National Junior Honor Society
BMS Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is National Junior Honor Society?
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) officially established NJHS in 1929, eight years after it founded National Honor Society for high school students.
The first chapter was established in the lower grades of the Webster Groves High School in Missouri. The first charter to a junior high school was granted to Clarinda Junior High School in Iowa. Equipped with a constitution, an emblem and motto, and a group of dedicated principals as coordinators, the new NJHS organization quickly developed into one of the country’s leading educational groups.
Five main purposes have guided chapters of NJHS from the beginning: to create enthusiasm for scholarship; to stimulate a desire to render service; to promote leadership; to encourage responsible citizenship; and to develop character in the students of secondary schools. These purposes also translate into the criteria used for membership selection in each local chapter.
Today, it is estimated that more than one million students participate in NJHS activities. NJHS chapters are found in all 50 states, US Territories, and around the world. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.
As such, NJHS chapters and students are in schools that care not only about student achievement, but also community engagement.
NJHS students and their peers volunteer in their communities at the highest rates and make connecting with and serving within the community a priority. The average chapter contributes:
· 650 hours of school/community service
· $1,000 in charitable donations
· 500 pounds of food to local, state, and national causes
· 375 pints of blood
(Taken from www.nhs.us. Accessed 02/01/2020)
Who is eligible for NJHS?
At BMS, in accordance with national standards set by NJHS, students will first qualify for an invitation through their demonstration of success in the area of scholarship. That means, students in 7th or 8th grade with a semester GPA of 3.9 on a 4-point scale will receive an invitation to fill out an information sheet. Students will then fill out the information sheet to give examples of their accomplishments in the remaining areas of Leadership, Service, Character, and Citizenship. Therefore, just because a student qualifies based on their cumulative GPA (scholarship), does not mean they will not automatically be inducted into the NJHS.
Where can I find my GPA?
GPA's are found on your most recent report card’s “1st current GPA”.
Who chooses inductees into the NJHS?
After students fill out an information sheet and the required recommendation forms from teachers and/or other adults, all of their qualifications will be reviewed by our Faculty Council. The Faculty Council is an anonymous group of faculty members who make final decisions about who will be invited for induction
into the NJHS. The Faculty Council also serves as the group who determines if a student should be dismissed because of a failure to meet expectations in one of the five areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Character, or Citizenship. The NJHS sponsors do not have a vote on the Faculty Council and will not be making any decisions regarding acceptance, rejection, or dismissal.
What does an exemplary NJHS candidate look like?
Scholarship: Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 (on a 4.0 scale), as established by the local school's Faculty Council, meet the scholarship requirement for membership. These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, and character (and citizenship for NJHS).
Service: This quality is defined through the voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit.
Leadership: Student leaders are those who are resourceful, good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, dependable, and persons who exemplify positive attitudes about life. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities while working with or for others.
Character: The student of good character upholds principles of morality and ethics, is cooperative, demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability, shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others, and generally maintains a good and clean lifestyle.
Citizenship: The student who demonstrates citizenship understands the importance of civic engagement; has a high regard for freedom and justice; respects democracy; respects the law for all citizens at the local, state, and federal levels; and demonstrates mature participation and responsibility in activities such as scouting, community organizations, or school clubs.
If I'm a 6th grader, what can I do to become a better candidate for NJHS in 7th and 8th grade?
One of the best things you can do as a 6th grader is to have really strong grades. You should work hard every day in school because as a 7th grade inductee, you will qualify in the area of scholarship based on your grades in 6th grade! Also, becoming involved in school clubs and activities, following all school rules and being a great role model for other students will give you strong teacher recommendations. In addition, outside of school, you can begin to track community service hours (work in which you don't receive some kind of pay) in order to strengthen your information sheet.
What do you do in NJHS?
The goal of NJHS is to build leaders and do service. Other than that, the activities are up to the NJHS members! Since this is the inaugural year for BMS, this is the ultimate opportunity to decide which service activities will define BMS NJHS. Chapter service activity opportunities will be offered, but each student will also select his/her own service projects each nine weeks that best reflect his/her personal interests.
Service Hours Guidelines
The following is a list of ACCEPTABLE service projects/activities:
Church/Religious group service activities
BMS school service activities
Food/clothing/toy drives/collections
Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts service activities
Volunteering to help with any type of walk/run to benefit an organization or cause
Volunteering at a soup kitchen, group home, elderly care facility, humane society, etc.
Organizing a volunteer event
See the United Way’s volunteer opportunities brochure for more activities
An acceptable VOLUNTEER service project is any activity in which you do not receive payment or compensation of any kind for your work and benefits other people in your school or community. You should be physically doing something to impact the community or to raise money for the school or community organization.
The following is a list of UNACCEPTABLE service projects/activities:
Babysitting
Required sports/musical practices
Extra-curricular club activities (unless you are doing a service project)
Chores at home (raking leaves, mowing the grass, cleaning, etc.)
Being a participant in a fundraiser walk/run
* If you have any questions about an acceptable service project or activity, please see Mrs. Goff as soon as possible.
BMS members are required to complete a minimum of 10 service hours each semester. Turn your hours in monthly in order to keep the NJHS records current. The hours documented on your Candidate Information Form for induction purposes (any hours before 02/27/20) are considered as completed in the Fall semester of 2019. Any other hours completed this semester will count toward the 10 hours required for the Spring semester of 2020.
Service hours must be documented on the correct BMS NJHS service hours documentation form. Signatures must be obtained by a person supervising the service event. Most likely, this signature WILL NOT be from your parent/guardian. Be sure to also provide a description of the service you completed. Any service hour forms that do not follow these directions will not be accepted.
If completed service hour forms are not turned in by the deadline for each semester, removal from National Junior Honor Society will be considered by the Faculty Council.
Feedback or Contact Advisor
National Junior Honor Society of BMS is dedicated to serving our school and surrounding community. Any feedback is greatly appreciated in order to further improve our school and to maintain the integrity of NJHS and its members. If you have any comments or concerns, please feel free to email Mrs. Goff, BMS NJHS Chapter Adviser at BMS.WV.NJHS@gmail.com.
Additionally, NJHS is always looking for opportunities to serve both the school and surrounding community. If you have any ideas for service projects that would benefit our school or members of the community, please email Mrs. Goff with your ideas(s) or speak to any NJHS member. Although our service is sometimes limited due to financial and other restrictions, we always welcome new ideas and will do everything we can to help. Thank you!
Forms For Download
How To Become a NJHS Member Brochure
BMS Chapter of the NJHS Bylaws