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ABOUT US
Petrina Jones
Our House Spirit
Founder & Facilitator
Karen Dimattina
Our House Spirit
Founder & Facilitator
THE OUR HOUSE SPIRIT TEAM
Why Our House Spirit Exists
Every school wants students to feel that they belong.
To feel known.
To feel connected.
To feel proud of their school community.
Many schools already have the structure to make this happen - the House system.
But in many schools, Houses are only used for occasional events like sports days.
At Our House Spirit, we know Houses can be much more than that. They can become the heartbeat of a school's culture.
Our mission is to help schools unlock the full potential of their House system to build belonging, leadership and pride.
Our Belief
We believe that when Houses are activated intentionally, they create powerful opportunities for students to:
When students feel connected to their House, they feel connected to their school.
Our Story
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develop leadership
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build cross-age connections
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experience belonging
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contribute positively to their school community
Our House Spirit began 12 years ago with a simple observation:
Schools already have the structures needed to build strong community - but they often lack the time, resources or support to bring those structures fully to life.
Through working with schools and observing the impact that Houses can have when used intentionally, the idea for Our House Spirit emerged.
We set out to help schools move beyond Houses being just a name or colour, and instead create Houses that students genuinely feel proud to belong to.
Our House Spirit
Our name reflects what we believe about students, connection and school culture.
We believe that when students feel part of something bigger, when they feel connected, supported and united, they thrive.
A strong House system is more than structure or competition, it's about creating meaningful opportunities for students to belong, contribute and grow together.
This is what we mean by HOUSE - How Our United Students Excel.
What HOUSE Means In Practice
H - How
A structured and intentional approach to building House systems that create real impact.
O - Our
A shared sense of ownership where every student feels part of something bigger than themselves.
U - United
Bringing students together across year levels, backgrounds and interests to build connection and belonging.
S - Students
Placing students at the centre, empowering them to contribute, connect and lead.
E - Excel
Creating an environment where students thrive - socially, emotionally and as part of a connected school community.
What Makes Our Approach Different
Our work focuses on practical, sustainable approaches that schools can implement easily.
Everything we create is designed to help Houses become a living part of everyday school life.
We support schools through:
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leadership workshops for House leaders
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engaging House activities that build connection
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practical resources teachers can use anytime
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programs designed specifically for primary school communities
Our Goal
Our goal is simple.
To help schools create House systems that truly bring students together -
building belonging, leadership and pride across the entire school community.
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