Eastside Prep Code of Conduct
Eastside Prep relies on positive student conduct. The advanced learning environment appreciated by teachers and students alike is only possible with mature, responsible behavior on the part of all participants. EPS specifically recognizes respect as a key “ingredient” in this endeavor. Specifically, five points of respect are identified as listed below:
Respect
- Yourself
- Others
- The Learning Environment
- Property
- Leadership
Students are expected to refer consciously to these points of respect in all aspects of EPS life. More specific rules do exist and will be covered later in this section. No list of rules, regardless of length, can cover every situation and circumstance. When an existing rule does not apply directly to a specific situation, we expect that students are able to consider their actions carefully and thoughtfully apply these principles of respect. Further, at EPS, trust is a valued part of our environment, and as such, there is an effort not to overwhelm anyone with a long list of rules.
Academic Honor System
Philosophy
Students are expected to act with honor and responsibility in all areas, and in no place is this more important than the academic arena. Eastside Prep courses are characterized by a cooperative and trusting relationship between teacher and student. That relationship can exist only when students work with honor and integrity. Students are required to be truthful in their words and actions. Further, it is each student’s responsibility to encourage the same conduct from their fellow students.
Plagiarism
While there are other possible honor offenses, one of the most egregious in schools is plagiarism. Plagiarism is an honor offense that involves both stealing and cheating. To plagiarize is defined by the Cambridge on-line dictionary as “to use another person’s idea or a part of their work and pretend that it is your own.” (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=60393&dict=CALD)
Some plagiarism offenses are obvious. Copying whole papers or even small sections directly are examples. It is vital that students understand even when the words of another are changed, if the idea remains intact, then presenting this work as your own, without citation of the original work is plagiarism. This remains true whether a student intends to deceive or not. EPS will be vigilant about guarding against plagiarism, including using outside resources to check students’ work for originality.
Use of Outside Resources
Teachers may assess students using a range of practices, including tests and quizzes. Teachers will state as part of the written instructions what resources can be used. Regardless of the setting, and often with little supervision, we trust students to complete assessments using only resources (including collaboration with peers) explicitly allowed by the teacher. Use of resources not explicitly permitted will be considered a breach of the EPS Academic Honor commitment, and subject to consequences outlined below.
Consequences
When a teacher recognizes that a student has submitted work that is not authentically their own, they bring those concerns to the attention of the Upper School Head. The teacher and/or Upper School Head will speak with the student to understand the circumstances and intentions of the student. Typically, a student’s first breach of academic integrity will be used to clarify and teach academic expectations. Subsequent instances are likely to receive consequences increasing in significance, which may range from academic consequences like point or grade reductions, to disciplinary consequences like suspension or expulsion. Consequences for a first offense range from academic and disciplinary penalties to suspension or expulsion depending on the severity of the Academic Honor violation. The Upper School Head will recommend consequences in consultation with the Head of School. The imposition of any consequences is at the sole discretion of the Head of School and students are not entitled to any compulsory hearing or grievance process. The Head of School reserves all rights to enforce academic policies as if those rights were expressly set forth in this handbook.
Disciplinary Reporting
Helping students grow and mature intellectually and socially is central to Eastside Preparatory School’s purpose as a school. Inevitably, students will need to be corrected regarding their behavior. The primary purpose of each disciplinary action is to help students learn and grow. Smaller disciplinary actions are not publicly shared, either internally or with outside audiences.
In some cases, actions reach a level requiring a more severe consequence of either suspension or expulsion. In these rare cases, EPS will report the offense and penalty to colleges as part of the school’s standard Secondary School Report (SSR). EPS will also update colleges with any change in disciplinary status throughout the senior year.
While EPS will report these disciplinary events, we will also work to help students through the process. Generally, students do best in advocating for themselves by self-reporting to colleges. Taking responsibility for one’s actions is exactly the maturity EPS seeks to develop in our students. Not surprisingly, this is exactly what colleges hope to see in those who matriculate. The college counseling staff, along with the Upper School Head, will support students through these steps and will serve as advocates for their future.
