National Honor Society

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.

Today, it is estimated that more than one million students participate in NHS activities. NHS chapters are found in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. territories and Canada.  Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.

Weymouth High School is proud to have a chapter representing National Honor Society. Every school year WHS NHS members embody scholarship, leadership, service and character through charitable activities and community service throughout eastern Massachusetts.

MEMBERSHIP and SELECTION OF MEMBERS

Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate. Active members become graduate members at graduation. Graduate and honorary members have no vote in chapter affairs.

Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty, and shall be based on the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

 Eligibility:

     a.  Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be current members of the junior class.

     b.  To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for a period of one semester at Weymouth High School.

     c.  Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall include those students with a weighted grade point average of 3.9000 as of the end of the first semester of their junior year (rounding prohibited).  This         scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed, and shall be the required minimum scholastic level of achievement for admission to candidacy.  All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard may be admitted to candidacy for selection to membership.

     d.  Upon meeting the grade level, attendance, and GPA standard requirements, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.

     e. Students who have violated the school’s Code of Conduct or have been involved in another disciplinary infraction inside or outside of school jeopardize their candidacy.  Eligibility will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Admission: 

     a. Prior to selection, juniors’ WHS academic records are reviewed after semester one to determine scholastic eligibility. Juniors who are eligible will be notified to submit a written testimony explaining how they have achieved the NHS qualities of service, leadership and character since the beginning of their high school careers.

     b. The faculty as a whole shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible by voicing objections to any they deem inappropriate for membership.

     c. The chapter advisor and Faculty Council, which consists of six teachers representing the six major departments of WHS, shall then review the candidates’ essays, faculty feedback, and disciplinary reports to determine admission.

     d. The Faculty Council then votes on each candidate’s admission (advisor has no vote).

     e. Candidates become official members when inducted at a special ceremony held in the Weymouth High School auditorium in May.

MEETINGS, ACTIVITIES and COMMUNITY SERVICE

Meetings of this chapter shall be monthly.       

This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert's Rules of Order.

All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly-scheduled chapter meetings. A total of one excused absence is permitted. Two unexcused absences are grounds for dismissal.

The chapter shall determine at least two service projects for each year. All members shall regularly participate in these projects.

These projects shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community, have the support of the administration and the faculty, be appropriate and educationally defensible, and be well-planned, organized, and executed.

Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in an individual service project which reflects his or her particular talents and interests and as approved by the chapter adviser. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute. A minimum of twenty hours of individual service is required and written documentation of service is required. This service is to be completed prior to the completion of the first semester of the senior year.

The chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner. 

DISCIPLINE and DISMISSAL

Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the Weymouth High School chapter of the National Honor Society. A member of the National Honor Society is expected to maintain their academic standing, embody good character and take an active role in service and leadership to their school and community.

In all cases involving academic standing:

If a member's cumulative weighted grade point average falls below 3.9,, they will be given a written warning after the end of term two and placed on academic probation

The member will be given a time period for improvement which will consist of the majority of term three. 

If the cumulative weighted grade point average remains below 3.9 at the end of term three, the member will be subject to further disciplinary action by the Faculty Council in the form of dismissal from the chapter. 

In recognition of the integral National Honor Society component of character, students who at any time during membership have violated the school’s Code of Conduct or have been involved in another disciplinary infraction inside or outside of school gravely jeopardize their continued membership. That student’s continued membership will be determined by the Faculty Council.

In all cases involving violation of character:

     a. The member will receive written notification from the Faculty Council indicating the reason for possible dismissal. The member and adviser will discuss the written notification in a conference

     b. The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against them at a hearing before the Faculty Council. The member has the opportunity to present their defense either in person or in writing. 

     c.The Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss the member or not. A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member. The advisor has no vote.

     d. The results of the Faculty Council vote will be reviewed by the principal, and then if confirmed, expressed in a letter sent to the member and their parents, Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the adviser.

     e. The Faculty Council's decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterwards through the school district discipline policy.

     f. When a student is dismissed or resigns, they are no longer a member and may never again be considered for membership in National Honor Society.

 In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.