Communication
Clear communication supports the ordinary work of the Grey School. Pupils, Faculty, staff, and Administration should communicate in a way that allows the recipient to understand the matter, identify any action required, and respond through the appropriate School channel.
Official communication
Official communication includes changes to School policy; announcements concerning Faculty, classes, and events; requests to complete a necessary task; questions about an ongoing project; and other matters connected with School operation. By joining the Grey School, members grant permission to receive forum and email messages concerning such matters.
Anyone making an official post is strongly encouraged to include their full name and relevant title or office. Department or Lodge affiliation may also be included where useful. Clear identification helps readers understand the responsibility under which a person is speaking.
Official communication should remain consistent with School policy and with the responsibilities of the office or teaching role concerned. Questions about the proper recipient should follow Authority, Administration, and the Chain of Command.
Dates and times
The School serves an international community. Dates and times should therefore be written so that a pupil in another country or time zone can interpret them accurately.
School scheduling uses Eastern Time, as observed in New York. This includes the seasonal change between standard time and daylight saving time. Follow the time stated in the current event notice or course-section information when preparing to attend a scheduled activity.
When announcing a meeting, class, ritual, or other timed activity, identify the time zone so that participants can make the necessary conversion for their location.
Writing out the month is strongly recommended. For example, 10 April 2026 is clear internationally, while 4/10/26 may be interpreted as either April 10 or October 4. Include the year when it is needed to distinguish the occasion.
Pupil communication and privacy
Members should respect one another’s private identifying information, addresses, and personal circumstances. School identification and the names used in official correspondence do not authorize the sharing of someone else’s private information.
Youth protection requires particular care. The School does not support or encourage inappropriate private youth–adult interaction, whether in person or electronically. Concerns about such contact are subject to close review and involve the youth’s parents or guardians as appropriate under School policy.
The detailed rules for official channels, Faculty–pupil boundaries, private accounts, and Psyche pupils are set out in Contact and Mentoring. Those specific protections govern the relationship concerned. Adult Apprentices should not be confused with Psyche pupils when applying youth provisions.
Email and written correspondence
School correspondence should be professional and respectful. Begin with an appropriate salutation, explain the matter clearly, and include the information the recipient needs. A concise message is useful when it still provides the relevant context.
Conclude with a courteous closing and identify yourself by the name used in your School records and your Lodge, together with any relevant title or office. Check spelling and punctuation before sending. Use ordinary, complete language rather than abbreviations or texting shorthand that may be unclear to the recipient.
Academic work, records, disciplinary matters, and confidential School business belong in official or approved channels, as described in Contact and Mentoring.
Terms used in these policies
Inappropriate personal contact and inappropriate personal relationships include contact of a romantic, sexual, or potentially sexual nature. The fuller boundaries and safeguarding provisions in Contact and Mentoring also apply.
Unrelated refers to people who are not part of a defined family unit.
A youth or Psyche pupil is under 18 years old.
An Apprentice is 18 years old or older.