a student would like to appeal non-selection, he/she may meet with a school administrator and/or chapter advisors. Following such discussions, if the administration and advisors believe that some kind of technical mistake has been made, the administration and advisors may ask the council to reconvene to review the situation. In the absence of specific evidence to the contrary, the administration must assume that the members of the council are exercising their discretion in a legitimate manner and with the good faith expected of them. Reconsideration of a Faculty Council’s decision must be a rare occurrence if the council is expected to take its assignment seriously. Chapters are not obligated to share with parents and students information concerning specific students not selected for membership to the Hopewell Junior School NJHS.
10. A formal induction ceremony will be held. Prospective members are not full members until they have been properly inducted. Parents will be invited to the induction ceremony. If a child is not in school the day of the ceremony due to an excused absence, the administration and/or sponsors will induct that student upon his/her return to school.
11. Members will be expected to adhere to the Hopewell Junior School National Junior Honor Society chapter bylaws. These bylaws amplify the Constitution of the National Junior Honor Society.
Standards for Application
Scholarship, citizenship, and conduct standards are based on all four quarters of the student’s seventh grade year and first quarter of their eighth grade year. Students that meet the following scholarship, citizenship, and conduct standards are eligible for application for membership in the Hopewell Junior School National Junior Honor Society. Please visit the Hopewell Junior School website (link for Extra Curriculars) for further details regarding the application process.
Scholarship
- 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average for all five quarters.
- No individual quarter from seventh or eighth grade may have below a 3.0 grade point average.
Citizenship/Conduct
- No record of being truant
- Candidates shall have a total of two or fewer of the following office consequences: office detentions, removals from the bus, or Saturday school assignments. Candidates shall have zero removals from school for any reason for all four quarters of seventh grade and first quarter of eighth grade.