Maddox Middle School
National Junior Honor Society

The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) recognizes students who excel academically, demonstrate strong leadership, citizenship and character, andcommit service to the community. These five categories are based on the five pillars of the National Junior Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service, and character.

Scholarship

A scholar displays a sincere desire to succeed academically and shows a love of learning. A scholar also maintains a 3.78 GPA

Character

Your character is the combination of qualities that distinguishes you from another person. It is your combined moral and ethical make-up.

The student of character:

  • Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously.
  • Upholds principles of morality and ethics.
  • Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, classrooms, halls, etc.
  • Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability (includes no cheating/plagiarizing).
  • Creates a climate of kindness and hard work in the school.

Citizenship

Citizenshipis a concept of participation concerning your attitude, fairness, and respect for others.Good citizenship encompasses your behavior in and out of school. 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

Leadership

The NJHS tries to develop good leaders. A leader does the right thing without being asked. Your leadership ability is shown by the “extra” activities you are involved in, whether you hold an office or not.

The student who exercises leadership:

  • Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
  • Exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideals
  • Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
  • Exemplifies positive attitudes
  • Inspires positive behavior in others
  • Is a leader in the classroom, at work, and in other school or community activities
  • Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted

Service

The student who serves:

  • Volunteers and provides dependable and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance
  • Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult responsibilities
  • Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school
  • Does committee and staff work without complaint
  • Participates in some activity outside of school, for example, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups, or volunteer services for the elderly, poor, or disadvantaged (2 hours per month).
  • Mentors persons in the community or students at other schools
  • Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students

Discipline Policy

When a member falls below the standards by which the member was selected, the adviser shall inform the errant member in writing of the nature of the violation, the time period given for improvement, and provide warning of the possible consequences of non-improvement. If the student does not make the improvement in the specified time, that student is subject to whatever disciplinary measures are considered appropriate by the adviser.

The goal of disciplinary measures should be to reeducate the student to more appropriate behavior.

Warnings/Suspensions

Scholastic Standards

Membership GPA will be reviewed at each grading period’s report card.

  1. If a student falls below the standard for the first time, a written warning shall be issued placing the member and his/her parents on notice that the following progress report will be monitored for scholastic achievement.
  2. If a member on warning fails to achieve the standard at progress report time, the student will be placed on suspension until the next report card which will be monitored for scholastic achievement. Suspended members are not to attend any NJHS functions, meetings, or activities, but are still required to fulfill their service hours.
  3. If a member on suspension fails to achieve the academic standard at this report card time, the student will be dismissed from the National Junior Honor Society.

Service Standards

All members of the Maddox Middle School NJHS are required to individually volunteer for 2 service hours per month and record the service on the verification sheet. Verification sheets must be turned in by the end of each month to the advisor.

-Students who have not met the monthly service hour standards will be issued a written warning that the student and parents will need to review, sign, and return to the chapter advisor. Members are expected to make up those missing service hours by the following month.

-If members have not made up and met the service hour requirements of 4 hours by the second month, they will be placed on suspension until the following grading period or until the hours are in good standing in the meantime.

-If members are not caught up to the service standards by the 3rd month, they will be dismissed from the NJHS at Maddox Middle School.

Character Standards

Members that fall below the standard of good character shall be given written warning, suspension, or dismissal notice based on the following:

  1. Students that are disciplined via after school detentions or in/out of school suspensions shall be placed on suspension for one month from the NJHS at Maddox Middle School.
  2. Students that are observed by the faculty and staff to be falling below the character standards shall be warned in writing.
  3. Students that are caught cheating will be warned in writing and suspended for one month. A second offense will result in a meeting with advisor and administration with the possibility of dismissal from Maddox Middle School NJHS.
  4. In the case of flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws, a member does not, necessarily, have to be warned.

*It is up to the discretion of the administration and advisor to decide on the nature of the disciplinary action based on individual circumstance.

*All warnings, suspensions, and dismissals will be sent home in writing and expected to be reviewed, signed, and returned to the chapter advisor in the time specified.

*In all cases of impending dismissal, a member shall have a right to written notification of charges and a meeting with advisor and administration.

Maddox Middle School
National Junior Honor Society

Membership Requirements after Induction

  • All members must complete 2 hours of community serviceper month (through school, church, or other organizations) throughout their 8th grade year.
  • Members must attend all meetings unless they make prior arrangements for another school function (band,choir,drill team, etc.). Meetings are generally once a month on Tuesday or Wednesday during lunch. Additional meetings may be scheduled to support specific service projects or activities.
  • Missed meetings must be made up by completing an additional half hour of service for each meeting missed. Numerous missed meetings will result in the dismissal of membership.
  • All members are expected to continue abiding by the Five Pillars of Society of NJHS throughout their 8th grade career. Failure to abide by the rules will result in termination of membership.

NJHS Member and Parent Signatures

Submit to Mrs. Lotspeich by Thursday,September 10.
Signatures: I agree to abide by the standards and guidelines of the chapter and to fulfill all of my membership obligations to the best of my ability.

Student Signature Date

I have read the information provided by my son/daughter on this form and will support him/her as a NJHS member.

Parent/Guardian SignatureDate

Parent/Guardian phone number(s) Parent email address

Please include a $20 membership fee.