Milton Community Standards

This section of the Handbook outlines the basic rules and regulations of the Milton community. We expect students to respect the rights and well-being of all individuals and to take responsibility for their actions. We believe that the following expectations and policies inspire positive participation in all areas of the School, promote learning, and encourage the respect for self and for others that lies at the heart of our community. We leave many specific applications of the following rules unstated, taking for granted the honesty and good judgment of our students.

We expect the cooperation of parents and guardians in upholding our standards. We believe that families and the School share the task of establishing the right balance of freedom and responsibility, realistically and consistently, for young people. We will work with students to support their understanding of and adherence to the values and principles of this community.

In any situation involving an immediate threat to personal safety of any member of the Milton community or to the property of the Academy, the head of school or principal may order the immediate removal of a student from the campus. Depending upon the facts of the case, the removal may be permanent or may be continued until such time as an appropriate fact-finding proceeding or hearing procedure or both can be arranged.

The School reserves the right to dismiss any student whose behavior or lack of cooperation is deemed unacceptable, or whose parents no longer have a cooperative relationship with the School, in the judgment of the head of school.

Philosophy of Discipline

Milton roots its standards of accountability in the belief that, to become their best selves, all adolescents require a caring and structured community in which they feel supported and valued. A healthy approach to discipline, then, should highlight the interconnectedness of our community, revealing something greater about our culture: a need for communication, honesty, inclusivity, empathy and mutual respect. Each disciplinary case is an opportunity for growth, not solely for the student, but for the entire community. Milton expects all students to treat themselves and others with dignity and respect and maintain integrity in all matters.

The philosophy of Milton’s disciplinary process grows out of this expectation. Above all, it should be a learning process, focused on growth and moral development. We understand that mistakes are a critical component of learning and believe that students will grow through the experience of being honest about their choices. These principles are based on students’ and adults’ commitment to collaborating to create a community defined by honesty, respect and compassion.