One of the most exciting traditions for any new student joining the Meadowridge Community is learning what house they are going to be a part of. But have you ever wondered “how did the House System start and how has it changed”? 

Mr. Charles Schofield shared with us the history of the House System and the House Cup, its importance, and how the sorting process works.

History of the House System and the House Cup

In the early 1990s (before Harry Potter), Meadowridge’s then-Head of School Mr. Terry Jung wanted to create four smaller groupings within the Meadowridge community based on the British boarding school tradition of living in physical houses. The concept of smaller communities or being part of a tribe or group is a very human concept and something we can all relate to. It speaks to a sense of community, togetherness, and care. The goal of the House System was to create a fun environment where students could have a sense of belonging and build friendships through fun and friendly competitions. 

To introduce the House System to Meadowridge, they held picnics at different locations. Meadowridge was split into four groups and each group visited a different location for their picnic. Whonnock Lake, Alouette Lake, Kanaka Creek, and somewhere along the Fraser River were the locations for the Meadowridge Picnics. 

The picnics are how the houses were started and these four bodies of water are what inspired the names of the houses. Each house had a mascot – Alouette Alligators, Kanaka Kodiaks, Fraser Falcons and the Whonnock Dragons. Fun fact: The Whonnock Dragons were always upset that their mascot didn’t have an alliteration like the rest. A Meadowridge family had costumes created and donated to the school, which were then used during school events such as Spirit Days. 

From 2000 to 2010, a Junior and a Senior winning house were chosen each year based on the number of house points earned, leaving a divide between Elementary and Middle/High School. In 2011, this was changed to just one house winner each year to create an inclusive community where everyone could come together. 

In 2017, the four mascots were retired and the House System was rebranded to focus on the house names and an identifying colour. Shirts with the first initial of each house’s name were put on four different colours. These are the representations of each house used today.  

The Meadowridge House Cup dates back to the 1991/1992 school year with Alouette winning the first-ever House Cup. Winners are determined each year by the number of points each house gets awarded through events like Spirit Day. 

House Pins are a recent addition to Meadowridge, allowing students to represent their house, along with their Gryphon Pins. These pins allow students to show their house pride even on days when they are in their Number One Uniform. 

For a Meadowridge student to be part of a house that wins the House Cup, is part of the School’s history. They contributed, were part of the team, and helped their house win the Cup. There are long periods of time when certain houses win or don’t win the House Cup. Students and teachers take the memories of winning House Cups with them after they graduate

We sat down with Mrs. Marie Clement ‘00 to get her perspective from being a student, an alumna, and now a teacher at Meadowridge.

Being part of Kanaka meant branching away from my most comfortable friend group, but it gave me an opportunity to connect with others.  I loved the old four-way tug-of-war and the egg-on-a-spoon races.  Most of the time, being part of any house activity meant a chance to get out and play! 

My favourite part of being in Kanaka as a child was that our mascot was a bear. I always thought that was the best.  

We used to do full-school house picnics where we all went to different bodies of water. I liked the change when they took us all to the same spot to have fun and play competitive games. The house colours have changed as well (Kanaka from burgundy to red, Fraser from black to green, Whonnock from white to orange, and Alouette from navy to blue). Although the kilt colours looked nice as PE strip, I like the more colourful ones now.  

The best parts of spirit days are the creative and cooperative games. I also like the variety – you can be a skilled athlete or knowledgeable with trivia and help your team either way (I would love to see them bring back a four-way tug-of-war, though!).  

I think the House System facilitates accelerated bonding with new students at the beginning of the year. You’re here, and you’re part of the group! Jump in! Based on many of the enthusiastic face-painters and costume-wearers, I would say it has an excellent influence on school morale, mental health and wellness, and general enjoyment of life. 

The importance of the House System
Sometimes students wonder if their house will ever win the House Cup and they don’t understand why it is important given that the house winner doesn’t receive anything that is tangible, since the cup lives in the school. This can sometimes be harder for younger students to understand the legacy of the House Cup, how it goes back three to four decades, and how it will continue to be a part of Meadowridge’s history. 

How are houses chosen?
A "magical sorting hat” that you might be familiar with. Harry Potter jokes aside, truthfully, it is a balancing act. Siblings and families being in the same house is the main priority and then trying to ensure that there is an even breakdown of grades in each house. A student’s house will never change during their time at Meadowridge and if they have a family member enroll at the School, they will automatically be put in the same house. Next, having a gender balance per grade in each house is looked at, but with numbers changing each year, this isn’t always possible. Some grades might be heavier in one house or heavy in gender, but by division, it is balanced.

When a new family or a new student enrolls at Meadowridge, a huge part of the New Family Orientation is focused on the introduction to their new house. When they arrive, they immediately see the house colours, are greeted by student ambassadors from their respective house, and they are welcomed into the community.

The House System continues to be a way for students to come together to show school spirit and enjoy a friendly competition with their friends, building even more school spirit as they attempt to gain points for their houses to win the House Cup.