Honor Chapel

Middle and Upper School Honor Chapel took place on September 4th, setting the tone for students to progress through the school year and through life in a matter that’s honest and true to themselves. All students and faculty members present must sign the CCES Honor Code each year at this traditional chapel service. It reads;

 

 

The Honor Code is the cornerstone of an education at CCES. It sets the rules and ethical principles that define all school interactions. Signing the Honor Code is tangible evidence that the students can be trusted to act honorably— a promise to themselves, their teachers, coaches, and friends. Those who are in violation of the Honor Code can be subject to various sanctions.

Megan Allen ‘20, Chair of the Honor Council delivered the homily saying, “This service is one of my favorites because it reminds me of how special our school is. I’ve been at Christ Church since primer, and I’ve enjoyed being a part of a community that upholds the values of the Honor Code.”

“The Honor Code goes deeper than ‘I will not lie, cheat or steal’. It forms the foundation upon which CCES values are based, and these are honesty, trust and integrity. Honesty allows us to be real with ourselves and others about who we are, and trust is simply having faith. Integrity is a word that we use often but might not really understand its meaning. It has been described as doing the right thing even when no one is watching. All three of these values–honesty, trust and integrity– are essential to our daily lives. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us we are the light of the world and asks us to ‘let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

“I have been fortunate enough to serve on the Honor Council since 9th grade, and this year I’m the chair. Being on the Honor Council has taught me that it is okay for us to make mistakes and occasionally lose our way. The Honor Code is there to redirect us and lead us on the right path. It helps us be the best version of ourselves. If we embody the values of the honor code during high school, we will be prepared to overcome greater obstacles in the future. It is very important to understand that the role of the Honor Council is not simply to judge, but to remind everyone of the values of our school. Quoting from our school prayer, ‘We must choose the harder right over the easier wrong.’ In a short while, all of us are going to come forward and sign a pledge to abide by the Honor Code. This is an extremely important commitment and should not be taken lightly. Before signing, I would like everyone to take a moment and reflect on what the Honor Code means to you. Realize that this is not just a commitment, but a way of life.

“I’m going to leave you with one of my favorite quotes by the wise headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore. Setting the scene, Dumbledore speaks to Harry Potter following the tragedy of the Tri Wizard Tournament where Harry has witnessed the death of a student and the rise of He Who Must Not Be Named. When all hope is lost, Dumbledore explains to Harry that difficult choices lie ahead. He tells him, ‘We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.’

 

Officers of both the Honor and Student Councils were then prayerfully inducted before God and the assembly. This year’s Honor Council members are Megan Allen '20, Alex Wess '21, Dasia Yearby '22, Thomas Clark '23, Eleanor Clark '20, Zoe Gandis '21, Emma Mecklenburg '20, and Max Feild '20.

 

Many thanks to all of our students and faculty members who help to create a strong school community by pledging to choose the “harder right over the easier wrong”.