The Fairview Elementary School House system is a unique way of organizing students into different "houses" within a school, similar to the concept in the Harry Potter series (but without anything scary or magical related). It’s designed to build a sense of community, competition, and camaraderie among students, and is based on Ron Clark’s Academy in Atlanta.

Here’s how it works:

First, each student spins the “sorting wheel” to find out what house they’re in!

Each student is placed into one of eight houses when they join the school. These houses are like smaller communities within the larger school, each with its own name, color, and symbols. Each house has a name that reflects a value that’s important to our community.

The houses

 Our wheel was designed by local artist Brian Somerville!

Points System:
Throughout the school year, students can earn points for their house by demonstrating positive behaviors, academic achievements, good character, or participating in school activities.

Points can be earned individually or as a group!

Healthy Competition:
The house with the most points at the end of a certain period (like a month, semester, or school year) wins a reward. This could be anything from a special event to a trophy or just the pride of being the top house.

This system creates friendly competition, motivating students to work hard and support their housemates.

Building Community:

Being part of a house helps students feel like they belong to a team. It encourages teamwork, leadership, and a sense of responsibility for others.

Older students in the house often mentor younger ones, creating bonds across different grade levels.

Teachers have ability to make connections with students across different grade levels.

Character Development:

The House System isn’t just about academics; it also focuses on character development. Students learn the importance of kindness, respect, and effort as they work to earn points for their house. This is done in brief, weekly sessions that focus on a skill that will then be practiced throughout the school year.

Why This Program Helps:

• Engagement: Kids are excited and engaged in their school community.
• Motivation: The points system encourages positive behavior and academic effort.
• Community: It fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork.
• Life Skills: It helps develop important life skills like leadership, cooperation, and resilience.

The House System is an effective way to create a supportive and dynamic school environment where students are motivated to excel and help one another. Our Principal, Dr. Murray, implemented this in her previous school to much success. We are so excited to bring this program to our school, and are happy to answer any questions!