TOPS Code of Conduct
In order for our school community to work together in an open, healthy and positive way, we propose this code of conduct to guide our interactions at TOPS.
- Respect the opinions of others even if we disagree. Be willing to disagree without labeling the other point of view.
- Strive for honest, respectful, and complete communication.
- Assume positive intent.
- Respect confidentiality.
- Speak directly to the person with whom you have a concern, even if you process respectfully first with someone else.
- Respect everyone's airtime and processing time. Honor silence.
- Use "I" messages. ("I feel uncomfortable, I am concerned, I believe...")
- Listen fully to the message and the feeling behind the words. Seek to understand. Ask questions.
- Withhold judgments until you get sufficient information to see the whole picture. Stop and reflect.
- Strive for consensus in group decisions, but whatever the outcome, honor and support group decisions.
- Hold ourselves accountable. Follow through on commitments.
- Forgive. Remember, we are human.