House 4 logos

House System

Welcome to the new EMS House System! Our four houses are Septentrio, Meridies, Oriens, or Occidens and are based on Latin forms of the four directions of a compass rose: north, south, east, and west. This exciting new initiative will not only enrich our students' academic experience but also help them grow personally and socially.

The Students and staff will have dedicated time for house meetings, participating in student-centered programming that promotes collaboration, respect, and effort. All will be united under our Landmark values: exploration, character, and empowerment. 

More About the EMS Houses

Purpose of the House System
The purpose of the House system is to promote community and inclusivity. By grouping both faculty/staff and students into Houses, members of EMS are encouraged to meet others they may not otherwise encounter during a typical school day. This structure fosters a sense of belonging, collaboration, and support across all grade levels as students and staff work together in a shared spirit of camaraderie.

How were students, faculty, and staff grouped?
Students were thoughtfully grouped into Houses, ensuring a diverse mix across grades and interests. This grouping fosters interaction between grade levels, encouraging students to form new friendships with peers and develop a broader sense of community. Each house has over 60 members, including students, faculty, and staff! 

Leadership Opportunities
A key element of the House system is providing leadership opportunities for older students. These students can take on roles within their Houses, allowing them to guide and mentor younger students. This not only empowers older students but also helps them develop critical thinking, communication, and organizational skills - integral parts of Landmark's Portrait of a Graduate.

House Points and Competitions
Each House will have opportunities to earn points throughout the school year by participating in various events, challenges, and service projects that align with the core values of EMS: empowerment, exploration, and character. House meetings will take place each Wednesday during milkbreak and once a trimester for a two-period block. Whether it’s through academic achievements, athletic participation, or service initiatives, students and staff members can contribute to their House’s success. Even wearing your House shirt on Wednesdays for meetings helps earn points!

Recognition and Celebration
At the end of the year, the House with the highest accumulated points will be crowned the winner of the Keeper’s Cup, a trophy now on display in our Student Lounge. Along the way, we’ll celebrate individual and group achievements, emphasizing teamwork, perseverance, and our school’s core values. This celebration reinforces the importance of hard work, collaboration, and character development.

House Origin Story

Listen to the House origin story or read it below.

 

The sea is an interesting place,

its depths allowing for stories and lore to be held for decades without ever being surfaced. That was true for this story, one that has been held for over fifty years deep in the heart of the Atlantic, passing across waves and almost kissing the coast on a few occasions. The sea gifted it to us. For now, it is the time for it to be told: the origin story of the EMS Houses.

No one knew exactly how the archipelago was formed, but they had heard of the lighthouse for years. On the central island, which happened to be the largest, at its centermost point, a lighthouse still stands today. It's known for its four distinct beams of light, each of its own hue: blue, orange, green, and yellow. If one looks closely enough, you will note that each beam casts in a particular direction: blue to the north, orange to the south, green to the east, and yellow to the west. The lights appear to glow at each of their own smaller islands, all four encompassing the perimeter of where the lighthouse rests.

Legend has it that the lighthouse was built by four great explorers, each representing a distinct house. These explorers were pioneers of the sea and visionaries who believed in the power of exploration, character, and empowerment. They used their unique strengths to navigate their way to the lighthouse, each bringing their color beam. 

Septentrio logo

 

First, there was the island to the north, Septentrio. Known for its mountainous region, the explorers were true craftsmen, and they scoured the groves of oak and pine to find the sturdiest ones. Working tirelessly long days and nights, the trees were felled and cut down to planks, which were used to build their traditional sailing vessels, the strongest ones on the seas. They set sail for the center, and once they arrived, the blue light they brought was added to the Fresnel lens. 

Meridies logo

 

To the south stood Meridies. The land there pulsed with such a strong spirit, so palpable at times one could feel it underfoot. Around the entire perimeter of the island, a giant pit was dug into the earth, and a fire blazed to light the way for all who lived there. All those on this island played a part in stoking the fire day in and day out so that it would continue to burn. They carried a torch across the sea to the lighthouse and added an orange glow to the center. 

Oriens logo

 

On the east side stood Oriens. The island, shaped like an emerald-colored arrow, pointed out into the sea, for they were adventurers always ready to explore. The land was lush, with sweeping meadows, shrubs, and trees, various plants thriving together. They knew how to care for each one, nurturing the land and everything it offered. Therefore, with those from Oriens came the green light. 

Occidens logo

 

And finally, there was Occidens to the west. They appreciated the power of the large burning sun in the sky. Knowing that only something so powerful could be so dramatic: slowly rising into a midday crescendo, illuminating all around them, and then just a few hours later, the encore, an explosion of magnificently colorful sunsets each dusk as it ducked behind night’s curtain. As innovators, they harvested the sun’s powerful rays to fuel their land. They brought the yellow hue to add to the beam.

Now that all four are in place, the lighthouse shines out on the great expanse of the sea. Resting on a high shelf within its quarters sits the Keeper’s Cup, a trophy gifted to one house each year: the creators, the spirited, the adventurers, or the innovators. The lighthouse now calls to those ready to learn, build, and grow themselves here at Landmark. The legacy of the houses, which started here at EMS, is set to last for generations.