WMSD News: Houses program transforms Wonder Jr. High

By Billy Woods

WM School District

In the fall of 2015, Wonder Junior High principal Dr. Palmer Quarrels and her leadership team made up of 15 faculty members attended an "out-of-the-box" education methods conference in Atlanta that has already made a huge difference at their school.

The Ron Clark Academy was recommended to Dr. Quarrels not long before that, and it stoked her interest enough to gather her cohorts for the three-day event.

The RCA is a highly-acclaimed, non-profit middle school in Atlanta that is noted for educating students with academic rigor, passion and creativity balanced by a strict code of discipline.

As soon as Dr. Quarrels walked through the door on Day One "I was absolutely sold on it."

"The very first person that shook my hand was a young man in the fourth grade and I was so struck by his firm handshake, the eye contact and his overall genuineness," Quarrels said. "He started asking me where I was from, what brought me here and what I wanted to gain from this visit. It was like a conversation with a senior in high school. I've never seen anything like it."

The methods the folks from Wonder learned at the RCA were all geared toward students taking ownership of their own learning. The methods were molded into some of the things Wonder was already doing as a priority school.

The name of the program at the junior high came from the history department. It's called The Houses Program with students and teachers poured into six houses, basing all of the names from the school's mascot, the Lions.

The House names include Amani, which means peace; Aminci, which means brave; Amore', which means love; Maniwala, which means believe; Kuamua, which means determination; and Isibindi, which means courage.

After the first two months of the 2016-17 school year, Quarrels said she's seen a huge change in the school's culture.

"The halls are a lot quieter, the campus is a lot cleaner and the students often thank the cafeteria workers for what they do," Quarrels said. "There's been a lot more respect shown to teachers and administrators. The difference has been huge."

Much of the reason for that, according to Quarrels, is a key factor the Ron Clark program is based on.

Each team, or house, is in competition with each other in a point-based system. Points are earned from good behavior, random acts of kindness, participation in the classroom, community service, leadership and academic improvement.

Every nine weeks final-point totals are recognized and the winners are rewarded with things like a pizza party, field trips or no waiting in the cafeteria lunch line.

"It's amazing what the concept of competition has done in this program," Quarrels stated. "The students really want to win. And it's created a much stronger school spirit."

The program has also strengthened parental involvement.

"We focus in on the academic part, but academics are stronger when the culture is stronger," said Quarrels. "It has challenged the students, but it's also challenged the adults, both the teachers and the parents. Our main goal with this was to change our school's culture. It's done that."

Students aren't shy about candid personal assessments before the Houses program and after. Nicholas Hunter said, "Last year I wasn't proud of myself, behavior-wise. This year my grades have improved and gaining more respect for my own self."

Eighth-grader Jacoby White was even more outspoken.

"Leadership among the student body is the biggest difference I see," White stated. "We don't see near as many fights and the academic records are improving. It's a friendly competition, but no one wants to lose."