Honor Council

Our approach to discipline is creative rather than punitive. We rely on direct communication and mutual accountability to resolve most minor breaches in integrity.  We approach these minor transgressions first of all as opportunities for learning, and for developing our understanding of the role of integrity in our community.  In the case of major transgressions, the student may be required to attend Honor Council.

In the case of major transgressions the student may be required to attend Honor Council, whose members are charged with providing an opportunity for the student to repair their commitment to the community by assigning uniquely tailored consequences. Students have a choice of abiding by the decisions of the Honor Council or resigning from the school.

kevinThe purpose of any imposed consequences are threefold.
  • The reparations should remind the student of what is truly important to him or her.
  • The reparations should expose how one’s mistake or break in integrity inhibits the realization of their goals.
  • The reparations should provide an avenue by which the student may make whole their commitment to the school.
The Honor Council is comprised of 12 individuals: 9 students, 2 teachers, and 1 parent. For the first quarter, the Assistant Director will appoint the council. At the end of the first quarter, once students have had the opportunity to witness each other’s behavior and belief systems, the student body will elect the 9 student members of the council, by secret ballot and without campaigning. Only 6 of the 9 student representatives are required to convene a discipline hearing. The Honor Council meets weekly and as needed, on request from the Deans. In the case of a major incident, the administration retains the right to suspend a student until the Honor Council can convene.