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.
One of the characteristics we work on with our students is GRIT. Actually, we use that as an acronym for Gumption, Resiliency, Integrity, and Tenacity. We talk about having a growth mindset and facing new challenges with the mentality of..."I can't do that...Yet!".
Recently, some of our students had an opportunity to demonstrate GRIT and growth mindset as they delivered the keynote address at the division's Convocation program. These six students, who are now 7th graders at Smithfield Middle, were in my math class last year at Westside Elementary. Back then, I shared my expectations with them on presenting in front of their classmates. When the day came for their first presentations, they were, how can I say this,.......they were bad. Some were a little better than others, but they all needed a lot of work. Some had their back to their class and talked into the whiteboard. Others were too quiet, or spoke too fast, or didn't make eye contact with the audience.
I was honest with the feedback I gave them, which is important for improvement. So often adults will tell them "Good job" when, really, it wasn't a good job. I told them I didn't expect them to be great with their presentations--yet! But I knew they could get there with practice and kind, specific, and helpful feedback.
Flash forward to May as my staff and I were discussing a keynote speaker for our Convocation program in August. This was it! What better test of GRIT and growth mindset than speaking in front of an audience.
The six students I selected were not necessarily the best presenters but I knew they would commit to this project. I knew they could do this, but some of them were not as confident. I worked with them for a few days in May and June, and brought them back together for a few more practices in August. They knew at any time during the practice I could stop them and give them feedback. They were not going to hear "good job" unless it truly was good work. I was impressed at the pride they had in their performance and how eager they were to hear feedback that only made their delivery better.
On the day of Convocation, there were some nerves (including from me as well) but there was a tremendous amount of excitement. I told them how much I loved them and how proud I already was of them. I knew they were ready, but how would they do? Would they crumple in front of over 500 teachers and staff? Or would they nail it?
See for yourself. Remember--these are 7th graders in front of an auditorium full of adults, and they were doing all of their lines from memory. This is growth mindset and GRIT, and it's exactly what we should expect of our students every day.
Our schools and offices are closed Monday in honor of Veterans Day. On Thursday,
there were activities and ceremonies throughout the division to
celebrate Veterans for their service. The programs are distinguished events that include numerous student performances. From songs by the school band and chorus, to student speakers, the schools celebrate the brave members of the Armed Forces and their family members who support them. I have never seen a school
division and community celebrate Veterans Day quite like Isle of Wight
County!
Below is a video that highlights moments from our Veterans Day programs. If you know someone who served in the military, or someone who is currently a member of the military, please share the video with them. I realize many of them may not be able to attend ceremonies taking place in their honor and I hope this video can convey our appreciation. We owe so much to the men and women of our military for the sacrifices they have made to ensure our freedom.
Since March, I've been highlighting a different school each week in my blog, and this week's school is Smithfield Middle. I had a chance to visit SMS before their big spring expo and heard from the students about what makes SMS so special. One recurring theme was student voice and choice. The students appreciated the freedom to make decisions about their learning. It was really special to hear the passion they had for their school, their teachers, and their education. See for yourself in the video below.
