Honor and Trust: Marlborough’s Community Pledge

At the beginning of every school year, the entire Marlborough community dedicates time to recommit as a collective to upholding the Community Pledge and core values of Marlborough. This year, on October 1, members of All-School Council and the Academic Integrity Council led an All-School Meeting as a powerful reminder of the principles that guide our school community.

The Community Pledge articulates the guiding principles and expectations for the Marlborough community. It states, “At Marlborough, we strive for and uphold a school community that inspires and promotes honor, trust, individual responsibility, and mutual respect.” Supporting the pledge are the core values of Marlborough which are embedded into the fabric of the community:
—Stand with others
—Champion inclusion
—Aim high
—Trust in myself
—Act with integrity
—Be kind
—Cultivate purpose 

Members of the two Councils presented short skits to illustrate these values in action, presenting two contrasting scenarios—one where students failed to uphold the Community Pledge with examples of successfully embodying them. These performances, while playful and exaggerated, clearly demonstrated the real-world impact of our choices and their impact on the school community. 

A significant focus was placed on the importance of acting with integrity, a core value that has taken on even greater significance in the face of challenges such as the rise  of generative artificial intelligence. Council members shared, “Acting with integrity means to be honest and ethical when completing and submitting your own work.” 

To further reinforce positive behaviors, the Councils provided practical advice on maintaining integrity in various scenarios, including:
—Making proper use of the extension policy: “Make sure when you ask for an extension, you have provided enough notice for your teacher.”
—Evaluating post-test etiquette: “Do not talk about any test questions or prompts until after the assessment is returned to the class.”
—Applying ethical use of AI: “Speak to your teacher if you have any questions or need support. They are here to help you!”

Members of the Councils also reminded the community of why acting with integrity, and upholding all our core values, is essential: “It creates a fair learning environment and brings a sense of uniformity in terms of work ethic and commitment to academics and our community.”

To conclude ASM, students were invited to sign their respective class’ Honor Board, a tradition symbolizing each student’s personal commitment to the Community Pledge and core values These boards, displayed on campus, serve as a visual reminder of the power, trust, and mutual respect we all have for our incredible Marlborough community.