Student Houses
Every member of the School Community (staff and students) on joining the school will become a member of one of four houses. Family members will be in the same house.
Lower School Students are encouraged to play a full part in the democratic processes, which are implemented in the school by seeking election to represent their Student Government. Students are encouraged to speak out with respect for others as this enables them to learn and to give others the chance to learn from them. Students gain individual and house points for positively contributing to the school community. The Houses names were proposed at a student meeting in 2010 and are based on Floridian wildlife:
· Red Snappers (Element: Fire)
· Blue Sharks (Element: Water)
· Green Gators (Element: Earth)
· Yellow Panthers (Element: Air)
Students in each house will elect their leaders under the Guidance of a House Guide (who will be a member of staff appointed with this role). Their job is not to lead but to guide and facilitate student leaders and to encourage house spirit.
House Points
House points will be managed by the Program Coordinators: DP, MYP and PYP. House Points will be awarded by teachers according to guidance given to them to standardize practice. They will be given to students for good academic work or for a positive contribution to the community. Students must post their House Points in the relevant box for their house in the School Office by Thursday at 4pm for them to be counted on Friday. The Guidance Counselor will publish the results at Monday Assembly and on the school website.
Owes
Teachers can require house points from students in lieu as a punishment. Students who are required to contribute house points (to be known as owes) will not have their house points added to their individual total or house total and on completion of the academic or community work they will return the house point slip (which will state the requirement) to the teacher who has given the points. The teacher will sign the slip and hand it to the School Office. Inappropriate behavior or misdemeanors will not reduce any total. The extra points (owes) required will not be counted as House Points. The totals of house points and owes will be recorded and communicated to parents on a termly basis.
Awards
Students will be recognized for their achievements and awarded medals when they gain a total number of House Points: 25 (Bronze), 50 (Silver), 75 (Gold) and 100 (Olympic Gold). House Points Individual and Collective totals will not carry over from one year to the next.
The House Point system is designed to reinforce positive behavior and provide a competitive context for students, building teamwork and a desire to succeed. House Points are awarded for individual attainment in the academic or extra curricular program and for service to the school or wider community. Parents are asked to bring the accomplishments of their children to the attention of class teachers and mentors so that these can be recorded and recognized in the weekly newsletter.