CJSF

Eighth Grade students only:

California Junior Scholarship Federation (CJSF - California's OLDEST honor society) will begin its Fall Collection soon (for current 8th graders based on their 3rd trimester 7th grade report card). NOTE: Collections will be held after school at 3PM in Mrs. Buda's classroom Room 504, Tuesday – Thursday, September 15-17, 2026. (It will no longer be in front of the MPR.) Please do NOT turn in applications to Mrs. Buda outside the collection window.

**Collections for ISPE students ONLY: 2PM in Mrs. Buda's classroom Room 504, Wednesday, September 16, 2026.**

Fall/September Membership is for current 8th graders only and is based upon the grades you received on your June 2026 report card. Please check the application, enter your grades, and see if you qualify. If you qualify and wish to join or continue your membership from last year, please do the following:

Print out copy of the application and fill it out thoroughly
Print out your report card for the trimester ending in June of 2026
Go to Member Planet (window closes on the 17th at noon)
Pay the cost of membership ($20) here: www.memberplanet.com/s/ridgecrestintermediateschoolbooster/2026-cjsf
Print out receipt
If you have service hours, fill out the Community Service Log
Bring the following documents to Mrs. Buda's classroom:

Completed Application
Report Card ending in June 2026
Member Planet Receipt
(OPTIONAL) Community Service Log

Reminder – to achieve Honor Member status and to be honored at promotion, you must have membership in two trimesters during 7th grade and two trimesters during 8th grade. To be an Active Honor Member, you must complete a minimum of at least 12 hours across 7th and 8th grade. We highly recommend approximately 3 hours per trimester.

If you have any questions, please visit the Ridgecrest Intermediate School website (ris.pvpusd.net) and navigate to the Students Tab to find the CJSF page. Please review the link for FAQ and details. If you would like more clarification, please contact Mrs. Buda ([email protected]).

Lastly, please note that all Member Planet payments are non-refundable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I apply as a 7th grader during Fall Collections? Fall Collections are for your previous trimester's grades, so 7th graders in the fall would not qualify because they would be checking 6th grade report cards. 7th graders can begin to apply at Winter Collections, which will ask for their first trimester 7th grade report card.
My grades are so close! Should I apply just in case? Unfortunately, no. CJSF bylaws require specific grades.
What counts as an "academic" class? Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Health, STEM, and World Languages all count. PE, ISPE, and most other electives (Art, Drama, AVID, Music, etc.) are not classified as an academic course when counting points. Please reach out if you need further clarification for a specific course.
Can my parent/guardian/friend turn my form in for me? No. Only the applicant themselves can turn in their own form.
I am going to be absent during ALL THREE days of collections. What should I do? If it is for ALL THREE DAYS and they are EXCUSED ABSENCES, you MUST contact Mrs. Buda ASAP to find out if you are eligible and to submit your application. However, if you are present at school for even one of the collection days, then you were expected to have submitted your application during the collection period.
Can I turn in application early or late? No. Please see above. If you missed Collections, we are very sorry, but please remember to submit your application next trimester.
Why become a CJSF Member? CJSF is a highly esteemed society that helps students earn recognition for their hard work, earn honor awards for 8th grade promotion, and prepare for high school honor societies. CJSF membership status is also noted for high school.
What is an Honor Member? An Honor Member is a student who is a member of CJSF for two trimesters in 7th grade and two trimesters in 8^th grade.
What is an Active Honor Member? An Active Honor Member is an Honor Member who has also completed 12 hours of service by 8^th grade Promotion. Volunteer hours do not need to be 3 hours per trimester, though it is recommended to make sure students have a balanced workload. As long as a student has at least 12 hours total that only occurred in 7th and 8th grade (not before) by Promotion, they will qualify, assuming their hours are legitimate, valid, and signed.
What is an Inactive Honor Member? An Inactive Honor Member is an Honor Member who has not completed 12 hours of service by 8^th grade Promotion.

More questions? Look out for a planned parent meeting on Zoom early December that can address all specific questions. Keep an eye out for an email from Principal Mancilla!