October 16th, 2022
Return of the BIBA House Program
October was an exciting week for middle and high school. For the first time in several years—or since elementary school for some of our MSHS students— BIBA had an entire week devoted for our House Program and for House activities.
Until now, BIBA Houses played a very small role in our school lives. Besides determining the color of the House shirts that we wear on Fridays or teaming up into House-color teams on Sports Day, there wasn’t really an occasion, or even an opportunity, for us to do anything house related. Many new students don’t know which house they are in and some students even forgot the house they belonged in. Those of us who have been at BIBA from elementary school would fondly remember the days when the House program played a very large role in our school lives ranging from weekly house get-togethers to various house events.
But from this school year, it’s certain that things will be changing for there to be more House-related activities at school; the Sprit Week seems to have given us a great kick-off.
BIBA Houses— Red, Yellow, Green, Orange, and Blue.
October Spirit Week Recap
Monday, October 11th to Friday, October 15th was our first-ever spirit week of the 2021-2022 school year, as well as an exciting week to start off our house program. From daily House vs. House tug of wars at the MSHS courtyard that attracted crowds to House challenges and wearing house colors from Monday to Friday, Spirit Week was a success. Students and teachers sporting Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, and Orange clothes and wearing colorful and crazy socks, cool sneakers or crazy hairstyles flocked to the MSHS football field and courtyard to watch the first-ever tug-of-war match against fiery House teams. What could be a better way to levy up House spirit and rivalry than a good old tug-of-war match? House members pulling the rope as hard as they can for the victory of their house—although not everyone pulling on one side was necessarily from that house— was an exciting sight to see, reminding many of Game No. 5 of the Netflix Series “Squid Game”.
But all the fun and House competition aside, Spirit Week was able to do what our House Program wasn’t able to do for these past few years; by showing off a high participation rate from both students and staff, it earned students’ attention and excitement to the House Program as well as giving students a strong impression of the House Program as something fun and something that they could look forward to.
Ms. Palmer and Mr. Kyle, who leads the House program at MSHS and organized the Spirit Week along with many other teachers, agrees. “The House Program is something we want to be incorporated into our school lives”, they said in an interview with the BIBA Press. “We hope Spirit Week was something that students enjoyed; it was a great start to the House Program at BIBA that we wish to expand and turn it into a bigger part our school lives.”
“The House Program is something we want to be incorporated into our school lives. We hope Spirit Week was something that students enjoyed; it was a great start to the House Program at BIBA that we wish to expand and turn it into a bigger part our school lives”
— Mr. Kyle & Ms. Palmer (House Committee Head)
When asked about plans and anticipations they had of the BIBA House Program in the future, they replied “By working with House Captains and many active student members, we are in the process of planning more activities. Please look forward to Halloween!”
Most students also voiced similar opinions. “It was exciting to participate in activities for an entire week dedicated to House activities,” says Leo, a Grade 10 student. “It reminded me a lot of the House activities we frequently had back in elementary school.” Although some students voiced feedback that meeting and working with students from different grade levels and age groups was unfamiliar to them, many more students said that House activities and the interactions it brings is a good chance for students to socialize and make friends with students from other grade levels.
House Captains and Mentors
Along with the Class Captain elections that took place earlier this month, 2 House Captains from each House were also nominated and elected during the House Pageant (last Friday, Period 7). House Captains represent their house and lead house activities, along with other house-related activities that enhance student life. Along with House Mentors (teachers from that house), the House Captains will be working with fellow house students to work on various house activities and events that will be happening throughout the year. If you have any suggestions or thoughts about the House Program at BIBA, be sure to go talk to your House Mentors or your House Captains (who will be announced in the next few Day-A Assemblies).
More House events and activities are on their way. Keep your eyes peeled! Go, BIBA!
