During the week of Dec. 14-18, fifteen West Haven High School students visited eight elementary schools throughout the city to teach an important lesson to 2nd and 3rd graders. The students are members of the high school's Academic Integrity Committee (AIC), a group of 40 WHHS students and faculty members committed to reducing the number of cheating incidents and educating others on the importance of living lives of integrity.

During the visit, AIC members read stories about how SpongeBob SquarePants refused to cheat and how cheating is wrong when playing games with friends. Elementary schools that participated were Forest, Haley, Mackrille, Pagels, Savin Rock, St. Lawrence, Thompson and Washington. Whenever possible, the WHHS students visited their "alma mater" elementary school.

WHHS senior and AIC President Liana Teixeira said the experience taught her something about the youngsters.

"Reading to the 2nd and 3rd graders of the elementary schools was a truly rewarding experience. The students were so enthusiastic and eager to ask questions,” she said. “They were also very curious about the AIC and what "integrity" really means. It was great being able to talk to the kids about cheating and integrity, especially since they will be faced with these moral dilemmas in the near future."

WHHS senior and AIC Secretary Sarah Green said it was a wonderful experience,

"Visiting the elementary schools was one of the most wonderful opportunities I have had since I began working with the Academic Integrity Committee three years ago. The kids were so excited and it was so exciting to talk to them about not cheating. Elementary school is the place lessons on integrity should begin, she said.

WHHS senior Rached Ramadan was even more effusive.

"Visiting the elementary schools didn't only make my day, it made my whole month,” she said. “The participation of the little kids and their little simple gestures made me really enjoy my time there. Their innocence was just something that kept the smile on my face. Watching their little hands fly up for participation and the little stutters were just the most adorable things I’ve ever seen and heard. Im looking forward to participate again in the spring."

AIC has implemented several other initiatives at the high school. The group has created a school Honor Code that was unanimously approved by the faculty. The group has developed an Integrity Pledge that has been taken by over 500 students.

After a student recites the pledge aloud, they receive a blue rubber bracelet with the word INTEGRITY inscribed in white lettering. The group annually sponsors an essay contest that awards cash prizes to students who write the best essays about an integrity-related issue. AIC recently sponsored a Movie Night and has created PSA's that run on the morning announcements, integrity banners that hang in the hallways, and a group website at www.academicintegritycommittee.webs.com/.

The groups' officers, seniors Liana Teixeira, Kim Hawley and Sarah Green, recently joined WHHS faculty members Mark Consorte and Mary Janeczek at a national integrity conference in Washington D.C. where they brainstormed with students from around the nation ways to combat the cheating problem.

The next goal of the group is to create a new plagiarism and cheating policy at the school. If any WHHS parent would like to join the committee which meets after school every three weeks, then please contact. Consorte at the high school at (203) 937-4360 ext. 327.