Our Code of Conduct

What we expect from participants

• Treat coaches, staff, and fellow students with genuine respect
• Follow instructor directions and studio rules
• Use appropriate language and conduct in every session
• Refuse to bully, haze, intimidate, or exclude others
• Represent APS with integrity in all activities
• Avoid academic dishonesty in any APS-affiliated setting

What we expect from parents & guardians

• Communicate with staff professionally and constructively
• Support conduct expectations at home and at events
• Avoid disrupting or interfering with instruction
• Refrain from public or online conduct that harms the APS community
• Bring concerns directly to APS staff before escalating publicly

Conduct beyond the studio walls

APS standards don't end when a session does. Anytime a participant is reasonably identifiable with APS — or engaged in activities connected to APS programming — our Code of Conduct applies.

This includes conduct that occurs at or during school-sponsored competitions, speech and debate tournaments, theatre festivals and auditions, forensics events and related school classes, competition travel and lodging, social media and online interactions, and team meetings or group chats.

Off-site conduct that is dishonest, abusive, harassing, discriminatory, unsportsmanlike, or illegal will be evaluated by APS and may affect a participant's continued enrollment in any program.

Possible consequences

From least to most severe:

• Verbal warning
• Written notice
• Probation
• Suspension
• Removal from program

APS reserves the right to skip steps based on the severity of a conduct issue.