Conduct Outside EPS
In the event that a student’s behavior outside the community—and beyond the jurisdiction of the school regarding disciplinary response—reflects negatively on the reputation of the school or negatively impacts another member of the community, the Head of School reserves the right to review the student’s standing in the community. The decision about the action to be taken rests with the Head of School, and ranges from simple censure to expulsion. This policy includes online behavior as well as cyber-bullying, whether between EPS community members, or from community members about EPS.
Disciplinary Probation
Students whose behavior demonstrates serious or recurring disregard for the spirit of the rules and expectations of Eastside Preparatory School, or who demonstrate the inability to adhere to said expectations, may be placed on Disciplinary Probation. Disciplinary Probation typically triggers measures to help the student regain good standing. The first step is a meeting with the student, parents/guardians, Advisor, Learning Support staff and Upper School Head to identify areas of success and challenge, and to develop a plan for the upcoming trimester. The decision to offer a re-enrollment contract for students on Disciplinary Probation and the timing of such an offer will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Harassment
At EPS, every member of our community has the right to expect that we will be accepted and respected by our peers and teachers. Harassment is a form of unlawful discrimination as well as disrespectful behavior which will not be tolerated. It is the policy of EPS to oppose and prohibit, without qualification, unlawful harassment based on any student’s membership in any class protected by federal, state, or municipal law. Any unlawful harassment of a student by a member of the school community is a violation of this policy.
Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
EPS strives to create an educational environment in which all individuals are treated with dignity and respect and free from emotional or physical harm. EPS strictly prohibits harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students in the EPS community on campus, at school sponsored events, through digital means or social media, or by any other method that would disrupt the targeted student’s access to education at EPS.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying means an intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act that:
- Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property;
- Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education;
- Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or
- Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
Conduct that may rise to the level of harassment, intimidation, or bullying may include, but is not limited to slurs, rumors, jokes, drawings/cartoons, ostracism, physical attacks or threats, or other written, oral, physical or electronically transmitted messages or images.
EPS is an educational institution that welcomes the open exchange of ideas, even those that may be controversial. Nothing in this policy is intended to prohibit the expression of religious, philosophical, or political views in an educational setting, provided that this expression does not substantially disrupt the educational environment.
If a student believes they have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, or bullying, the student should report this matter to their Division Head, and it will be promptly investigated. EPS prohibits retaliation of any type against any student reporting harassment, intimidation, or bullying. No student will be disciplined for making a report of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in good faith, even if the report is unfounded. However, knowingly making a false report of harassment, intimidation, or bullying is a violation of EPS policy and may subject the student making the false report to discipline.
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence
EPS prohibits sexual harassment towards any member of the EPS community. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical contact, or other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature if:
- Submission to that conduct or communication is made a term or condition, either explicitly or implicitly, of obtaining an education;
- Submission to or rejection of that conduct or communication by a student is used as a factor in decisions affecting that student’s education; or
- That conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment.
This applies whether the harassment is between people of the same or different gender. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome verbal, written or physical conducted, directed at or related to a person’s gender, such as sexual gossip or personal comments of a sexual nature, sexually suggestive or foul language, sexual jokes, demanding sexual favors, forcing sexual activity by threat of punishment or offer of educational reward, display or sending of pornographic pictures or objects, or offensive touching, pinching, grabbing or hugging.
This policy also prohibits any type of sexual violence. Sexual violence is a physical act of aggression or force or the threat thereof which involves the touching of another’s intimate parts or forcing a person to touch any person’s intimate parts.
If a student believes they have been subjected to sexual harassment or sexual violence, the student should report this matter to their Division Head, and it will be promptly investigated. EPS prohibits retaliation of any type against any student reporting sexual harassment or sexual violence. No student will be disciplined for making a report of sexual harassment or sexual violence even if the report is unfounded. However, knowingly making a false report of sexual harassment or sexual violence is a violation of EPS policy and may subject the student making the false report to discipline.