Our unique student-centered program for the 2015-2016 school year is our “Student House Program”. During the 2014-2015 school year, student surveys reflected that students did not feel that they had relationships while in middle school with students outside of their grade level. Our student survey results also revealed that some of our students did not enjoy their middle school experience and felt a disconnected from the common school experience and described it as monotonous and boring. Students in the middle grades often pigeon hole themselves as being either academic or athletic or even as a follower rather than a leader. As a faculty we took this information and work cooperatively on a plan that would meet these needs. All students
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We began by forming a graphic art and design team among our faculty to create, name and design crest, logos, digital scoreboards, trophies and more. The results were four houses: the Furiosos, Knabstruppers, Warmbloods and Warlanders, all breeds of horses that connect to our school mascot of the bronco. Each house was given a theme that corresponds to their breed of horse but also represents an attribute stressed in that respective house. The Furiosos were to be known for being capable, the Knabstruppers trustworthy, the Warmbloods true, and the Warlanders …show more content…
In the past student attendance awards and other competitions were based on grade level and the winners were easy to predict. Unfortunately, the outcomes being predetermined lead to no incentive for losing grade levels to participate. By grouping our students into houses or cohorts from various genders and grade levels, it gave everyone an equal chance of winning in their team. This was an immediate success as we announced the leaders weekly and could often spot students checking the digital score board for who was in the lead.
From the sorting ceremony on day one, our students embraced the house concept and made it their own. We had different houses create their own cheers and chants, and others dressed specifically in house colors during competitions days to set their team apart. There was a noticeable difference in school spirit and our students’ enthusiasm about the different activities in which we participate. As a result HPMS received vast amounts of praise through social media from parents and community members that could see that this made our school a fun place where students wanted to come and
We began by forming a graphic art and design team among our faculty to create, name and design crest, logos, digital scoreboards, trophies and more. The results were four houses: the Furiosos, Knabstruppers, Warmbloods and Warlanders, all breeds of horses that connect to our school mascot of the bronco. Each house was given a theme that corresponds to their breed of horse but also represents an attribute stressed in that respective house. The Furiosos were to be known for being capable, the Knabstruppers trustworthy, the Warmbloods true, and the Warlanders …show more content…
In the past student attendance awards and other competitions were based on grade level and the winners were easy to predict. Unfortunately, the outcomes being predetermined lead to no incentive for losing grade levels to participate. By grouping our students into houses or cohorts from various genders and grade levels, it gave everyone an equal chance of winning in their team. This was an immediate success as we announced the leaders weekly and could often spot students checking the digital score board for who was in the lead.
From the sorting ceremony on day one, our students embraced the house concept and made it their own. We had different houses create their own cheers and chants, and others dressed specifically in house colors during competitions days to set their team apart. There was a noticeable difference in school spirit and our students’ enthusiasm about the different activities in which we participate. As a result HPMS received vast amounts of praise through social media from parents and community members that could see that this made our school a fun place where students wanted to come and