Building Community: Our First House Pep Rally
Updated: 6 minutes ago
Last Friday, we kicked off something special with our first House Pep Rally of the year! It was an exciting opportunity to bring our students and staff together as we introduced our new Houses, unveiled their signs, played some fun games, and celebrated the people who make our school community so special.
This year, our students are part of one of four Houses:
Sekhara — House of Motivation
Oriana — House of Change
Arataki — House of Leadership
Ravaka — House of Potential
Each House represents a set of values that we want our students to develop and carry with them both inside and outside of the classroom. Our House System is designed to build community, encourage leadership, create positive relationships, and give every student a sense of belonging.
The energy in the room was contagious as students proudly represented their Houses and cheered on their classmates. We also took time to recognize and celebrate some of our outstanding teachers and students, reminding everyone that the heart of our school is the people who show up each day and give their best.
SOAR: Safety First
Our first House Pep Rally also gave us an opportunity to celebrate the first part of our SOAR focus: Safety.
Throughout the first quarter, we have focused on creating a safe environment where every student feels supported and ready to learn. Our SOAR framework works hand-in-hand with the principles of Leader in Me and the 7 Habits, helping students put leadership principles into action every day.
As we begin the next quarter, our focus will shift to Ownership, which connects directly to Habit 1: Be Proactive.
Being proactive means understanding that we are responsible for our choices, our attitudes, and our actions. We want our students to recognize that they have the power to make positive choices and take ownership of their learning, behavior, relationships, and contributions to our school community.
A Big Shoutout to Our House Council
One of the highlights of the pep rally was watching our 6th Grade House Council step up and lead fearlessly. They did an incredible job representing their Houses, engaging their classmates, and helping make the day a success. We are incredibly proud of each of them for stepping outside of their comfort zones and embracing their leadership roles.
A special thank-you goes to Ms. Haney for leading our House Council this year and helping our students develop their confidence, leadership skills, and school spirit. We are so grateful for the time and energy she pours into our students.
And, of course, we have to give a huge shoutout to our coaches, who always find creative ways to make these special days fun and memorable for our students. Their enthusiasm and dedication help create experiences that our students will remember long after the pep rally is over.
Learn More About Our House System
Our House System is an important part of the culture we are building at Burns. We encourage our families to visit our school website to learn more about each House, our House values, and how the House System helps build community, character, and leadership among our students.
Our first House Pep Rally was a fantastic start to what we know will be an incredible year of House pride, leadership, teamwork, and community. We can't wait to see how Sekhara, Oriana, Arataki, and Ravaka continue to grow and SOAR together!
1st House Pep Rally 2026:
