Lessons in Life & Leadership

JUNIOR HIGH HOUSES

LESSONS IN LIFE & LEADERSHIP

By Michele Glover, Creative Journaling / 8th Grade Biblical Worldview

IIs there any time in life that is more like a roller coaster than the time spent in junior high school? I would venture to say most adults cringe or groan when they look back on their junior high experience. With that in mind, the faculty and staff who serve families in the LRCA Junior High work to create an educational ecosystem that provides lessons and experiences that develop skills and character growth to carry them far beyond the two years inside the school walls. LRCA’s Junior High House System is a vital part of that development. Finding your place when you are 12, 13, or 14, can be a challenge for even the most confident student. Creating “buy in” on an organized house system can be a challenge for even the most committed educator. After several years of working out the kinks, we have come up with a plan that captures the spirit of our students. Each House is structured around a spiritual symbol and scripture.

You can feel the excitement build over the days leading up to our official “sorting ceremony” for the incoming seventh graders. The eighth grade students and House Leaders have worked hard to learn the ropes while they were in seventh grade, and can’t wait to see which students will join their house family. As House Leader, Allyson Lank said, “The best part of the House System is the community aspect.” Will they join Bratus, Mare, Petram, Ignis, or Ventus?

Following the sorting ceremony, students embark on a series of competitions, spiritual application lessons, and a variety of service opportunities. Some are more knowledge based like the House Jeopardy Challenge and the House Reading Competition. Others are more physically based like the House Soccer Tournament and Tug of War. Service challenges were achieved through our canned food drive and letters written to all our school heroes that provide our meals and take care of our facilities. Other competitions involved small skill challenges like the Marshmallow Toothpick Building Competition and the Cup Stacking Challenge. Our House Leaders led us in devotions and character building lessons, while establishing a mentor/mentee program between the grades. Plus, we couldn’t have a House family without house parties like the Christmas Carol Sing-Off and Christmas party.

By far, the most popular competition was the Mock Rock Lip Sync Battle. Students picked a song, then created props and choreography to use in the performance before their peers. I asked several of the house leaders why this competition was the best of all. House Leader, Isaac Ortega, said, “It was so much fun to prep the song and see it all come together.” Savannah Shelly said, “It was the most enjoyable competition, because everyone in the House participated in more ways than one.” House Leader, Maggie Connell, said that she “loved the opportunity to see everyone’s creative side come out.” Providing an opportunity for everyone to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves is rewarding. House Leader, Madeline Kennedy, summed it up well. She said, “My favorite part is that we all fight for the winning cup, but at the end of the day, we know that we are all part of the House of Enthusiasm!” I couldn’t agree more!