Please monitor information on Coronavirus through the division's website: https://www.iwcs.k12.va.us/apps/pages/coronavirus
We will also be sharing information on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
I will not be posting information to my blog during school closures, but I urge you to keep you with the most recent information from IWCS by using the sites listed above.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Stay safe everyone.
Monday, March 16, 2020
Monday, March 2, 2020
The "House" System Comes to IWCS
The house system is a culture-building program our teachers and
administrators witnessed on their visit to the Ron Clark Academy in
Atlanta. If you're a Harry Potter fan, it's similar to the system used
at Hogwarts where students are sorted into houses such as Gryffindor and
Slytherin. Four of our schools launched a house system this year with
some of their grade levels--Hardy, Westside, Smithfield Middle, and
Georgie Tyler Middle. Each school held a House Selection event where
students found out their house name. At SMS, students spun a big wheel,
almost like a carnival game, to determine their house. Georgie Tyler
students received balloons, held them over their head, and popped the
balloon to reveal confetti, the same color as their new house.
There are certain characteristics to each house--they have a unique name and motto, along with a distinct color. The houses compete for points through weekly and monthly challenges and winning houses receive different rewards--extra time at recess for elementary, or school "bucks" that they can redeem for spirit wear or accessories. The houses create a group where every student belongs and is part of something.
The best way to understand the benefit of the house system is to hear from the students and staff who are participating in the program. Check out this high energy video that perfectly captures the excitement generated as part of the house process.
There are certain characteristics to each house--they have a unique name and motto, along with a distinct color. The houses compete for points through weekly and monthly challenges and winning houses receive different rewards--extra time at recess for elementary, or school "bucks" that they can redeem for spirit wear or accessories. The houses create a group where every student belongs and is part of something.
The best way to understand the benefit of the house system is to hear from the students and staff who are participating in the program. Check out this high energy video that perfectly captures the excitement generated as part of the house process.
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