Pirates love tradition, and a new one has started. Five members of the High School National Honor Society (NHS) arrived at the Middle School to surprise 25 Middle School students with a pinning presentation and welcome them as new members of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).

The NHS members went from classroom to classroom to pin the 25 new inductees into the NJHS. A newly pinned 8th-grade student, Charlie McManus, said, “I’ve been waiting all week to find out if I got it. One of my cross-country teammates actually pinned me, so that was really nice.”

This new tradition is possible because the High School and Middle School share one building and have different schedules. NHS members arrived at the Middle School side of the building before the High School day began and pinned the new NJHS members at the start of the Middle School day. NHS members then crossed to the High School side of the building and arrived on time for the start of their day.

NHS Senior Britney Mendez Medina said, “It was worth getting up early and giving new members a vision of what they could be.” NHS Senior Kylee Adams said, “We don’t really come over to the Middle School side except for things like this. Hopefully as the years go on, we can have more reasons to come over and meet them and show them what’s going to happen when they come to High School.”

NHS Senior Isabella Caupp summed up the experience. “When I was in 8th grade, and I saw a High Schooler come into the room, I would think I’m going to be like that someday. Maybe what we did right now could be the reason why someone wants to continue to be great.”