Code of Conduct

California AB 500 requires that schools provide to parents and guardians of the school's students the school’s policy on employee-student interactions. Below is HPA's policy, which is also in the employee handbook:.

Professionalism and Working Relations with Fellow Employees and Students

High Point Academy strives to maintain a workplace that fosters mutual respect and promotes harmonious, productive working relationships. Employees are representatives of High Point Academy both within and outside the school. It is expected that the school will always be well represented by courteous behavior and a cooperative attitude toward school staff, students and parents, and people outside the campus. Employees are expected to follow HPA’s Code of Conduct, copies of which can be obtained from the Business Office or in the public folder of the HPA network.

Although HPA’s culture is informal, employees must maintain both the personal and professional boundaries that are necessary to foster strong, positive relationships and to promote the healthy and normal development of students. To this end, employees should remain on a “Mr.” or “Ms.” basis with students; refrain from physical contact with students; and should not engage in out-of-school socializing with students.

Employees should refrain from idle talk about students that might prejudice others in the school community. Employees should use professional discretion when discussing school business. Negative comments regarding school, students, and faculty are destructive and inappropriate.

All employees must conduct themselves in a professional manner and work together in an atmosphere of civility. Everyone should be treated with respect. Professional demeanor includes, but is not limited to, being trustworthy and dependable, remaining flexible and cooperative, using good judgment, showing initiative, being accurate, maintaining confidentiality, attending meetings, and maintaining your commitment with HPA. Unprofessional behavior in the workplace includes, but is not limited to, being rude, using foul language or swearing, shouting, making inappropriate jokes, making comments that demeans another, engaging in name calling or nicknames that may be offensive or upsetting to another, gossiping or spreading rumors about another individual, breaching confidentiality, harassing, bullying, or touching another person inappropriately, and participating in horseplay.

All employees are expected to be courteous and considerate of one another and to work with a “team player” attitude. Teamwork means being focused on finding a solution rather than being focused on arguing over a problem. If you are unhappy with the way something is being done, propose a solution at the same time when you raise a problem. Problems should be discussed in private. If differences persist, employees should discuss them with the Head of School to work out a solution.