Richland kicks off Houses program

By Billy Woods

WM School District

The results Wonder Junior High got from its contingency at the Ron Clark Academy last summer has spread to the rest of the West Memphis School District.

The RCA is designed to improve discipline, school spirit and academic performance utilizing a theme based on teamwork.

Clark's teaching team splits up students into four houses (or teams), very similar to those in the Harry Potter series. The results have been electrifying.
All of Clark's students have team camaraderie, and they welcome newcomers with joy and genuine excitement. They earnpoints to get rewards that continue to exceed anything the students could dream up on their own.
Richland Elementary has kicked off its program with six houses.

"Throughout the rest of the school year these will be (the students') new family," explained Kay Spurlock, Richland's guidance counselor.

Each house is known for different characteristics. The staff members are assigned to houses as well and "they are just as passionate about their houses as the kids are," Spurlock added.

The Richland students will earn points for getting excellent grades, exemplifying good character, staying on task, turning their work in on time and many other things.

Richland kicked off its own program with a huge ceremony in the school's cafeteria.