Calcasieu Parish School District
Westlake, LA
Welcome to Our House
At Westwood Elementary, Welcome to Our House was a re-designed Back-to-School Night. It was an introduction for students and parents to a new, mixed-age grade level system. The House System was designed to create a welcoming school and strengthen connections of students, teachers, staff, and families across the grades.
In Westview’s version, the school formed 4 “houses.” Students and teachers were randomly assigned across grade levels to each House. All school staff—cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, and others—also were randomly assigned to one of the Houses. All Houses shared common goals for the 3-Bs: Be Kind, Be Safe, and Be Respectful.
Each House had its own team color, team cheer, team bracelet, and t-shirt in the house color. When a staff member observed a student holding the door, picking up trash, or modeling good manners, the student was given a House Point, which was placed in a pocket chart in their classrooms.
Every Friday, House Points were counted and the House with the most points had its team flag flown on the flagpole in front of the school. At the end of each quarter, the House that had flown its flag most often had a House Celebration Party coordinated by parents and school staff.
Parents were enthusiastic about the House System. Many parents become involved with the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP), teachers, and administrators in developing events and activities for the House System’s program throughout the year.
Welcome to Our House is featured in Promising Partnership Practices 2019.
Camp Out with a Good Book
There are many creative ways to encourage children and parents to enjoy reading together. Westwood Elementary conducted Camp Out with a Good Book. Tents were set up, sleeping bags were rolled out, and “campfires” were built. Parents and children came in, selected a book and lantern. They could climb into a tent, sit at a campfire, or relax on a sleeping bag with a flashlight to enjoy a book together.
Other activities picked up the theme. There were beginning sound s’mores where students roasted a “marshmallow” picture then found its matching upper and lower case graham cracker. There were word-building rocks and picnic tables stocked with supplies to make bookmarks. Throughout the camp, school staff interacted with families encouraging them to include time to read together as part of their daily routine. At the end of the evening, each family received a S’more Treat Bag with a note attached reminding them to take time for “s’more family reading.”
