
HOUSES
The House system at SIA was established during the 2017-18 school year. If you've ever seen Harry Potter, than you know what this is all about. No we don't have Quidditch teams, but our students do compete annually for the SIA House Cup. Students participate in a variety of activities with their houses as well as spend time together each Friday.
History of House Systems:
Traditionally found in Europe, students are divided up into "houses" and each student is selected to enter a house upon enrollment. House systems vary in size, focus and intent across the world. Typically they are developed in order to create an opportunity for students to feel a sense of belonging amongst like-minded individuals in a group that is smaller than their school as a whole.
House System at SIA:
SIA's houses were developed as a way for 6th-8th graders to get to know one another better and to develop a sense of community. Students underwent a yearlong process during the 2017-18 school year to design their houses and the system which we currently use. Our community chose to have (4) houses that represented some of the different cultures all across the world. These cultures were chosen for their alignment with our core values as well as their contribution to the world as a whole. Students compete throughout the year in a variety of ways to earn House points. These points are tallied on a weekly basis and added to their overall total. The House with the most points at the end of the year earns the SIA House Cup and bragging rights for the following school year. Below are the houses at SIA and some information related to the selection of those houses.
Mongols

"The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible."
- Winston Churchill
Mascot: Horse
Colors: Blue (Sky, Loyalty); Red (Freedom, prosperity)
Why Mongols?:
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Traits such as military power, communication systems, safe travel
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Known as fierce warriors that stuck together in clans which is inspiration for us to do the same
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Strategize prior to going into battle
Incas

"Movers of Mountains"
Mascot: Llama
Colors: Green and Gold
Why Incas?:
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They found new and creative ways of doing things
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Mysterious
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Problem solvers
Aksum

"Like elephants we are intelligent and stronger together; nosotros somos Aksum"
Mascot: Elephant
Colors: Yellow and Gray
Why Aksum?:
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Like the civilization, our house strives for peace
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It was a trading empire, we believe that knowledge is best gained by sharing ideas
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Resourceful and inventive; never settles
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Value all people and long to use communication with others to better our world
Zulu

"Ubuntu - I am because we are"
Mascot: Leopard
Colors: Pink and Black
Why Aksum?:
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Culture of respect and caring for others; "I can only be happy if my neighbor is also happy"
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Strong beliefs
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Fight for what they want