Purpose:
The purpose of our house system is to foster authentic relationships between all members of our learning community to create an environment where all feel connected, safe, seen, and valued.
Goals:
- Provide a respectful and nurturing school environment
- Increase student achievement: academically, socially and emotionally
- Raise intrinsic motivation
- Boost student and family engagement
- Improve attendance
- Aid students in becoming successful leaders
- Develop new friendships, civic awareness, and overall student identity
- Provide students with the opportunity to engage with true student and faculty mentors outside of their classroom
5 Houses:
Each house represents a value that we want our students to display; this is how students at WHES show their heart. Our houses have a name, color, symbol, and fable. House crests have been designed to reflect these elements. The names come from languages reflective of our student body’s ethnic heritage.
Statesman Houses
| Statesman Value |
House Name |
Meaning |
Color |
Symbol |
Crest |
| Humility |
Natamus |
Latin for we swim |
green |
turtle |
 |
| Empathetic |
Huruma |
Swahili for empathic |
purple |
elephant |
 |
| Accountability |
Mar |
Spanish for sea |
aqua |
shark |
 |
| Respectful |
Kula |
Sanskrit for family |
orange |
lion |
 |
| Trustworthy |
Tatonka |
Lakota for buffalo |
yellow |
buffalo |
 |
House Points:
Students earn points for their house for demonstrating excellence in character, academics, performance, school spirit, and following our school rules.
House Champion:
House points are accumulated over the entire school year. The house with the most points at the end of the year is named the house champion.
Past House Champions:
- 2023 - Mar
- 2024 - Tatonka
Sorting:
All new students and staff members are sorted using our sorting wheel. Sorting is up to fate and houses are for life.