Honor Societies

National Honor Society (NHS)

Eligibility:

Eligibility requirements are set by the National Honor Society and Local Council.  Membership in the NHS (for the 2023-2024 school year) will be based upon the following combination of national and local requirements:

1. Candidates must be full-time students and members of 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.

2. Candidates must have been in attendance at MHS for the equivalent of one semester.

3. Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average by semester of 3.33. Candidates shall then be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, and character. The selection process will begin after the close of first semester grades each year.

4. All four character criteria – scholarship, leadership, service, and character – are selection determinants.

5. Parents and students must understand that membership in the NHS is a privilege, not a right.

In order to continue membership in the NHS, students must maintain the standards under which they were admitted. Members whose grades fall below the scholarship standards under which they were admitted will be given one warning to improve their grades to the standard. At the end of the semester following a warning, students who have failed to raise their cumulative unweighted grade point average to a minimum of 3.33 will have their names submitted to the Faculty Council for dismissal. In addition, members who fall below the standards of leadership, service or character or who violate school rules will be reviewed by the Faculty Council for possible dismissal from the National Honor Society. In all cases pending dismissal, members will have the right to a hearing before the Faculty Council.

• Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, per the School Committee and Medfield High School National Honor Society, only Juniors and Seniors will be eligible to apply. Additionally, the eligible GPA will change from an unweighted GPA of 3.33 to a weighted GPA of 3.6. Taking these changes into consideration, the Induction ceremony will move from spring to fall.

The National Chinese Honor Society (NCHS)

The NCHS was established in November 1993 to recognize those accomplished high school students who study Chinese as a world language. The National Chinese Honor Society is a scholastic organization that promotes and recognizes students with good citizenship, leadership, and deeds of community service.

The Medfield High School chapter of the National Chinese Honor Society (NCHS) seeks to encourage its members to become lifelong learners to gain a better understanding of the Chinese language and culture, and to get more academic achievement.

The purpose of the Medfield High School chapter of NCHS shall be to:

1. Recognize students with distinguished academic achievement in Mandarin.

2. Integrate and elevate the appreciation of the Chinese language and culture in the school community.

3. Promote and increase the study of Mandarin language and culture in Medfield High School.

4. Encourage students with academic integrity and good character.

Eligibility:

1. Must maintain an A- average or above in Mandarin for 3 consecutive semesters.

2. Must have good character and behavior. This is defined as maintaining moral and ethical attributes above reproach. Faculty members will be asked to comment on candidates’ qualifications prior to the induction. Candidates with a documented history of infractions may not be offered induction regardless of academic standing.

In order to remain in the Society, one must:

• Be enrolled in a Mandarin course at MHS.

• Maintain an A- or above for the semester grade in Mandarin.

• Uphold the standards of good behavior and integrity outlined in the Medfield High School Handbook.

• Avoid acts of plagiarism/cheating and those warranting suspension.

• Removal from the Society for any such behavior is at the discretion of the advisor.

• Participate actively in activities sponsored by the society.

French Honor Society Criteria

New Members:

1. Must have an A- average or higher in French during the semester of selection.

2. Must have cumulative A- or better in French, based on three preceding semesters.

3. Must have a B- or better (weighted) in all other subjects during the semester of selection.

4. Must have a cumulative average of B- in all other subjects (weighted), based on three preceding semesters.

Current Members:

If a member’s grade in French drops below an A-, but not less than a B-, the student is placed on probation for a period of (2) terms. During that period, the student becomes a non-voting member. If the student raises his or her grade in French to B+ or better by the end of two quarters, he or she will be reinstated as a full member. If the student does not obtain a B+ or better by the end of the probation period, he or she will be expelled from the Society. After the probationary period, the student’s average starts anew. Any member with a grade below a B- in French will be dismissed from the Society and will have to repeat the original process for gaining membership.

In order to remain in the society, one must be enrolled in a French course at MHS and attend 85% of the French National Honor Society meetings/functions. Earning and maintaining membership in the French National Honor Society is also dependent on upholding the standards of good behavior and integrity outlined in the Medfield High School handbook. Acts of plagiarism/cheating and those warranting suspension are grounds for dismissal. Removal from the Society for any such behavior is at the discretion of the advisor.

Latin Honor Society Criteria

Students who meet the following criteria will be deemed eligible for, and will be offered induction into, the Latin Honor Society:

1. Membership in this chapter shall be based on scholarship in Latin as well as personal and academic character.

2. Eligibility for membership requires enrollment in at least three semesters of Latin.

3. Eligibility for membership is limited to students with a minimum A- average in Latin.

4. Members should have a recommendation from a Latin teacher.

In order to remain in the society, one must be enrolled in a Latin course at MHS. Earning and maintaining membership in the Latin Honor Society is also dependent on upholding the standards of good behavior and integrity outlined in the Medfield High School handbook.

Acts of plagiarism/cheating and those warranting suspension are grounds for dismissal. Removal from the Society for any such behavior is at the discretion of the advisor.

Members of the Society will be asked to participate in activities designed to encourage, promote, and increase the study of Latin and will be asked to agree prior to induction to participate in all such programs.

Spanish Honor Society Criteria

Students who meet the following criteria will be deemed eligible for, and will be offered induction into, the Spanish Honor Society:

1. Must have an Honors average in high school Spanish for three consecutive semesters immediately prior to induction. Honors average is defined as having maintained at least an A- for each of the three semesters. A grade lower than A- breaks the consecutive chain. This specifically means that the term Honors Average does not refer to an aggregate average.

2. Students who fall below an Honors average for any semester subsequent to induction will be placed on probation and must regain an Honors average the next semester in order to remain an active member. For these purposes, we will define Honors Average as at least an A- average in Spanish I through IV, and a B average in Spanish VH and/or AP.

3. Categories of membership are: active, inactive, probationary, and honorary. Only active members are eligible for consideration for scholarships offered through the Society.

4. Moral and ethical attributes must be above reproach. Faculty members will be asked to comment on this aspect of candidates’ qualifications. Candidates with a documented history of a violation of academic integrity, chronic violation of school rules, poor attendance, or similar behavior patterns suggesting a minimal commitment to school, will not be offered induction regardless of grade average. Students who demonstrate any of these behaviors while in the society may also be subject to dismissal at the discretion of the adviser.

5. Members who have violated the moral code of ethics expected of the Spanish National Honor Society membership may be dismissed from the society at the discretion of the adviser.

6. Members of the Society will be asked to participate in activities designed to promote interest in the study of Spanish and will be asked to agree prior to induction to participate in all such programs.

7. In order to remain in the society, a student must be enrolled in a Spanish course at MHS.