Westchester Students Sign the Honor Pledge

Students and faculty of the Upper School at Westchester Country Day School held an Honor Ceremony on Sept. 28 to emphasize the importance of integrity in the school community.

Students in grades 9-12 pledge to conduct themselves with honor throughout all assignments and school activities by signing the Honor Code each year.

During the ceremony, senior Carter Scavo and Upper School English and humanities teacher Allison Albert shared remarks about the characteristics of honor and how it is lived out in Westchester’s academic environment.

"This has been more than an assembly. Because we participate in this each year, I argue that this is a ritual and a ceremony for our community,” said Albert to the students gathered in Rives Hall following the signing. “Ceremonies are important because they help communities to articulate and showcase their values. The honor assembly is a public way to highlight what we believe on the inside in terms of our commitment to honesty and integrity.”

The centerpiece of the Honor System at Westchester is the student Honor Council, elected by their peers in the Upper School. The Honor Council led students in signing the pledge during the assembly.

Westchester’s Honor Pledge reads as follows:

“As a member of the Westchester community, I resolve to uphold the Honor Code of my school and to endeavor to promote honor and integrity. Therefore, I pledge not to cheat, lie, steal, plagiarize, or behave in any manner that exhibits dishonesty.”