Mission

Landon School prepares talented boys for productive lives as accomplished, responsible and caring men whose actions are guided by the principles of perseverance, teamwork, honor and fair play. That is our mission, and character education is a critical part of the journey to fulfill that mission.

Code of Character

At Landon, you are expected to set the example for the rest of the school in modeling the values of honesty and respect championed by our Code of Character — a pledge every student, faculty member and staff member signs each year.

The Code of Character is comprised of our Honor Code and Civility Code, which together provide a model for daily ethical conduct. Our Civility Code is straightforward and encourages respect: “I will treat all people with respect, civility and dignity. I will also respect my school, my surroundings and myself.” Our Honor Code is equally simple and celebrates honesty: “I will not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

Character education is woven into the daily life at Landon in many different ways. You uphold the Honor Code on assignments by signing a pledge that says, “I will not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate those who do. I have abided by the Honor Code on this work.” You attend ethics assemblies at least once in our eight-day cycle where you draw lessons from the experiences of your peers and your teachers. You can read examples by Tejon '20 who spoke about gratitude and Bill '20 who talked about what courage means to him.

You meet regularly with your faculty advisor either one-on-one or in a group setting to discuss ethical issues that you may personally wrestle with or others that have a wider impact on the school, our community, and our world. Learn more about how advisory works.

Members of the Student Council and senior Prefects (on-campus ethics leaders) spend time in the Lower and Middle School as tutors and buddies to be role models for our younger Bears. If you are chosen to be a member of the Council or a Prefect, you also sit as a judge to your peers when there is an infraction against our Honor Code or Civility Code, which form the backbone of the Code of Character.

Community Service

Because character is at its most powerful when it positively affects others, you lead or attend service projects that reach far beyond our campus. Although community service is voluntary at Landon, you are encouraged to actively participate. Our dean of students and Community Service Club organize a robust schedule of volunteer opportunities and host an annual community service fair to provide you with numerous options to serve. One of the highlights is our annual participation in the National Day of Service to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with A Wider Circle.

Students visit the Special Education Center at River Terrace to work with special needs students, collect winter coats to distribute to wounded Armed Forces veterans at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, raise money for cancer research by leading the charge in a “Be Brave and Shave” campaign where they shear off their hair to benefit Children’s National Medical Center, and so much more.

Diversity, Equity, and IncLusion

Landon partners with girls schools, Holton-Arms and Stone Ridge of the Sacred Heart, as well as the organizations A Call to Men, Connect DMV, and the Anti-Defamation League. Our programming includes speakers, assemblies, in-class programming and more. Take a look below at how we celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at our MLK Day assembly.