The House System

The Middle School has a House System to generate interest, enthusiasm, and connections to the community within our student body, both in and outside the classroom. All middle school students are assigned to one of the four Houses: ROMANS, VIKINGS, SAXONS, or NORMANS (each with its own House color). Siblings are assigned to the same House. Students stay with their Houses for their entire association with the Middle School. Throughout the year, there are ample opportunities for each student to participate and to contribute to their House. The three main areas of involvement are academics, sports, and community service. Organized events have included activities such as floor hockey, basketball, and track competitions in sports. Recycling, the Tuck Shop, our annual food drive and supporting selected House charities provide community service opportunities. Middle school teachers award commendations to those individual students who have worked beyond the general standard set for the class in either effort or achievement. Students may be rewarded with points for examples of helpful and courteous behavior. A commendation counts for ten House points. Individual and House cumulative point totals are tallied each quarter. Every quarter, point totals will be announced during the weekly town meeting indicating the collective efforts of each House and the individual efforts of each student. The House Cup Trophy is awarded at the end of the year to the House earning the greatest number of House points. Student Leadership Committee: A Student Leadership Committee (SLC) is set up to run student affairs, provide a voice for the student body, and afford students the opportunity to organize events—Spirit Day pep rallies, Thanksgiving Assembly, etc.—and voice concerns. Faculty members (SLC Advisors) oversee weekly meetings. Students are invited to apply for a seat on the SLC. After filling out the questionnaire, students applying to serve on the Committee will be invited for an interview by a faculty committee, who will determine the number of candidates to be asked to sit on the SLC. The School endeavors to seek representation from all four grade levels, fifth through eighth, and from as many different advisory groups as possible. The SLC is set up in two units—one for Grades 5 and 6 and another for Grades 7 and 8.