CES Open House Engages Families

The House System Has Positive Effects

Caryville Elementary School will host their third annual Open House on Thursday, August 29. The event promotes the CES House System, a positive behavior intervention and support. Instituted in 2022, its mission is to create an environment which empowers students, faculty, and staff to take pride in their choices, who they are, and where they come from.

“The CES House System is a motivational way to teach students about being respectful, qualities of a good leader, using good manners, and promoting good behavior. The CES House System also helps create a sense of belonging for our students,” says Principal April Melton.

Families will be given a presentation, and new students will be sorted into houses. Students will make bracelets, sign school flags, and their guests will write encouraging notes on a message wall to be displayed. Kona Ice and other concessions will add to the fun. Bounce Houses will be provided by the CES Parent Teacher Organization from Elkins Event Company. Many representatives from the community are invited to attend. CES is grateful for donations from the Royal Lunch.

“Over the past 2 years, it has been absolutely amazing to see how the House System has helped strengthen the sense of community throughout our school,” explains Mackenzie Smiley, a fourth-grade teacher and founding member of the House Committee. “Students have developed a sense of pride and loyalty towards their house, which encourages them to be the best version of themselves. The House System allows relationships to be built, not only within a single classroom, but through the school. It’s so cool to see students of all ages and grades coming together, in friendly competition, to earn points for their house.”

At CES, students, faculty, and staff are sorted into four houses denoted by positive behavior traits, colors, mascots, and personages from Tennessee history. Students compete to gain points for their house by demonstrating constructive behavior and following Cardinal Credentials, or set behavior goals.

“Each Monday morning during assembly, the students are presented a new Cardinal Credential for the week,” explains Assistant Principal Lindsey Honeycutt. “Students are given examples of how to implement this in their everyday lives. Throughout the week's morning assemblies, we discuss the Credential, and the students love to share how they have implemented it. These weekly credentials reinforce and teach our students manners, industriousness, and accountability. When a student is seen performing the Credential, their house is given 2 points. Our goal is to create positive, productive citizens for our world.”

Michael Riley painted this homage to Tennessee personages that represents the houses on the CES Rock. Families can use the art as a photo opportunity at Open House.

The House of Courage is represented by being courageous, yellow, the pioneer mascot, and Davy Crocket. The House reminds us that Campbell County was forged with the indomitable spirit of settlers and native peoples.

The House of Kindness is represented by being caring, green, the monarch mascot, and Dolly Parton. Parton’s humble roots and success shows much is possible starting from very little.

The House of Leadership is represented by being self-disciplined, orange, the smokey dog mascot, and Pat Summit. Integrating university culture encourages tertiary education for our students’ futures.

The House of Perseverance is represented by being brave, blue, the raven mascot, and Sam Houston. Houston’s First Nation link and tenacity defending the Alamo show the multiculturism of Tennessee and our people's lasting influence.

“Creating our one-of-a-kind House System allows the students at CES to be proud of Tennessee's history and where they come from,” says Bethany Nelson, a third-grade teacher who helped create the house emblems. “They too can possess these traits of courage, kindness, leadership, and perseverance throughout life as their unique personalities shine for all to see. They will leave a lasting impression on others by displaying their pride of where they came from, who they are, and who they will become as they venture through life.”