House Party

Riverside School is modeled after the British school system, and as such it divvies the students up into houses, albeit without a sorting hat. Upon entering the school each student is assigned to a house. And — just like at Hogwarts — the houses compete with each other throughout the year in various ways: academically, athletically, trivially (Quiz Night winners gain points for their house!). Siblings are assigned to the same house. A measure to keep peace at dinner tables, I suppose. The house with the most points at year's end will be announced with great fanfare at awards events.

Sometime after 2011 Riverside went from three to four houses, likely due to a big increase in the student body numbers. The houses are named for notable and revered Czechs from recent and not-so-recent history.

Komenský House, named for Jan Amos Komenský (1592-1670).

A Czech philosopher, pedagogue, and theologian, Jan Amos Komenský (you might know him as John Amos Comenius) is considered the father of modern education. The boys were in Komenský during 2010-11. Everything got reshuffled when a fourth house was added to the mix.

Back in October the whole school participated in the "Riverside Run" in Letná Park. It was my first chance this year to see the houses on display.

Everyone came to the park, from the primary school through senior high initially. Even the Early Years nursery school children showed up after nap time.

Primary students arriving on the scene.

And this is one thing I love about the houses: it creates a sense a community across the whole school. Students from Years 1 through 13 are happy to recognize and cheer on fellow house members from other grade levels.

Garrett and his house-mates greet the primary kiddos with high-fives.

Time to get down to the events. Junior high students warmed up before their race.

All the students wore their house colors.

Hus house honors another Jan.

Jan Hus (1369-1415)— a theologian, philosopher, priest, and dean — was an early church reformer who was burned at the stake more than 100 years before Martin Luther proposed his 95 theses. The students in yellow harness the fire within and run for Hus.

On your mark ... get set ... GO!

A 2K course was marked off in the park.

It's all in the pacing, G. Training doesn't hurt either.

Garrett took off like a shooting star. He had an early lead which slipped away as the race wore on.

Primary school children line the final stretch, ready to cheer their little heads off.

But his house placed well in the top results nonetheless.

Štěpan (a natural ham) wore his fierce face to the finish line for a Year 9 win.

Our buddy Rade paced himself nicely and nabbed first place for Year 8.

A couple of minutes (and several runners) later ...

Garrett and Max make their way down the stretch.

All the students who competed in the junior high race earned points for their houses, with the top three runners earning extra accolades (and points).

Next up, Years 10 through 13.

Senior highs getting their marching running orders.

The senior high students all had to participate in the event by completing the 2K course. But if they wanted to earn any house points at all, they had to go around twice for a 4K. A number of kids who did only the 2K simply walked the route.

Aaaaaand, they're off!

Ieuan looked strong and steady from very early in the race. He ran for the new house.

The latest addition to the Riverside system commemorates Václav Havel (1936-2011).

Václav Havel — poet, playwright, former dissident, and president — died at the end of 2011. He is remembered and revered for his strong moral convictions combined with his humility and gentleness.  I imagine it was an easy choice for Riverside to settle on Havel as the inspiration for their new house.

Nicholas certainly seems happy to be in Havel house.

Looking solid and focused

Having experience on the track team back home, Ben is more comfortable running mid-range distances than Garrett. That said, he didn't do any extra training for the event either.

Here's where the contenders show their intentions:

Those who wished to run for points bypassed the finish line for another round while the students who found 2K to be plenty passed under the blue arch and called it a day.

Ben spies some fans on the sidelines and swoops in ...

... for some high-fives from G and Štěpan.

Let's go to the leader board!

I believe these three took first, second, and third place for the senior high run. I do know that our friend Ieuan got second overall and first for Year 10. I didn't get them coming down the home stretch, but I did document Ben's last burst.

He always keeps something in the tank for a strong finish.

He may not have grabbed a top spot, but Ben did earn points for his house. This year, Ben and Garrett are in the house of Karel.

Karel is named for Charles IV (1316-1378)

Charles IV was the first King of Bohemia to be named Holy Roman Emperor. Regarded as the father of the country, his period of rule was known as the Golden Age of Bohemia. Charles University, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, and part of St. Vitus Cathedral were all built or commenced building during his reign.

Well done, Komenský, Hus, Havel, and Karel runners! You represented your houses admirably.

Parting thought: Maybe the next house could be named for a woman.