House Functions, Events and Activities--Proposal

Each House will have its own functions, activities and events that it shall largely determine on its own. This section is intended to outline some suggestions for what Houses might want to do. I also think there should be some minimal expectations for each House, and I will propose what I think is reasonable for those minimal expectations; however, this is one of those areas where Houses should be given broad discretion.


I. House Functions. The primary purpose and function of each House can be summarized as three major goals: to foster student academic growth through a system of support and aid; to foster student personal growth by encouraging development of productive interpersonal relationships; and to foster student civic growth by encouraging active and positive involvement in the community. These goals shall be referred to below as academic, interpersonal, and civic.

A. Academic goals. Each House shall consider as a primary goal helping each of its student members to attain his or her full academic potential. The faculty members of the House shall obviously have every intention of so doing as teachers at ECHS. In addition, however, each House is encouraged to develop additional programs. At a minimum, each House should have at least one program designed to help students achieve academically. Following are some suggestions for the types of programs each House may consider developing.

1. House tutorials. The House provides a location on campus, with at least one teacher, where students can come and do work, ask questions, etc. Of course, each teacher has his or her own tutorial per school policy; but this would be a place where students might come to work together on projects; to study for tests; to talk to a House teacher about general or specific school questions, etc.

2. House mentors. Faculty members of the House provide mentoring and general academic counseling to students in their House; perhaps one for each grade level. Teachers would not be asked to know or do more than they already do; they would not, for instance, be asked to take on the role of the school's academic counselor, who would still play the instrumental role that she does in helping students succeed. This would be in the form of advice, encouragement, and offering whatever information and service teachers can provide in this regard. Of course, all teachers are expected to do this anyway; this would just formalize it a bit, and give students a specific place they can go with questions or for advice.

3. House tutors. Student members of a House who have excelled in a particular subject can be asked by the House to serve as tutors in that subject. The House may provide a location for tutoring sessions; or students may meet more informally. However, students in the House would know that there were students who had succeeded in a subject, who were available to help them with homework questions, etc.

4. House study/homework groups. Student members of a House would be encouraged to meet informally for the purposes of doing homework and studying anyway; but the House could also provide specific times and places for groups of students to meet and study or do homework, with a teacher or a student tutor available to answer questions; or simply have a set time and place for students to gather informally to work together. This could be in a classroom, the library, at lunch tables, or anywhere the students could gather to work together; with a teacher or tutor present as available (or if the teacher is needed to supervise the classroom, etc.).

5. Other functions. Each House would be encouraged to explore not only the above options, but to come up with their own ideas and programs for helping their members achieve academic success.

B. Interpersonal goals. Each House, as a social structure, should provide its members with opportunities to interact with each other in positive contexts that foster personal growth, help students develop lasting and productive relationships with each other and with staff, and build a sense of community. Although each House is encouraged to develop its own programs, below are some suggestions for possible activities the Houses may consider.

1. House Nights. Houses would meet in the evening for a planned event; probably on Fridays since it would not be a school night, but it could be on other days if the time were reasonable. On a House Night, any number of events could be planned. Some suggested examples would be:

• House Movie Night in the theater.
• House Game Night--snacks and games in the Student Union.
• House Dinner--Either have House members contribute toward buying food, or have a potluck in which each grade level, for example, brings a different kind of item.

Most of these options would be fairly inexpensive. No real expense would be involved in showing a movie; students could bring snacks to a game night; and with a dinner, either everyone would pay the same small amount, or bring food to share. And of course, many other fun and creative options are possible. Houses would be encouraged to come up with their own ideas.

However, with an average of four Fridays in a month, it would not be too difficult for all four Houses to have at least one or two House Nights each month, in terms of facility availability.

In fact, Houses might even consider having dual House Nights: House A & B Movie Night this week; House C & D Movie Night next; House A & D Game Night the next week; and House B & C Dinner Night the next; and so on.

2. House Lunch. Periodically, the Houses could eat together at lunch. They might just all bring their own lunches; or it could be something like the House Dinner on a lunch scale instead. There would not have to be anything more to this than just having everybody sitting, eating, and talking together.

3. House Days. Houses may consider meeting on the occasional Saturday for some sort of social function. This could be for any number of purposes, and could potentially be on campus or off campus. As an example of a possible on-campus event, a House could hold an intra-House basketball playoff tournament to find a team for the inter-House competition, followed by lunch if desired. As an example of a possible off-campus event, the House might meet at Dixon Lake, or a Chinese buffet for lunch, or the Wild Animal Park, or...whatever they want to do.

4. Other activities. Houses are encouraged to come up with their own creative ideas for activities they may want to do together as a House.

C. Civic goals. Of course, Houses should always encourage their members to participate in community service activities sponsored by the school at large. The community clean-up, for example; or for House members who are part of NHS and CSF, the service activities for those clubs. However, each House should provide opportunities for its members to be involved in the community in other ways, as well. Below are some ideas Houses may wish to consider.

1. Community service projects. Again, students would be encouraged to participate in school-sponsored community service; but each House should consider developing its own projects. Preferably, these projects would come from members of the House bringing ideas and needs to the House. For example, if a student has an elderly neighbor who needs help with yardwork, etc., the House may provide a team to help with that. If a group of students in a House wanted to work on an environmental project, the House could provide help. Eventually, each House would ideally develop two kinds of projects:

• Ongoing projects (NHS's Town and Country project would be an example)
• One-time projects (helping at an event, or with a specific situation)

Ultimately, the goal would be for these projects to be student-generated and student-driven.

2. Community outreach. Each House should encourage its members to be involved in the broader community. Volunteering for help at Heritage K-8 events and functions would be one way that the Houses could reach out to the Charter extended family; or even helping to sponsor events for Heritage students. Houses could also become involved in projects intended to reach out to the elderly; or to other younger kids; or to any other groups.

3. Other community service. The Houses would be encouraged to come up with their own creative ideas for reaching being involved with, reaching out, and offering service to the community.