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Honor Code Committee

All members of The Meadows School community are expected to be individuals of "integrity," the key concepts of which are respect and responsibility.  Members of the School community must show respect for themselves, for others, and for the physical and intellectual property of others.  Students must accept responsibility for their own actions and especially for their own learning.

It was a student initiative a number of years ago that created a group of students and faculty to form an Honor Code Committee. Today, there are three appointed faculty members on the Committee and seven student members who are voted by students and faculty after having been accepted through an application process. The Committee selects one senior to be the presiding officer.

The group has an important educational function to help the whole community understand the concept of honor—primarily through advisory groups, the student members of the Committee discuss issues of academic integrity, clarify appropriate collaboration, and define plagiarism.  After the educational component, students sign an honor pledge.

Although members of the faculty may handle lesser violations of the Honor Code on their own, they must document the case with the administration.  Anyone in the community--faculty, staff, or students--may bring cases to the Committee. It is the policy of the Committee to handle cases in a timely manner, i.e., within 24 hours of notification of the offense. Parents are notified, and all parties make written statements regarding the alleged offense. The evidentiary standard for the Committee is "preponderance of the evidence."  The Committee hears each case, reviews the evidence, makes a determination of innocence or guilt, and in the case of guilt recommends an appropriate penalty to the administration. The deliberations of the Committee are confidential; only the outcome will be published.           

Student Council

The Meadows School Student Council is a collective organization of students elected by their peers to represent the interests of the students and manage student-oriented events, both recreational and constructive. The Meadows School Student Council is divided into five separately elected offices, determined by grade level. The fifth office is elected by the entire student body to represent the overall interests of the students and School. Each office contains four elected positions of: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Elections are held at the end of the previous year, and newly elected officers begin work the following school year. The Student Council meets once a week to discuss any changes or news relevant to the students. The Student Body Council meets twice a week to plan and manage activities.

The elected Student Body President has the responsibility of being a member of the Student Judiciary Committee, Honor Code.  Student Council is expected to maintain and promote positive communication and relations with the faculty and administration in representation of the students. The Student Council works with the Dean of Students to run and manage the daily operations of student activities within the School. Responsibilities of the Student Council also extend to running School dances, maintaining a balanced financial student account, and organizing extra-curricular student activities. The Student Council must meet with the student body on a recurring set schedule to brief the students about any updates or changes that have been made which affect them.

The Meadows School Student Council is the key liaison of the students. The pivotal role played by the Council is an integral part of the student life and School individuality. The elected officials represent the ideal of The Meadows School on and off-campus all day, every day.

Signed,
Student Body President

Student Ambassadors

This year we started a new program called "Student Ambassadors."  This selected group of students is responsible for representing the School in different venues. The most important role of this group is to provide potential students to the School with a view of the School from a student's perspective. Student Ambassadors tour student candidates around the School and help answer their questions about the student culture at The Meadows School.  In addition, potential students are welcome to visit the classrooms in our Shadow Program which is also run by the Student Ambassadors. The Ambassadors also participate in Admissions Open Houses and are available over the summer to communicate with new students who are about to enter the School.