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Central Middle School principal showcases "house" system to boost belonging
Summary
Principal Jeff Simon told the Forest Hills Board of Education the school's house system groups students into four-teacher teams to increase connections, rapid teacher collaboration and student supports; staff hold monthly house meetings and run team-building events.
Principal Jeff Simon presented an instructional highlight about Central Middle School's house system, telling the board that the structure "creates connection and collaboration among students and staff." He said the house model places four core teachers together (ELA, science, history, math) so teachers know their students and can act quickly when a child struggles.
"Our commitment that every student every day will be seen, heard, and cared for," Simon said, and he named assistant principal Natalie Glace and teachers Jocelyn Burnaby and Anne Rotenthaler as members of the instructional team. He described monthly house meetings that include head teachers, principals, counselors and social workers to identify struggles, craft interventions and celebrate student successes.
Simon described routine team-building activities, weekly "fun Fridays" in small ACE groups and PBIS-aligned assemblies as ways the program builds student identity and a sense of belonging. He said the system helps families, noting a student touring the school was reassured to learn the middle school is "actually 4 schools within 1," with smaller, consistent adult teams supporting each child.
The principal closed by inviting board members to follow up with questions and offering to provide additional examples of how the house system reduces the need for repeated case explanations among staff.
