House System
This year, Kirkland Middle School is implementing a House System. Our goals in implementing Houses are to:
- Promote positive peer-to-peer relationships.
- Create a sense of belonging and identity for each student at school.
- Foster a sense of community between students in various grade levels.
- Teach students how to engage in healthy competition with other Houses, being our best selves to support our House and showing good sportsmanship to the Houses we're completing against.
Students will be a member of one of the Houses below based on their Panther Time class.
The Houses of Kirkland Middle School
Altruismo
The House of Givers
House History: 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".
Members of this house know that real power occurs when you look beyond yourself and strive to empower others.
House Power: The Power of Empowering Others
Symbolic Animal: The Snake
Elements of the Crest: The heart is at the center of the crest because its where kindness, generosity, and purity begin. The diamond and the shield emphasize protecting others with unity and wisdom. The Griffin represents both strength and grace as well as fierceness and nurturing. The color black contains all other colors and represents the House's goal of empowering others.
Isibindi
The House of Courage
House History: Isibindi is a tight-knit group of individuals, like a pride of African lions, where family means everything. The House's symbolic animals, the mute swan and lion, serve to empower incoming members. In Zulu, Isibindi means "courage".
The House inherits the legend and influence of both Shaka Zulu as well as Nelson Mandela. The dichotomy of symbolic animals - the gentle and beautiful swan and the proud and courageous lion - make Isibindi unique. In this house, students learn that quiet creativity can be harnessed to speak volumes in its own as students grow their skills as leaders.
House Power: The Strength and Courage of a Lion
Symbolic Animals: The Mute Swan and the Lion
Elements of the Crest: The Mute Swan sits at the top of the crest, representing the storied tradition of Zulu leadership - astute, compelling, and unwavering. The Ebony Tree embodies the beauty of the continent of the House's heritage. The lion which lives is a pride is not only revered for its strength and courage, but also for dedication to family. The color green reminds us of the rich and abundant resources of Africa.
Protos
The House of Success
House History: Protos is an ancient House of wisdom whose name reflects the Greek root word meaning “first” — the House whose destiny is defined by striving for excellence.
Protos knows that wisdom and knowledge will be the strength that will guide them towards academic success. They pursue wisdom in everything that they do.
House Power: Patience and Loyalty
Symbolic Animal: The Bear
Elements of the Crest: The Corinthian helmet represents the warriors who were both citizens and soldiers, always ready to protect their own House and society. The bear is an ancient symbol of family, as the powerful protector of family. The scroll represents that knowledge is something both to be fiercely defended, as well as something that will defend us. The leaves in ancient Greece represent success (a crown) but also represent peace - that we must work to achieve greatness, but always do so through peace and patience.
Reveur
The House of Dreamers
House History: In French, Reveur means "dreamers" or "idealists". This House is filled with members who recognize their dreams and strive to achieve them. The unicorn on the crest is a powerful creature who is almost impossible to tame as is the House's passion and dreams.
House Power: Confident, Passionate Dreamers
Symbolic Animal: The Wolf
Elements of the Crest: The knight's open-visored helmet is typically reserved for the highest ranks of nobility. In this crest it symbolizes having dreams and letting nothing stand in your way as you strive to achieve them. The House's passion is represented by the unicorn, a symbol of freedom, healing, and beauty, whose wild abandon is difficult to tame. The crescent moon symbolizes new beginnings and the making of dreams into reality. The moon also represents the House's symbolic animal, the wolf, because when the moon comes out, wolves come out. The color blue instills confidence and passion while releasing fears and anxiety.
Amistad
The House of Friendship
House History: 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".
House Powers: Kindness of Heart, Strength of a Warrior
Symbolic Animal: The Immortal Peacock
Elements of the Crest: The crossed keys unlock the gateway to friendship. The peacock represents the heart's desire to love and protect a friend. The peacock also perseveres; it never gives up. The color red embodies kindness of the heart.
Nukumori
The House of Kindness
House History: Nukumori is the House that originates from Japan. A group of individuals that understand that kindness is the true strength that will build their character, the members of the House of Nukumori are known for the friendship that they extend to everyone around them. They treat others with respect, and in doing so they earn the respect of all others.
House Power: Kindness and Benevolence
Symbolic Animal: The Dragon
Elements of the Crest: The sun over the horizon is a
symbol of the nature of our kindness: it is perpetual and
continual. Known as “sakura" in Japan, the cherry blossoms represent renewal and remind us that kindness toward others is our tool to renew and succeed. The dragon represents balance and freedom as well as ancient power and wisdom. It has a fierceness that can be unleashed when necessary!
Sollevare
The House of Uplifting
House History: Sollevare is the House that originates from Italy. It was formed by a group who understood that the true strength of being undefeated warriors lies in always getting back up, no matter how many times they may be knocked down. The members of the House of Sollevare are known for their uplifting nature — always rising above, and helping others do the same. This is where their name comes from in Latin, meaning to “lift” up. New members have a spark of creativity — even if it is only a dim spark in the beginning, they will grow to have a great fire of creativity as they continue on! This is because it takes great creativity to see the ability to rise above in any circumstance; being able to lift others up means seeing past the current problem and thinking ahead about the next step.
House Power: Creativity
Symbolic Animal: The Phoenix
Elements of the Crest: The phoenix is a great and
powerful animal that is reborn from fire. It reminds us of
the meaning of our name, "the House of Uplifting": not only do we uplift others, but we uplift ourselves-even if we are knocked down, we always get back up. This is why we will be undefeated! The rose is the most delicate and beautiful of all of the flowers - but don't underestimate it! It also is lined with thorns in order to protect itself and its beauty when necessary. The spartan helmet reminds us that our House is something to be fought for and protected.