On her first day of kindergarten at Bridgeport Elementary, Emma clutched her mom’s hand tightly. Like so many young learners, she carried both excitement and anxiety as she faced the unknowns of a new classroom. That first week of school, she was placed in the House of Isibindi: a name that comes from the Zulu word for courage.
The Ron Clark Academy (RCA) created its house system to strengthen belonging, celebrate virtues, and build culture in schools. Each house name comes from a different language and character trait:
- Amistad (Spanish for friendship)
- Reveur (French for dreamer)
- Altruismo (Portuguese for givers)
- Isibindi (Zulu for courage)
This global naming system offers students a powerful mix of identity and aspiration. Emma’s placement in Isibindi gave her an immediate connection to a larger story: one that called her to live into courage. It was also the first day in her little school career that she didn’t cry before walking in.
why house systems matter
Schools are constantly searching for ways to create belonging, build positive culture, and shape student character. The RCA house model does all three:
- Belonging – Every student is placed in a house, giving them a “family” within the school community.
- Culture – Houses become anchors for rituals, celebrations, and positive competition.
- Character – The virtues tied to each house give students daily language for who they can become.
For a five-year-old like Emma, being in Isibindi meant more than just a colored T-shirt. It meant that her very identity in the school community was tied to courage. Her nervous step into the classroom wasn’t just about her... it was a story her house could celebrate, echo, and build upon...and dress the part for.
isibindi beyond bravery
In Zulu culture, isibindi goes beyond simple bravery. It is courage for the sake of community: the willingness to endure, to protect, and to sustain others. In that sense, house systems like RCA’s do more than motivate individual achievement, they create communal virtues. Students learn that their courage strengthens their peers, their classrooms, and their schools.
linking courage to communication
At alchemy, we believe communication systems are culture-shaping tools. The stories a district tells, and the way those stories are framed, either reinforce fear or cultivate courage. By implementing a model like RCA’s, schools put a name to the values they want to see lived out. Courage becomes a shared language, not just an abstract idea.
For example:
- A student who reads aloud despite nerves shows isibindi.
- A teacher trying a new strategy models isibindi.
- A district choosing to highlight growth instead of fear demonstrates isibindi.
When communication amplifies those moments, courage becomes contagious.
culture at scale
What Emma lived at her classroom door is what every school hopes to instill at scale: the ability to face challenges with steady courage. House systems (and the storytelling around them) give schools a structure to cultivate that. It’s not about gimmicks or games. It’s about creating an identity framework where virtues are celebrated daily.
The brilliance of RCA’s approach is its combination of cultural heritage, aspirational traits, and practical implementation. Schools adopting the model aren’t just managing behavior; they’re shaping identity. And identity has staying power.
a practical takeaway for leaders
For school and district leaders, the lesson is clear: culture can be built intentionally. Whether through house systems, communication rhythms, or leadership rituals, the virtues we name and celebrate become the virtues students live out.
Emma’s story is a reminder that courage isn’t only for the big moments. It begins in everyday thresholds: a classroom door, a first presentation, a new friendship. When schools choose to elevate stories of courage, they shape environments where students and staff are free to flourish.
closing thought
Strong schools are not built on programs alone. They are built on virtues that take root in community life. Isibindi (courage) is one of those virtues. When we plant it in our classrooms and our communication, it grows into a culture where students belong, teachers thrive, and communities are inspired.
