The House System at Yellowstone Schools is a proven way to create a positive climate and culture for students and staff in addition to building character, relationships, and school spirit.
House System
An Engaging House System For 6-12th Grade
The House System at Yellowstone uses the Ron Clark Academy system. It is a dynamic, exciting way to create a powerful and positive school climate. Students are celebrated for their efforts through a process that builds character, empowers academic excellence, fosters school spirit, enhances relationships, and promotes a culture of belonging for all.
How it Works
Students are placed randomly in one of four Houses: Altruismo, Amistad, Isibindi, or Rêveur for middle school students, and Protos, Onraka, Sollevare, and Nukumori for high school students. Students remain in their respective houses throughout their time at Yellowstone. Upon graduating to high school, middle schoolers will automatically enter their sister house (e.g., Altruismo to Protos).
Throughout the year, students will engage in friendly competition and win points for their house based on academic success, behavior, school pride, and more. The House winner is determined at the end of the year. Students will also participate and lead activities based on their House’s values.
Altruismo traces its origins to the rainforests of the Amazon, where a group of powerful Brazilians was given the name because of its Portuguese meaning: “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, and Altruismo has produced more valedictorians per class than any other House to this day. Its members have been very involved in every club, committee, or activity that the school offers. Therefore, Altruismo takes great pride in cultivating real leadership and instills a strong spirit in new members to grow into and live up to this legacy. —Read more at RCA.com
Altruismo
House of Givers
Students in Altruismo lead through acts of kindness, service, generosity, and commitment to helping others.
Amistad is the House that originates from Mexico. A group of kind but powerful individuals who are known most for their unconquered spirit. This is why, in the language of their ancestry, their name means “friendship.” Incoming members are often a mix of extremes — our students can be extremely intelligent, creative, friendly, and competitive; Amistad is a very diverse group! Although it took the House 8 years to win its first house championship, the fierce spirit of the House never wavered. The House takes great inspiration from its symbolic animal, the immortal peacock, and the leaders always remind the members that the fighting spirit of an Amistadian never dies. Members of our House are consistently challenged to self-reflect because we believe that “Once the peacock finds its feathers, it discovers who it really is.” Therefore, the encouragement is for each student to find their own feathers and step into their greatness. While some students may enter the House lacking confidence, they will learn to embrace their authentic selves and master the gifts, talents, and virtues of an Amistadian. Once this milestone is reached, a student may earn the highest honor of the House: knighthood. As a knight, they are fierce warriors, protectors of the realm, and guardians of the kingdom’s most valuable treasure, friendship. —Read more at RCA.com
Amistad
House of Friendship
Students in Amistad focus on building strong relationships, supporting others, and creating a welcoming environment for all.
Isibindi
House of Courage
Students in Isibindi demonstrate bravery, resilience, and the willingness to stand up for what is right.
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 the lion, serve to empower incoming members. While new students might be quiet or shy at first, the longer they are in the House, the more they begin to display 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 unique. It inherits the legend and influence of both Shaka Zulu and Nelson Mandela, knowing when to be strategic and creative, or when to go full force with power and strength. —Read more at RCA.com
Rêveur
House of Dreamers
Students in Reveur are encouraged to think creatively, pursue their goals, and inspire others through innovation and determination.
Rêveur is a royal House whose name in French means 'dreamers' or 'idealists' — because its members 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 at the center of the House’s crest, a powerful creature that is almost impossible to tame. Similarly, the House of Rêveur is a House of passion. Rêveur is the natural rival of Altruismo, because in the early days of the House Championships, Altruismo beat Rêveur by a single point, and they held a winning streak over them for three years. In the 2011-2012 school year, the wheel did not sort many students into Rêveur, making it the smallest of the four Houses. But the staff House Leader, Ron Clark, rallied the students together and told them: 'This year, because our House is smaller, we each have to be bigger. We each have to multiply ourselves this year!' And that was the year that Rêveur, despite being the smallest House, went on to win its first championship. This legend is now passed down to remind students that the size of the House is not as important as the size of its members' hearts and efforts. —Read more at RCA.com