Rankin418-web

The CHALKBOARD
RANKIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
Northwest
House Wars at NWRE
Remember that feeling of walking into your school the first
day back from summer vacation? The anticipation and excitement
at wondering what teacher you will have, who will be in
your class, have they changed the school any? This year, our 6th
grade students returned to a transformation of their wing and
classrooms.
Over the summer, 6th grade teachers Melissa Vaughn,
Jennifer Sanders, Nikki King, and Tiffany Glover brainstormed
ideas on how to breathe new life into the PAWS expectations of
the school and give it new meaning to their specific students.
After visiting the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, they
devised a housing system in which the four classrooms are given a
unique name based on social characteristics that their teachers
wanted the students to be known for: House of Civilis (the lion)
stands for courage, bravery, chivalry, and daring; House of
Molimentum (the alligator) stands for cunning, ambition,
determination, and leadership; House of Respicio (the raven)
stands for intelligence, wisdom, creativity, and originality; House
of Pratus (the honey badger) stands for loyalty, kindness, honesty,
and friendship.
The 6th grade teachers then developed a detailed housepoints
system. When following their expectations, any faculty
member can give a house daily points; by the end of the week,
total points are calculated and the house with the most points
wins the House Cup. The Heads of House (student helpers) for
the winning house spin a giant wheel (found in their main lobby)
to receive extra points to a house. The house with the most points
by the end of the year are recognized at their 6th grade graduation
for “Leaving a Legacy.”
According to their teachers, the 6th graders are now holding
each other accountable both behaviorally and academically
through constructive feedback. This has been such a wonderful
experience to see the students take ownership of their education!
138 • April 2018