ZEAL-Let me Explain

ZEAL-Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a great cause. What does that have to do with Carver Elementary? Well, interestingly enough it is what our school is all about this year. If you've kept up with my recent blogs, you know we have now incorporated the House System into our building. I won't mention the guy who inspired us AGAIN, but his initials are R.C. Let's recap. Each student and staff member has now been divided into "houses" or teams. The kids spun the wheel the second day of school to get placed into their house and the teachers were put into theirs at our retreat a few weeks ago. They were also given the task that day of  deciding a name, creating a chant, designing a crest and choosing a color to represent their house. Some may have been a little worried the chants may have required dancing and what do you know... they sort of do.  There are motions with each chant as well. Who knew Mrs. Watkins had such rhythm. We're still working on Mr. Phillips though.

As the tasks began at our retreat that day, we had no idea what everyone's houses would end up looking like. They were merely instructed to make them unique and meaningful and the end results were extremely impressive. I could hear clapping and shouting through the walls and could not wait to see what everyone was putting together as a team.  My wishes had come true when I heard and saw the end product.  I've said it for years. Our Carver team is amazing and they proved it once again. I've heard other house chants and seen other house names from schools across the country who are also incorporating the house system and they have nothing on Carver Elementary in Neosho, Missouri. I wanted to share with everyone what our 4 houses are all about and the meaning behind them.
                                                           
                                                                          HOUSES
1)Zaplon-Zaplon means ignition in Polish. This house chose the color red to represent them because they want to ignite a passion for learning and teach kids to be all they can be. There hope is to be instrumental in helping kids find their inner passions that will ignite and propel them on to success in all areas of their lives. Their crest has a flame with a large Z over it. Tiny fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Buckner, begins their chant by shouting loudly (she took us all by surprise) -ZAPLON'S IN THE HOUSE

Burning Bright
Ready to Ignite
Zaplon's in the House
Ignition...our Mission
Filled with Ambition
Zaplon's in the House
Z -A- P -L -O- N
Zaplon's in the House
ZZZ Zaplon
ZZZ Zaplon
Zaplon's in the House
Uh!

2)Empyreal-Empyreal means limitless in Greek. They chose the color blue to represent their house. They want the kids to know they can do anything they want to do if they reach for the sky. They want to teach the kids that the sky is the limit. Their crest has several airplanes heading upward.

E-M-P-Y-R-E-A-L
Empyreal is Limitless, Reach for the Sky
Empyreal is Limitless, Reach for the Sky
Empyreal is Limitless, Reach for the Sky

3)Ajani- Ajani means warrior and it is Nigerian. The color green was their chosen color to represent them. This house wants the kids to be strong and brave in whatever they do. Their crest is the letter A with the line inside the A being an arrow.

A-J-A-N-I
Point Our Arrows to the Sky
Mighty Warriors Aiming High
A-J-A-N-I
Huh!

4)Lumiere-Lumiere means light in French. Yellow is their color of choice. This house feels that light means being full of ideas and being leaders and they want the students to light the way and forge a path for everyone else in our school. Their crest is a lighthouse with stars surrounding it.

L-U-M-I-E-R-E
Lumiere's the House to Be
We Light the Way
We're Here to Stay
L-U-M-I-E-R-E
Y-E-L-L Everybody yell-O
Y-E-L-L Everybody yell-O
Lumiere
(Arms make an L shape)

After everyone heard each other's chants, Caitlin Plumb, a second grade teacher, came to me and told me she realized it spelled out ZEAL.  She told me the definition meant great energy or enthusiasm.  I realized how perfect that was for what we were implementing with the house system.  Every house represents just that: energy and enthusiasm.  I just wish everyone could witness our kids in person as they say their chants together with the motions. Even the littles are picking up on it.  I just can't help but be energized hearing them all together as one cohesive unit. We have started HOUSE Day on Fridays. The students all sit in their houses in our gym and we all say our chants one house at a time. The teachers and staff are doing them right along with the kids.  It's a great way to start our day. There are many other ideas we plan to incorporate this year with our House System and a blog about those will come later.

I can report that after one week of school, TEAM EMPYREAL is in the lead with 109 points. All 4 houses will have their points on display each week in our trophy case, which is now decorated in each house's color and crest. A crown will sit on top of the winning house's board for all to see and admire and to strive for each week.Everyone in the building can earn points all week for a variety of reasons. Just last week Mrs. Cummins (House Lumiere member) earned a point for stepping outside her comfort zone and making her first Padlet for the staff. Lumiere is still behind, but we'll see what week two holds for us.

Everyone is loving it so far.  As I walk through the halls and pass our kids, I'm greeted with students showing me the Lumiere sign (which I quickly reciprocate because I too am a Lumiere). I hear kids asking each other whose house they are in and who is in their house with them.  I'm beginning to hear from parents how their kids are doing the chants at home. I knew we were onto something when I started hearing those stories. I especially loved the video Mr. Daugherty (director of Field Preschool) sent me of his daughter, Kenley Kay, a first grader, singing the Zaplon chant as his wife was trying to get her to pull her tooth. Funny thing is, Kenley is on Team Ajani. That's just what happens now. We are all finding ourselves singing the chants all day and sometimes their not our own. There is a renewed energy and enthusiasm at Carver Elementary and it is contagious. Is energy and enthusiasm contagious in your building? Are you happy with the feeling of your building? Are you looking to increase the level of energy?  Do you look for ways to increase it or is everything status quo? The level of enthusiasm in our hallways and classrooms is evident each and every day and it will only get stronger because at Carver we have ZEAL-great energy and enthusiasm in pursuit of a great cause.