East Washington Middle School

At EWMS, we have 10 “houses”.  Every year, on the first day of school, we have a choosing ceremony to determine which house our incoming 5th graders and new students will be in.  Once a student is placed in a house, they are in that house for their entire middle school career! Each house has around 40 members.  The house members have colors, chants, and traits that they learn and pass on to future members!  Fun fact: every house name is actually one of their house traits in a foreign language! 

We have four house competitions per year, and announce our House Champion in April:

• Quarter One: The Athletic Competition

  • Each house selects students to participate in a series of athletic events.  This competition usually happens the week before fall break.  Students not participating in the competition, cheer and support their house members from the stands!

• Quarter Two: The Creative Competition

  • Each house selects students to participate in a creative challenge such as an escape room.  This competition usually happens in November.  Those students not participating in the competition, support their house members as they work to solve the creative challenge!

• Quarter Three: The Life Ready Challenge

  • Every student in the school participates in this challenge.  It is an obstacle course of real life challenges that is judged by community volunteers.  Last year's obstacle course included: folding laundry, grocery shopping on a budget, checking the oil in a lawn mower engine, doubling a recipe, interviewing for a job, giving directions using a map, and more!  This competition has two rounds, and usually starts in February.  This competition also has 10 individual finalists who receive a sweet prize package!

• Quarter Four: The Academic Competition

  • Each house selects students to participate in an academic superbowl.  This competition usually happens in April.  Those students not participating in the event, cheer and support their house members from the stands!

Houses can also earn points through the year by participating in dress up days and spirit week.  Individual students can be awarded points for their house if a teacher spots them doing kind deeds for others.

To prepare for the competitions, students meet every few weeks during homeroom with their fellow house members.

Here are the houses!

Historical House Winners:

16-17: Matapat

17-18: Onamileyo

18-19: Bijaksana

21-22: Somnium

22-23: Bijaksana

23-24: Matapat