The four Houses — our learning and leadership communities for students. Each House has unique properties such as its own color, symbols, nation of heritage, history, and more. Over time, each House also starts to take on its own values and personality driven by the culture of the students and staff within it.
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The House of the Givers Altruismo
Heritage: Brazil Language: Portuguese Symbolic Animal: The Griffin First Student Leader: Berkley First Staff Leader: Mandy Lentz |
Altruismo traces its origins to the rainforests of the Amazon, where a group of powerful Brazilians were given the name because of the Portuguese meaning behind it: “the Givers.”
This special group is known for striking a balance between bold strength and altruistic giving — a team that knows that real power comes not from looking out for yourself but from empowering others. They care deeply about lifting others up, but they also maintain a fiercely competitive spirit and pride. Historically, the House has been known for its smart and driven students. They are a house filled with talent, and they like to win. The color black represents prestige and an elite quality, just like our kids. Black is also the one color that contains all the other colors-representing our goal of empowering others. Altruismo takes great pride in being a cultivator of real leadership and instills a strong spirit within students to grow into and live up to this legacy. |
The House of the Friendship
Amistad Heritage: Spain Language: Spanish Symbolic Animal: The Peacock First Student Leader: Gus First Staff Leader: Denise Garvey |
Amistad is the House that originates from Spain. A group of individuals that are quiet but powerful, they are known most for their kindness of heart. This is why, in the language of their ancestry, their name means “friendship.”
Amistad is the red house because red is the color that embodies the heart. Incoming members are often a mix of extremes — students can be extremely intelligent, creative, friendly, and competitive; Amistad is a very diverse group! The House takes great inspiration from its leaders who always remind the members of this saying: “Once the peacock finds its feathers, it discovers who it really is.” The encouragement is for each student to find his or her own feathers and discover their brilliance. While students may enter timidly, they learn to become brave as they find their true selves. |
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The House of Courage
Isibindi Heritage: South Africa Language: Zulu Symbolic Animal: The Mute Swan and the Lion First Student Leader: Grace First Staff Leader: Jocelyn Zimprich |
Isibindi is a tight-knit group of individuals, like a pride of African lions, where family means everything. The color green represents the rich and abundant resources of Africa. The House’s symbolic animals, the mute swan and the lion, serve to empower incoming members. While new students might be quiet or shy at first, the longer that they are in the House, the more they begin to display the characteristics of strength and bravery. In Zulu, Isibindi means “courage.”
The dichotomy of sharing symbolic animals between the gentle and beautiful swan and the proud and courageous lion is what makes Isibindi so unique. It is a House that knows when to be strategic and creative, or when to pull back and be reserved, but also when to go full force with power and strength. This is why Isibindi welcomes creative and quiet kids and turns them into leaders over time. They learn that, like the mute swan, their quiet creativity can be harnessed to speak volumes in its own way. |
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The House of the Dreamers
Rêveur Heritage: France Language: French Symbolic Animal: The Wolf First Student Leader: Dustin First Staff Leader: Carrie-Anne Hartley |
Rêveur is a royal House whose name in French means “dreamers” or “idealists” — because the members who fill this group are students filled with freedom and wild abandon who recognize their dreams and will let nothing stand in the way of achieving them. This can be seen in the unicorn, which is on the center of the House’s crest, a powerful creature who is almost impossible to tame. The crescent moon symbolizes new beginnings and the making of dreams into reality. Similarly, the House of Rêveur is a House of passion. Rêveur is the blue house because the color blue instills confidence and passion while releasing all fears and anxiety. |
ALTRUISMO takes the first ever house championship!
Our Altruismo students truly empowered and uplifted others every day!
All our houses celebrated with them by wearing Altruismo's house color!
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