Briar Woods High School

Honor Code

The Briar Woods High School community embodies a spirit of mutual trust and intellectual honesty that is essential to the nature of the school. As members of this community we uphold the values of honesty, integrity, responsibility, accountability, and respect for the property of others.

On My Honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this test, quiz, or assignment.

The Briar Woods High School community embodies a spirit of mutual trust and intellectual honesty that is essential to the nature of the school. As members of this community we uphold the values of honesty, integrity, responsibility, accountability, and respect the property of others.

An honor code is a physical representation of the values that our students should embody. In our environment of mutual respect, we hope that our students will do the right thing even when no one is looking. Our desire is for our students to be successful while being trustworthy. The honor code is not meant as an imposition, but rather a guide for all students and faculty to follow. For these reasons, Briar Woods High School will uphold the following Honor Code:

On My Honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this test, quiz, or assignment.

This is to be written and signed by students on all assignments that are handed in for a grade (unless otherwise directed by the teacher). Refusal to comply with the written and signed pledge will result in denial of credit for the assignment.

The functions of the Honor Code are to communicate the meaning and importance of academic honesty to all students of the school and to maintain a high standard of conduct in academic affairs. The Honor Code is a physical representation of the values that all Briar Woods students should embody.

Our expectation at Briar Woods is that students will not engage in the following unacceptable behaviors:

A: Cheating

An honorable student understands that cheating includes the actual giving or receiving of any work other than his/her own. Such acts include, but are not limited to, copying from other student(s), talking during a test or quiz, passing test or quiz information, unauthorized use of study aids/notes/books/data/phones, etc.

B: Plagiarism

A student with integrity understands that plagiarism includes the copying of the language, structure, programming, ideas and/or thoughts of another and passing off the same as your own original work. Such acts include, but are not limited to, having a parent or another person write an assignment ( including the purchase of works on-line) or do a project which is then submitted as one’s own work; failing to use proper documentation and bibliography ( verbatim or paraphrased).

“ Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit, or any credit at all, to the writer of the original.” (A Guide to MLA Documentation,1999)

A student of good character knows that these include statements of any untruth, either orally or in writing, with respect to any circumstances relevant to one’s academic work, or attempts thereof. Such acts include, but are not limited to, forgery of official signatures, tampering with official records, adding/deleting/manipulating information on academic work, changing an examination or other academic work after the testing period or due date of the assignment, lying or failing to give complete information to a teacher.

D: Stealing/Theft

A student who mutually respects other members of the Briar Woods community will always respect the personal property of others at all times. Stealing is the intentional taking of the property (including school property) of another without the owner’s consent or permission. The prohibition of theft includes personal and academic property of others. This shall also include any damage to personal or school property. If a violation occurs the following procedures will take place:

1. The infraction is reported to the administration.
2. The penalty includes up to a suspension from school.
3. The School Resource Officer is notified.
4. Depending on the value of the property/damages, criminal charges may be filed.

Teachers’ Responsibilities:

1. Commit to the principles of the BW Honor Code.
2. Clearly outline and define unacceptable behaviors within the teacher’s course.
3. Address the degree to which students may collaborate on the completion of assignments, making distinctions where necessary as to assignment types.
4. Clearly outline the responsibility each group member must bear for a collaborative project.
5. Address the use of study aids in course work.
6. Facilitate student discussion on honesty, integrity, and character.

Students’ Responsibilities:

1. Commit to the principles of the BW Honor Code.
2. A student who has committed an Honor Code infraction is obligated to report that infraction to a teacher/administrator.
3. A student who has believed he/she has witnessed an Honor Code infraction is obligated to confront the individual and attempt to persuade him/her to turn themselves in to a teacher/administrator. If the accused individual(s) does not turn themselves in, then the witness is obligated to inform a teacher/administrator.

If a student violates the Honor Code, the following procedures will take place:

First Offense:

Second Offense:

Third Offense:

Input on this honor code came from the following schools: Langley HS, The Landon School, Broad Run HS, Thomas Jefferson HS, Madeira School, and Rice University.