This is a featured story from the printed Winter 2024 edition of the Pioneer Pages Newsletter.
A thought always on the mind of school administrators – how can we improve relationship building throughout our community for student and staff success. For Mrs. Julie Paige and the staff at Monroe Elementary School, the answer this school year has been through the House System.
The idea and concept of implementing “Houses” throughout the school building is something of which Paige had previous experience and knowledge. However, it was not until she became principal at Monroe Elementary in 2021-22 that she and her team realized the impact it could have on the students in their specific building.
Each school year, students reply to a survey through Panorama Education, which provides students a voice in teaching, learning, and school climate, the latter including topics such as their sense of belonging in the school community. Results from the 2022-23 school year of the student survey, along with a refresher on the House System at a summer professional development session, led Paige to what someone would see today if they walked into the elementary building.
At the start of the 2023-24 school year, the entire Monroe student population was divided into eight different houses. All building staff members, including teachers, administrators and classified staff, were also divided into a house. Each house, with students ranging from kindergarten to fourth grade, has their own color, hand sign, and animal symbol. On a bi-weekly basis, houses meet to participate in team building activities and “get to know you” games. Additionally, once each month, the entire school comes together for a House assembly, where students work together to compete against the other teams. Those activities range from pumpkin decorating to gingerbread house challenges.
Monroe Elementary is a Title I school, meaning they receive additional financial assistance from the State to support students and the challenges they may face reaching academic standards. Using those funds, Monroe partnered this school year with LiveSchool, a company that promotes positivity and possibility for students and their communities. LiveSchool’s app helped with dividing students into their houses, while also including a year-long point system.
Students can earn points individually and for their specific houses. Staff reward students with points based on behavior that revolves around the school’s Four Pillars of the PBIS Rubric - We will be Safe, Responsible, Respectful, and Connected. Every two weeks, the House with the highest point total receives an award, such as extra recess. Students with the highest individual point totals also receive non-tangible prizes, like lunch with the principal, reading time with Waffles the Therapy Dog, or No Shoes Day for their House/Class.
The early returns on the investment have been positive for the Monroe students. “I like that I get to spend time with my house group and that we can do activities and assemblies,” said fourth grade student Trey Donaldson. “I also get to meet kids from different grade levels which is a lot of fun!”
“I have liked being in my house,” added Perla Jimenez-Santos, a fourth grade student. “I have gotten to meet new people that I would not have met before, and I really like making things together like our posters.”
Students now have a sense of belonging to not only their school community as a whole, but their House community. They use their hand signs and symbols in the hallways, connecting the younger kindergarten students with the older fourth grade students. Additionally, the building’s PTO purchased shirts for each house in their specific color to wear during House meetings and assembly days.
The goal is that the school be a safe space for all students and to build a community based on positivity and genuine relationships. Each student now has more building staff available to them, and vice versa for staff being able to connect with more students, creating additional relationships for all members of the Monroe Elementary community.