What is House Achievement? When does it take place? Why is House Achievement important? How is it connected to my child’s academics and behavior?
These are all great questions that we have received over the past few weeks, and we want to make sure all of our families have a clear understanding.
House Achievement is a weekly celebration that takes place in the cafeteria on Fridays during 1st - 5th grade lunch. Students who meet their academic and behavior goals for the week earn the opportunity to celebrate together. During this time, students can sit with friends and choose where they would like to sit in the cafeteria. This sense of choice and community makes the celebration exciting for students and reinforces the positive behaviors we want to see throughout the week.
We also add fun activities to make the Friday celebration special. Students have enjoyed playing Bingo, participating in trivia games, competing in quick team challenges, and joining dance-offs. Last week we even had karaoke! We play music and occasionally provide treats such as ice pops or small snacks. It truly becomes a fun and positive way to recognize students who are showing responsibility, respect, and effort in their learning.
Students who earn two X’s on their green take-home folder and in the RCA app in one week will have lunch in a separate location on Friday and participate in a restorative circle. During this time, students meet with an administrator or counselor to review the infractions from the week and discuss strategies they can use to make better choices moving forward. The goal of this time is not simply a consequence, but an opportunity for reflection, growth, and support.
Students who miss House Achievement are also required to complete a Home–School Partnership Reflection Form at home with their family. This allows families to review the infractions together, talk about what happened, and discuss next steps so that students can return the following week ready to meet expectations.
We also have a clear discipline structure that is shared on the student’s green take-home folder that outlines the steps if a student misses more than one House Achievement celebration. At Greenwood, we believe that accountability is an important part of learning and growing. Clear expectations and consistent consequences help students understand that their choices matter and that they are responsible for the impact their actions have on their learning community.
It is very important that each family follows their child’s success on the RCA app. Parents can receive notifications on their cell phone when their child earns a house point, as well as when an infraction is entered. This helps ensure that families stay connected to what is happening during the school day. Our students also have access to their house point comments and student infractions on their devices, which are brought home daily. This information can be accessed through Clever and reviewed together at home. When families regularly review this information, it creates an opportunity for meaningful conversations, encouragement, and support that help students stay on track. If you need directions on how to download the RCA app, please reach out to your child’s teacher today
Furthermore, at the end of each quarter, our school celebrates with a Unity Day pep rally that is filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and school spirit. Many of our morning clubs perform, we highlight students who have competed in academic or athletic competitions, and we provide VIP seating for students who are thriving on iReady and decreasing their X’s. These celebrations help students feel proud of their accomplishments and reinforce the values we work on every day. They also strengthen our sense of community and belonging, which plays an important role in creating a positive environment for both students and staff.
Students who have earned 6 or more X’s in one quarter or who have received one major discipline referral do not participate in our end-of-quarter pep rally. Instead, these students participate in a special restorative activity designed to help them reflect and grow. In the past, we have had behavior specialists lead activities, middle school administrators speak with 5th grade students, martial arts instructors teach lessons on discipline and focus, counselors facilitate small-group discussions, and mentoring groups provide guidance and encouragement. We have also invited community leaders to speak about goal setting and responsibility, and provided team-building activities that help students practice positive decision-making. The purpose of this time is to help students reflect on their choices and develop strategies that will help them be successful moving forward. Our goal is for every student to learn from the experience, grow from it, and return ready to fully participate in the next celebration with their peers.
We also carefully analyze the data from students who do not earn House Achievement each week. This information helps us identify patterns and determine how we can better support our students. When needed, we schedule meetings with families to discuss concerns and work together on strategies for improvement. The data is also reviewed during our Response to Intervention (RTI) meetings with our school psychologist, social worker, and support staff so that we can determine if additional academic, behavioral, or social-emotional supports are needed. In addition, we use this information to help guide roster development, inform conversations around possible retention, and identify trends that may require additional support for students.
Our administrative team also uses this data to guide professional development with teachers throughout the year, focusing on strategies to reduce the most common infractions and strengthen classroom management practices. We have even brought in keynote speakers from Atlanta to support this work and share best practices for building strong school culture. The data also helps us monitor schoolwide trends, identify times or settings where students need additional structure or support, and celebrate areas where we see growth and improvement. We also use the information to refine our house system practices and strengthen the connection between behavior, accountability, and academic success. At Greenwood, we are relentless in our pursuit of excellence and committed to being the flagship school in the state of Virginia, ensuring every decision we make supports the success of our students and staff.
At Greenwood, our goal is for every student to feel a strong sense of belonging while also understanding the importance of responsibility, effort, and positive choices. House Achievement is one of the many ways we celebrate students who are shining their light while also supporting those who may need additional guidance along the way. When families stay connected through the RCA app and have regular conversations with their child about their successes and challenges, it creates a powerful partnership between home and school. Together, we can ensure that every student continues to grow academically, socially, and emotionally while contributing positively to our school community.
If you have any further questions about House Achievement, I hope you can join me for my monthly episode of Spilling the Tea at 9 AM on Friday, March 6.
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Mr. Stein
Principal
Greenwood Elementary School