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THE WINDING CREEK HOUSE SYSTEM

At Winding Creek Elementary, our House System serves as a foundational element of school life, fostering a strong sense of community, leadership, and personal growth for over 1,000 students from Kindergarten through 5th grade. It is more than just a school tradition—it is a vibrant, living framework that enhances every aspect of the student experience. Through our House Sorting assemblies, students are welcomed into one of four Houses: House Wonder, House Inspire, House Innovate, or House Care. These Houses become a core part of their identity during their time at our school.

The House System is designed to create an inclusive and supportive environment where every student can thrive. We recognize that in a large school like Winding Creek, it's essential for each child to feel a personal connection and a sense of belonging. By assigning students to a House, we create smaller communities within the larger school, helping students build close relationships with peers across different grades, and fostering camaraderie and teamwork.

In their House, students have the chance to contribute to a collective goal, building pride not just in their own accomplishments but in the success of their House as a whole. This system encourages collaboration and healthy competition, teaching students the value of working together while striving for personal excellence. Whether it's through academic achievements, positive behavior, or meaningful social interactions, students earn points that reflect their contributions and progress.

The unique part of our House System is that it spans the entirety of a student's journey at Winding Creek. Once a student is sorted into a House, they stay in that House for their entire time at our school. This continuity strengthens bonds over the years, allowing older students to mentor younger ones and creating a deep sense of loyalty to their House. As students grow, they develop not only within their classrooms but as leaders within their House communities, learning valuable life skills such as responsibility, empathy, and teamwork.

Ultimately, the House System at Winding Creek Elementary serves to elevate the student experience. It blends academic, social, and emotional learning into a cohesive structure that supports the holistic development of each child, preparing them to be confident, compassionate leaders both inside and outside the classroom.

WHY WE HAVE A HOUSE SYSTEM

The House System at Winding Creek Elementary offers a range of important benefits that contribute to the personal and academic development of our students. It’s more than just a way to organize students into groups—it’s a dynamic, supportive framework that fosters growth in key areas. Some of the key benefits include:

1. Building Community and Belonging

The House System creates smaller, tight-knit communities within our large school, giving students a sense of belonging from day one. Being part of a House helps students form strong connections with peers from different grade levels, and it fosters relationships that may not form in traditional classroom settings. This sense of belonging is critical to helping students feel supported and valued throughout their time at Winding Creek.

2. Encouraging Leadership

Students have numerous opportunities to take on leadership roles within their House, whether by mentoring younger students, contributing ideas, or leading activities. The House Leader program for 5th graders is an especially impactful aspect, allowing older students to develop and practice leadership skills that will benefit them in middle school and beyond. These experiences instill confidence and a sense of responsibility, empowering students to take initiative.

3. Fostering Healthy Competition and Teamwork

The House System introduces friendly competition in a way that encourages teamwork and cooperation. Whether earning points for academic achievements, positive behavior, or showing empathy toward others, students learn that their individual contributions impact the success of their entire House. This reinforces the importance of working together toward a common goal and helps students understand the value of collective effort.

4. Reinforcing Portrait of an Eagle Competencies

Our House System aligns with Winding Creek’s core values and Cumberland Valley's Portrait of an Eagle Competencies. Together we focus on the attributes essential for students’ long-term success. By awarding points on these focal points we help students internalize important traits like empathy, respect, confidence, and responsibility. This system ensures that students see the direct impact of living out these values, both for themselves and their House community.

5. Inspiring Academic and Personal Growth

The House System motivates students to strive for personal excellence. By recognizing significant moments of learning and growth, we create an environment where effort and improvement are celebrated. This drives students to set higher goals for themselves, knowing that their achievements contribute to something bigger. It fosters a growth mindset, encouraging students to continuously develop their academic, social, and emotional skills.

6. Creating Excitement and School Spirit

From the excitement of earning points to the high-energy End-of-Trimester Assemblies and the coveted House Cup, the House System infuses the school year with a sense of fun and school spirit. Students eagerly participate in Spirit Days, special events, and House competitions, making school life more engaging and enjoyable. These experiences create lasting memories and build a strong sense of pride in the school.

The Winding Creek House System is a thoughtful and intentional approach designed to make a large school feel more connected and personalized. Our aim is for every staff member and student to not only recognize that they contribute to something greater than themselves but also to feel that they truly matter and belong within our school community. Through this system, we foster a sense of unity and purpose, ensuring that everyone is valued and included.

