What is National Junior Honor Society?

What are the qualities of membership?

  Important information for parents of seventh and eighth graders

   Meeting Schedule 2008 - 2009

 Possible opportunities for service hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the National Junior Honor Society?

 

The National Junior Honor Society is an organization that promotes recognition for students who reflect outstanding accomplishments in the areas of scholarship, character, leadership, citizenship, and service. NJHS is an extracurricular organization that supports the educational goals of the school and provides significant learning experiences, especially in the area of service. Thousands of schools are chartered each year and these chapters must adopt and follow the NJHS Constitution.  The NJHS Constitution is the primary source for policy information regarding initial membership, dismissal of membership, maintaining membership, service hours and projects.  The rules and regulations of our organization have been created by the national organization. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUALITIES OF MEMBERSHIP

Scholarship:

Scholarship means a commitment to learning. A student willing to spend hours reading and studying, knowing the last benefits of the cultivated mind. We should continue to learn even when formal education has ended, for education ends only with the end of life. Knowledge is one great element of life, which leads to the highest success, and it can be acquired in only one way – through diligence and effort. Learning furnishes the lamp by which we read past, and the light, which illuminates the future. Members must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 every quarter. It is the student’s responsibility to figure out his/her g.p.a. each grading period.

 

Service:

Service can be described in various ways. In the routine of the day’s work, many opportunities arise to help others. Willingness to work for the benefit of those in need, without monetary compensation or without recognition, is the quality we seek in our membership. Members are committed to the idea of volunteering our time and abilities to the creation of a better tomorrow. Students must complete 25 service hours. A minimum of 8 in each of the two areas, school and community.

 

Leadership:

Leadership should exert a wholesome influence on the school. In taking the initiative in class and school activities, the real leader strives to train and aid others to attain the same objective. The price of leadership is sacrifice—the willingness to yield one’s personal interests for the interests of others. A leader has self-confidence and will go forward when others hesitate. No matter what power and resources may exist in a country, they are ineffectual without the guidance of a wise leader. Leadership is always needed; thus, each of our members is expected to act as a leader of Palos South. 

 

 

 

Character:

Character is the force within each individual member, which distinguishes that person from others. Without character, one cannot respect his or herself, nor hope to attain the respect of others. It is this force of character, which guides one through life and, when once developed, grows steadily. Character is achieved and not received. It is a product of constant action, daily striving to make the right choice. The problem of character is the problem of self-control. We must be in reality, what we wish to appear to others. Members must demonstrate the following qualities: respect, responsibility, exemplary behavior, trustworthiness, fairness, honesty, and citizenship.

 

Citizenship:

Citizenship is the obligation each member of our society faces to live up to the democratic ideals given to us by the founders of our country. The responsibilities each of us has to our home, our community, our state, and our nation are many. As good citizens, we are bound to live up to the laws and guidelines, which unite us as civilized society. Good citizen’s work together to improve not only our lives, but the lives of all our fellow citizens. Good citizenship requires that we remain strong and vigilant in protecting the freedoms and rights that have been granted to us and in preventing injustice from entering our lives.  Members of our chapter are called to live up to the high standards of Citizenship from this day forward.

 

 

Responsibility:

Responsibility is a key component to many areas of membership of the National Junior Honor Society.  It is the student’s responsibility to adhere to all the requirements and deadlines. Parents may oversee activities, but it is solely the responsibility of each member to attend meetings regularly, complete and get needed signatures for service hours, return written communications and forms sent home and monitor their progress in classes. Failure to demonstrate this level of character will result in dismissal from the National Junior Honor Society.

 

 

Organization:

Organization is another key component one needs to be successful as a NJHS member.  It is suggested that members create a NJHS folder and keep all important handouts in it, including a copy of your service hour sheet(s).  Also, please put all meeting dates in your assignment notebook or on another calendar.  Remember, you will be held accountable for missed events and meetings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Important Information  for Parents Regarding NJHS  7th grade parents ·         Students who are eligible for NJHS will receive all pertinent information via their Connections teacher in late January ( the week  after 2nd QTR. report cards go out) ·         Students become eligible if… they earn a 3.5 g.p.a. for both 1st and 2nd QTR. ·         They must also have a clean discipline record which means…no suspensions and no more than two detentions. ·         No eligible students are to begin service hours until 3rd QTR. ·         All communication will be done via daily announcements in school as well as on the South web page. ·         Any other questions, please contact Mrs. Spreitzer or Mrs. Schramm.  8th grade parents ·         At this point in time, all important forms have been passed out to NJHS members. The two blue forms are due back by September 5, 2008. ·         Service opportunities as well as any other information will be communicated to students via daily announcements as well as the South web page. ·         Please remember that the NJHS members are to assume responsibility for their membership. ·         8th graders WHO ARE NOT YET MEMBERS, but wish to be will be eligible in the same manner as the 7th graders (please refer to the top of the page). ·         Any other questions, please contact Mrs. Spreitzer or Mrs. Schramm.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


NJHS Meeting Schedule

2008-09

 

When: Second Friday (*unless otherwise specified) of every month @ 8:40 a.m. (Make sure to check in with your Connections teacher before attending the meeting!)

 

September 12th    

*October 6th (Monday)

November 14th

December 5th  Turn in Service Hours- No meeting

January 16th

February 13th

March   6th      Turn in Service Hours- No meeting   

*April 6th (Monday)

 

Where:   In the Little Theater

 

RSVP:     Two unexcused absences will result in dismissal from NJHS.

 

 

*  The Induction Ceremony has been tentatively set for May 1, 2009.

 

 

 

 


POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES

FOR

SERVICE HOURS THIS SCHOOL YEAR

 08 - 09

 

*Remember you may NOT have more than 5 hours in any one area/activity. For example, you can only get up to 5 hours for helping at Market Day or babysitting.

 

(3 hours max. from activities) i.e. softball team, band, chess club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check the South Home Page “Announcements” as well as the NJHS bulletin board (outside Mrs. Schramm’s room) regularly for new service hour opportunities.

http://www.palos118.org/South/main/South_announcements.htm