House System
This year, Finn Hill is implementing a House System. These systems are quite popular in the UK (they play quite a role in the Harry Potter series), and are gaining popularity in the United States. Our goals in implementing Houses are to:
- Promote positive peer-to-peer relationships
- Create a sense of belonging and identity for each student at school
- Foster a sense of community between students in various grade levels
- Teach students how to engage in healthy competition with other Houses, being our best selves to support our House and showing good sportsmanship to the Houses we're completing against.
Students will be a member of one of the Houses below based on their Falcon Time class.
The Houses of Finn Hill
Altruismo
The House of Givers
House History: Altruismo traces its origins to the rainforests of the Amazon, where a group of powerful Brazilians were given the name because of the Portuguese meaning behind it: "the Givers".
Members of this house know that real power occurs when you look beyond yourself and strive to empower others.
House Power: The Power of Empowering Others
Symbolic Animal: The Snake
Elements of the Crest: The heart is at the center of the crest because its where kindness, generosity, and purity begin. The diamond and the shield emphasize protecting others with unity and wisdom. The Griffin represents both strength and grace as well as fierceness and nurturing. The color black contains all other colors and represents the House's goal of empowering others.
Rival House: Reveur
Isibindi
The House of Courage
House History: Isibindi is a tight-knit group of individuals, like a pride of African lions, where family means everything. The House's symbolic animals, the mute swan and lion, serve to empower incoming members. In Zulu, Isibindi means "courage".
The House inherits the legend and influence of both Shaka Zulu as well as Nelson Mandela. The dichotomy of symbolic animals - the gentle and beautiful swan and the proud and courageous lion - make Isibindi unique. In this house, students learn that quiet creativity can be harnessed to speak volumes in its own as students grow their skills as leaders.
House Power: The Strength and Courage of a Lion
Symbolic Animals: The Mute Swan and the Lion
Elements of the Crest: The Mute Swan sits at the top of the crest, representing the storied tradition of Zulu leadership - astute, compelling, and unwavering. The Ebony Tree embodies the beauty of the continent of the House's heritage. The lion which lives is a pride is not only revered for its strength and courage, but also for dedication to family. The color green reminds us of the rich and abundant resources of Africa.
Rival House: Amistad
Amistad
The House of Friendship
House History: Amistad is the House that originates from Spain. A group of individuals that are quiet but powerful, they are known most for their kindness of heart. This is why, in the language of their ancestry, their name means "friendship".
House Powers: Kindness of Heart, Strength of a Warrior
Symbolic Animal: The Immortal Peacock
Strengths: House members are often reminded of the phrase: "Once a peacock finds its feathers, it discovers who it really is". House members learn to look inside themselves to discover their brilliance.
Elements of the Crest: The crossed keys unlock the gateway to friendship. The peacock represents the heart's desire to love and protect a friend. The peacock also perseveres; it never gives up. The color red embodies kindness of the heart.
Rival House: Isibindi
Reveur
The House of Dreamers
House History: In French, Reveur means "dreamers" or "idealists". This House is filled with members who recognize their dreams and strive to achieve them. The unicorn on the crest is a powerful creature who is almost impossible to tame as is the House's passion and dreams.
House Power: Confident, Passionate Dreamers
Symbolic Animal: The Wolf
Elements of the Crest: The knight's open-visored helmet is typically reserved for the highest ranks of nobility. In this crest it symbolizes having dreams and letting nothing stand in your way as you strive to achieve them. The House's passion is represented by the unicorn, a symbol of freedom, healing, and beauty, whose wild abandon is difficult to tame. The crescent moon symbolizes new beginnings and the making of dreams into reality. The moon also represents the House's symbolic animal, the wolf, because when the moon comes out, wolves come out. The color blue instills confidence and passion while releasing fears and anxiety.
Rival House: Altruismo
Finn Hill thanks the Ron Clark Academy for generously sharing all of its House materials (images and language) with schools throughout the world.
The above information was developed and shared by the Ron Clark Academy.