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What is the National Junior Honor Society?

The NJHS is made up of a diverse group of individuals who show leadership at school and around town, earn good grades, participate in class, and portray ideal character. The NJHS is a nationwide program which operates in states and territories of the United States, such as Hawaii, Alaska, The District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as in areas of Canada. The five main pillars of the NJHS are Service, Character, Scholarship, Leadership, and Citizenship.

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Who are we?

Members of the NJHS at SMS are:

Current eighth graders and 3rd term 7th/8th graders who are inducted at the end of May/beginning of June.
Students who are involved in sports and other clubs/activities
Leaders inside and outside of our middle school.
Members of the community who perform hours of community service because they want to NOT because they are forced.

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What do we do?

The National Junior Honor Society members in our school have the opportunity to be involved in numerous activities and endeavors, including but certainly not limited to:

Collection of money and/or goods during fundraisers within the school building.
Helping neighbors in need (during winter with shoveling)
Volunteering at the senior center or for other events/organizations
Get involved in organizing school events.
Tutoring/peer support in younger grade levels
Helping various coaches at practice or places of religion

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How do I become a member?

YOU MUST fulfill the academic (scholarship) grade requirement in grade 7 and/or 8, attend school regularly, and demonstrate good character and leadership in the school throughout your years at SMS, in order to be INVITED to apply.

If you want to become a member you should be doing the right thing inside and outside of school. It is also important that you are always involved in community service. Get involved now and start collecting hours! IT IS NEVER TO EARLY TO HELP OUT!

Once you are invited to apply you will fill out the application online to prove you meet the NJHS requirements.

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What is Scholarship?

One of the requirements for acceptance into the NJHS is that you must be a good student academically. This means:

You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 85% or better, starting in 6th grade. The harder you work in grades 5 and 6 to master content, the easier it will be to maintain your high academic standings in grade 7 and 8.

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Attendance

Students seeking membership must have at most 5 unexcused absences and at most 8 tardies during the year that they are applying. Another requirement to get into the NJHS is having good attendance. It is important to be in school! Plan vacations around school vacations!

Excused absences include the following:

You were sick and gave the office a doctor’s note when you return to school.
There was a death in the family and you gave the office a note stating why you were absent.
Religious holiday and you gave the office a note stating why you were absent.
Other absence arranged in advance @ the Principal’s discretion

FAMILY VACATIONS ARE NOT EXCUSED

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What is Character?

Another important requirement in order to be a member of the society, you must be of good character throughout your years @ SMS which means you should ALWAYS make good choices and be kind, honest, determined, influential, and hardworking, both in and out of an academic environment. Be the student caught being good! Be the student teachers consider a positive role model!

Your excellent behavior should be obvious in the hallways, at lunch, outside of school, on the field or court, and in the neighborhood.

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What is Leadership?

In order to be a member of the society, we look at leadership in many ways:

Are you a positive leader inside and outside of school?

Have you been appointed leadership roles inside or outside of school?

Are you responsible, involved, and are you a team player inside or outside of school?

Can you get group of people engaged in a positive way in class and in the hallways?

Are you able to work with different groups of people and show sense of pride in your school and community?

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What is Community Service?

Since giving back is one of the most important parts of our society, members of the National Junior Honor Society are very involved in their community. In order to become a part of the NJHS, you must have 10 hours of community service within the past year. If you hope to be in the society and you are not currently involved in service projects in the community, now is the time to get involved! Most students who are members get involved because they want to always not just to be in the society!

Once you are a part of the society, you are expected two hours of service every month. This may sound like a lot, but often times, you will be so engaged in the activity, you won’t even realize it’s service!

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What can I do for Community Service? Here are some ideas! Need more, reach out to us!

Helping at the SMS or town library Shoveling/mowing for neighbors, at no charge

Volunteering your time with the yearbook Assisting coaches

Volunteering at our local food pantry Crewing for drama productions

Aiding teachers with after school help Working with the Girl/ Boy Scouts on tasks

Getting involved with local organization

Donating time at your church/parish/synagogue

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What is the Application Process?

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Once you receive a letter inviting you to apply, begin filling out your application provided in your email.

2. You will need to make a copy of the application in google docs and rename it your first/last name and do your best work completing it.

3. Make sure you meet all the criteria before you apply to best help ensure acceptance.

4. Don’t leave anything BLANK!

5. A recommendation is required. Make sure you give the person writing your rec PLENTY OF TIME prior to the due date.

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6. Once you submit your application via google share to Mrs. Wilson & Mr. Moran, the NJHS advisors, to hand off to the anonymous Faculty Council for final review to determine if you are accepted.

7. Be patient - you will hear back in a few weeks.

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Our Website

For more information:

Go to Swampscott Middle School Website.

Go to Resources

Go to Students

Click on National Junior Honor Society

This is where you find our bylaws, more info on the application process, and useful forms for the application process, as well important info for current members.