Our Community
Honor Code.
Doing the right thing, in our students’ own words.
In their own words
Written by students, for everyone.
Doing the right thing is central to what makes Sonoma Academy distinctive. It lets students thrive in a community of mutual respect, trust and cooperation.
We have a handbook of policies and rules, but students wanted to express the spirit of good citizenship behind it in their own way. A team of students and staff, working with the whole student body, faculty and administration, wrote the Honor Code.
An anonymous student illustrated it, and the images hang in classrooms and spaces across campus. The Honor Code is an ongoing dialogue that keeps growing over time.
The Honor Code
Honor is…
Fourteen lines, illustrated by a student and displayed across campus.
01
Honor is a pile of backpacks outside the Adirondacks.
02
Honor is splitting the last donut.
03
Honor is admitting you “accidentally” broke it.
04
Honor is the comments on your report card.
05
Honor is picking up that piece of trash whether or not it’s yours.
06
Honor is a teacher who can leave class to get a cup of tea.
07
Honor is the applause after every senior speech.
08
Honor is a take-home physics test.
09
Honor is a handshake after the game.
10
Honor is treating everyone the same even though everyone is different.
11
Honor is getting help for a friend when they need it.
12
Honor is listening to another’s opinion.
13
Honor is saying your internet was broken only when your internet was actually broken.
14
Honor is Doing the Right Thing.
The illustrations
On every wall.
Each line of the Honor Code was illustrated by a student, and the artwork hangs in classrooms and common spaces throughout the school.
Visit
See it for yourself.
The best way to understand an SA education is to see it in person. Join us for an Open House or Visit Day.