ICSS building relationships through house concept
STUDENTS GIVEN CHANCE TO FOSTER CONNECTIONS
Immanuel Christian Secondary School students have been introduced to a new middle-school concept designed to build relationships in a cross-grade environment.
On Friday, the students were divided into four houses, which will provide opportunities to build positive connections and relationships between students and staff in cross-graded teams. Houses will work together to build school culture, foster and encourage character education and encourage school values.
Grade 7 teacher Sean Alaric said the project came about through discussions about bringing students from different grades together and build relationships.
Students will be “housified” and remain in their house until the completion of Grade 8. Incoming Grade 6 students will be “housified” yearly.
“The hope is that the teachers will see these students using these skills,” Alaric said. “We have a points-based system we will be able to use for when we see those skills being implemented.”
Students will be engaged in House Time where they will be doing team-building activities, community service projects, school spirit activities and character education.
Students will be able to earn house points by demonstrating Christ-like character through various activities and initiatives: “winning” friendly team competitions, uplifting their peers and being good citizens of the school and community.
Each house name was selected purposefully by staff members.
ICSS chose four Latin house names that reflect various aspects of Christ-like character the school wants students to embody:
• Praetor, Latin for leader, represented by the colour yellow, the lion, and the crown;
• Veritas, Latin for truth, represented by the colour green, the owl, and the torch;
• Imperium, Latin for power, represented by the colour blue, the bear, and the sword; and
• Bellator, Latin for warrior, represented by the colour red, the stallion, and the knight.
Each student will receive a house T-shirt in their colour to be worn on House Days.
Alaric said the ICSS program is inspired by work done by other schools, but he noted a similarity to the structure of the fictional magic school Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series.
“I think the original inspiration (was Harry Potter), but other schools have done this and we adapted it to meet our own needs.”
The house that accrues the most points at the end of the year will win a special prize — one that will highlight the importance of building a collaborative relationship.
“We’re hoping to build some excitement out of that as well,” Alaric said.