The Value of Integrity:
Ashley Hall’s Honor Code By Jennifer Turner, Editor & Director of Content
The essence of any school is found in its values, and Ashley Hall’s Honor Pledge is embedded deeply within its community: “I pledge that I will not lie, cheat, or steal nor tolerate those who do.” These words serve as guideposts for students and faculty alike as they navigate living as a community with integrity. For two weeks in October, Intermediate Program and Upper School students were challenged to think deeply about the place of honor within their own lives and the ways in which they uphold this most vital promise to themselves and others. “During times of caution and change, it’s easy to lose sight of the morals and values that bind this great School together, and that is why the Honor Code is so vital,” said Head of the Honor Council Kayla Kirkland ’21. “My goal is to make sure that this school year, though it looks so different from years past, remains true to the same values that Ashley Hall has always embodied.” Throughout their Lower School years, Intermediate Program students investigated the meaning behind each of the School’s Hallmarks in preparation of taking the next step. “At this age, the responsibility of making a pledge to uphold our School’s Honor Code is truly significant to them and goes along with a deeper understanding of what it means to be an honorable person,” noted Intermediate Program faculty member Olivia Hipp ’10. For the first time, students at this age are asked to sign their name to the
pledge, both as a commitment to upholding its tenets and as an acknowledgement of honor’s central role in their lives. “I think that the students learn early on the Hallmarks, which are built on our foundation of honor,” emphasized Intermediate Program Coordinator Mary Schweers. “We go over the pledge with them and ask them moving forward to write it on their tests so that we are embedding and promoting a culture of honor because it is a cornerstone of our entire community, and it is what sets Ashley Hall apart.” In the Upper School during each day’s Morning Meeting, students focused on a different element of the Honor Pledge in preparation for their signing of the pledge. As part of their weekly virtual Assembly, they listened to Upper School faculty member Andrea Muti, the keynote speaker for Honor Week, who offered a moving and inspirational look at honor’s place within a community and its role in his own development of character and integrity.
