Bloomburg Elementary ‘pops’ into a new year

On Aug. 26, the highly anticipated House Sorting Ceremony took place inside the Bloomburg gymnasium.

Students chose a balloon to pop, and inside was a colored beaded necklace to represent the house that chose them.

The week leading up to the sorting ceremony gave the Bloomburg Elementary faculty and staff (house leaders) the opportunity to build excitement and encourage students to find the house they would like to be sorted into. Would students join the House of Altruismo, Amistad, Isibindi, or Reveur?

The house system being implemented in Bloomburg is emulated after the positive culture-building house system of The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the first year the house system will be in place at Bloomburg Elementary, however, it has been an ongoing dream of BES Principal, Silvia Stroman. Mrs. Stroman has been a longtime follower of Ron Clark since he received the award of Disney Teacher of the Year in 2000. She has implemented the BES Wildcat Essentials which mirror the Ron Clark-Essential 55 rules that teach children good manners and how to interact with others. In 2018, Mrs. Stroman, along with elementary counselor Karen Casteel, traveled to Polly Ryon Middle School in Houston and then on to the Ron Clark Academy, in Atlanta, Georgia to learn more about the house system and the best way to implement the system into a small public school.

“This program will allow students, from Kindergarten through fifth grade, to connect with each other and connect with staff. The house system will give every student a place to belong, building strong relationships with peers and adults. For several years, we have been rewarding students for their individual efforts and successes. Students will now be given the opportunity to learn that it is more rewarding to work as a family unit to strive for a common goal.”

Students are given opportunities to earn points for their respective houses. Such ways include: making the honor roll, meeting an AR goal, putting forth a good effort, showing kindness to others, and displaying school spirit.

Even though earning points creates a competitive atmosphere, the house system is about teamwork and building a positive atmosphere in our school.

While students were sorted by balloons and beads, the house leaders were given the opportunity, this past summer, to choose the house that best fits them. Mrs. Amy Bell, a second-grade teacher at BES is the house leader for Altruismo (black house), the house of Givers. Ms. Maggie McNeely, fourthgrade teacher, and Mrs. Angela Creek, first-grade teacher, are co-leaders for Amistad (red house), the house of friendship. Mrs. Macee Josserand, a third-grade teacher leads Isibindi (greenhouse), the house of courage. Mrs. Susan Owens, fourth-grade teacher, leader of Reveur (blue house), the house of dreamers.

Houses will meet bi-monthly to celebrate members’ accomplishments, discuss areas of improvement, create chants for house competition days and provide students with the opportunity to spend time with their school family.

Within the school, awarded points and the house leader board will be displayed so that students are able to see their contributions. This was done by Bloomburg Technology Director, Justin Stailey. Parents and guardians of Bloomburg Elementary students will be able to keep up with how many points their student has earned and which house is in the lead by downloading the Ron Clark Academy House Points app.

Mrs. Stroman says that this is just the beginning. There are many more exciting things to be added over the next several years. “My ultimate goal is to have complete buy-in from the students and parents. This is a great opportunity for parents to become more involved in their child’s education and help to build an even better school for Bloomburg.”