Dr. Runkle  

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House Assemblies

A highlight of our House System is our End-of-Trimester Assemblies, where the entire Winding Creek community comes together for an unforgettable celebration of school spirit and unity. Over 1,000 students, dressed in their House colors, flood into the gym with a wave of excitement. These gatherings are electric, with students waving hand-made signs, chanting House mottos, and cheering loudly for their House in a display of fierce yet friendly competition. The gym transforms into a sea of color and energy as each House proudly represents their identity and showcases the pride they've built over the trimester.

These assemblies are much more than just fun events—they are carefully designed to strengthen our House System and reinforce the core values that guide our school. Each assembly is packed with high-energy games that encourage teamwork and collaboration, and students actively participate in activities that require strategy, creativity, and cooperation. These games are not just for entertainment; they serve as valuable opportunities for students to work together, build friendships, and learn the importance of contributing to a shared goal.

In addition to the games, we take time during these assemblies to celebrate the achievements of individual students and the Houses as a whole. Teachers and staff recognize students for their accomplishments in areas such as academics, behavior, leadership, and social interactions, offering public acknowledgment for the hard work they've put in. This recognition helps students see the real-world impact of their contributions, reinforcing the values of perseverance, empathy, and dedication.

The assemblies also serve as a moment of reflection for the entire school. We review the progress we’ve made as a community toward our House goals and our school-wide objectives, addressing areas where we excelled and identifying opportunities for growth. By coming together as a school, we celebrate our successes and set the stage for improvement, fostering a growth mindset among students and staff alike. Each assembly concludes with a renewed sense of purpose and unity, leaving students energized and motivated to continue their journey in their House, knowing they are contributing to something larger than themselves.

HOW STUDENTS EARN HOUSE POINTS

Students earn points for their House in a variety of meaningful ways, all focused on personal achievement, growth, and contributing positively to the school community. Rather than serving as rewards for expected behavior, points are awarded as recognition of significant moments that reflect learning, emotional intelligence, and social responsibility. Teachers and staff are always on the lookout for these key moments that highlight a student’s development and impact.

Points are earned for instances such as:

  • Emotional and Social Moments: Acts of kindness, empathy, teamwork, and showing care for others.

  • Academic Achievement and Growth: Demonstrating effort, perseverance, and noticeable improvement in academic work.

  • Behavior: Consistently displaying positive behavior that aligns with our school’s core values, such as respect, responsibility, and integrity.

  • Social Interactions: Helping others, collaborating with peers, and treating everyone with respect and kindness.

We also connect these moments to our Portrait of an Eagle Competencies, which emphasize key qualities like confidence and empathy. These competencies guide students toward becoming well-rounded individuals, and earning points in these areas helps reinforce their importance.

At the end of the year, the House that has accumulated the most points, as awarded by staff, wins the coveted House Cup, a prestigious symbol of achievement within our school. This honor represents not just academic success but also the embodiment of our core values and the growth each student has made over the year.

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At Winding Creek, the House System is much more than a fun competition for kids — it’s a powerful tool for building a supportive, connected school community where every student feels they belong and has the opportunity to succeed

Dr. Runkle  

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5th Grade "House Leaders"

Our 5th Grade House Leader Program is a key leadership opportunity within the House System and plays an integral role in shaping the culture of Winding Creek Elementary. Students aspiring to become House Leaders undergo a formal recommendation, application, and interview process, allowing them to demonstrate their commitment, responsibility, and leadership potential. This rigorous selection process ensures that our House Leaders are prepared to take on significant leadership roles that make a real impact in the school.

Once selected, House Leaders take on important responsibilities such as:

  • Leading the school in spirit during assemblies: House Leaders help energize their peers, lead chants, and foster excitement during school-wide events, ensuring that every student feels connected to their House.

  • Hosting Morning Meetings with younger grade levels: House Leaders act as mentors, guiding younger students through discussions and activities that reinforce school values and House pride.

  • Speaking at school events: As representatives of their Houses, Leaders take on public speaking roles at important school functions, developing their confidence and communication skills.

  • Giving school tours to visitors and new students: House Leaders serve as ambassadors, welcoming visitors and ensuring that new students feel comfortable and informed about life at Winding Creek.

In addition to these responsibilities, House Leaders meet monthly before school to further develop their leadership skills. During these sessions, they reflect on their progress, learn new strategies for leading their peers, and discuss how they can continue to model the values of their House in day-to-day school life. These leadership sessions are designed to help them grow as confident, empathetic, and responsible leaders who set a positive example for the entire student body.

House Leaders are more than just figureheads—they are role models for all Winding Creek students. They embody the qualities of confidence, empathy, and responsibility, and their actions inspire others to follow in their footsteps. Through their leadership, they help create a school culture that is inclusive, respectful, and driven by a shared sense of purpose.