Final House Day of the School Year Brings the Whole CET Family Together

One by one, each of the 8 Houses at Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School walked through the hallway, outside the building, passing by the playground, and headed onto the field. It’s a sunny Friday, and spirits are high as CET teachers, staff, and students gather for the final House Day of the year. The view from above looks like a moving sea of colors created by the House t-shirts as Third and Fourth Grade students help to guide the younger students to their assigned place on the field for their final activity - a school photo of all the Houses forming the first letter of each of the eight Houses to spell the word REACHING. 

The special closing House ceremony and well-coordinated activity relied heavily on the leadership and modeling skills the older elementary students have been cultivating since the adoption of the House System program two years ago. “The first school-wide House assembly was purely about celebrating everyone and every House,” said Craig Campanaro, CET Assistant Principal. “This activity is a true reflection of the core of the House System, the bringing together of students across all grade levels, teachers, and staff members as one unified school family.”

The House System program provides unique educational opportunities to promote character, socialization, and connection school-wide. Students in all grades are grouped in one of eight Houses: Respect, Empathy, Acceptance, Cooperation, Honesty, Integrity, Nobility, and Gratitude. “The program not only encourages students to build relationships outside of their grade level, but also with the teachers and staff members in their House as well. Many students get the chance to work with a House member who they may not have otherwise,” said CET Principal Kerri Bianch. “By developing these relational skills early, our students can carry what they’ve learned here into their middle and high school years, and also out into the community.”

This was the last House assembly for Fourth Grade student Tyler who is heading to PVC next year. “I’m really going to miss CET and all the teachers that I’ve gotten to know,” he said.” I really love it here,” he said. One of the values that Tyler has learned from his time in the House of Nobility is the importance of responsibility. “My job this year was to take attendance at our House assemblies each month,” he said. “I also help out the younger students in school. I know when I do things like that, I’m showing them they can look up to the older students.”  For Frankie, a third grader in the House of Honesty, making new friendships has been a House highlight for her. “I have a lot of friends now who are in different grades. I like playing games with the younger students, and being helpful to them,” she said. “It shows that they can count on older students if they need help.”