KINGSTON — With the newly reconfigured grade levels transforming Kingston Junior High into Kingston Middle School next fall, 2006-07 marked the final year for the illustrious Junior Honor Society.
It won’t be the end of the road for the program though as an honor society will be established at KMS during the 2007-08 school year.
“The teachers that have been in charge of the KJH Honor Society program before me always have done a superb job,” said KJH Junior Honor Society director Chris Gilbreath, who took the reins of the program for 2006-07. “Going into this, I just wanted to continue what they have started. I wanted to carry on the tradition. These kids here did an excellent job this school year.”
In order to be considered for the honor society, students must maintain a 3.3 GPA or higher, participate in an array of citizenship projects, complete at least 12 hours of community service and submit an essay which is reviewed by faculty members.
With KJH becoming a middle school in 2007-08, this year’s eighth graders weren’t inducted into the KJH Honor Society as usual because they will be Kingston High School ninth graders in the fall.
“The eighth graders that were eligible weren’t inducted, but they were recognized for achieving marks that would have put them on National Honor Society,” Gilbreath said. “They did a great job and we wanted to make sure everyone recognizes what they did. They will most likely be inducted into National Honor Society next year when they reach high school.”
In total, 61 eighth graders were eligible to be in the honor society.
Honor society members and recent inductees have participated in a number of community service activities throughout the 2006-07 school year.
“They have done a lot of big things,” Gilbreath said. “Right before Thanksgiving this year they participated in a food drive and collected over a ton of food items.”
Students also assisted with the after-school tutoring program, the art fair in Port Gamble and will participate in the Relay for Life in Kingston.
“I was impressed with all of the service work they did this year,” Gilbreath said. “Some of these students volunteered more than 100 hours of their time. It’s pretty amazing.”
Gilbreath said he’s impressed with the work ethic KJH honor society members displayed during the 2006-07 school year.
“They had the willingness and energy to contribute to their surrounding community,” he said. “It’s refreshing to see young students make a difference.”
