The seniors dressed in gold leap from the stands and cheer their hearts out, proud of the elite status they spent the last three years waiting to gain. 

Four years spent connecting over drama and deadlines with classmates bond every grade level as tightly as can be. However, Menlo introduced the house system last year, sorting all students into Halverson, Warren, Douglas or Lapolla. Its purpose is to strengthen school spirit, foster inter-grade relationships and create a lasting tradition rooted in Menlo’s history.

Following its release, the student body had a lukewarm reception to the system. Some see it as a way to make connections out of their normal social circles. But many are still unsure of their house’s purpose beyond a color and a chant. For the majority, the loyalty built over years with their own grade still holds stronger than any house rivalry. No matter how hard the house system tries to unite the school, nothing can compete with the unbeatable pride, energy, and connection that come from your own grade.

After the first grade-divided spirit week for homecoming and the first house competition, it’s clear that the excitement during intra-grade spirit activities prevails. While people enjoy wearing their house’s color for the day and watching activities like puzzles and double-dutch during house competitions, the blue of Lapolla is far from reaching the hues that shine from the sophomore section on homecoming day. 

Despite the fun upsides of the mixed-grade approach to school spirit, there is simply no way for this new system to exceed the deeply rooted spirit of class pride. 

Senior Spirit Ambassadors Sophie Housser and Dylan O’Malley agree that grade-level school spirit is unmatched. “We both prefer grade level,” Housser said. “Your grade is who you’re with the entire four years […] having that camaraderie, especially as seniors, really means a lot.” 

However, O’Malley also believes in the merits of the house system. “The house system really brings people with different grades together,” he said. “There’s something to be said for underclassmen having those connections with upperclassmen.” 

Though the house system is no match for the enthusiasm of the grade level bonds, I believe it can continue as a fun subtradition of Menlo’s spirit. “I think [the houses] will survive, if people are proactive,” O’Malley said. “It’s like a garden. It’ll take tending and careful growth, but it will flourish as long as we stay on it.”

No matter the circumstances, your grade is your ride-or-die for four years — they laugh, learn and live through high school right beside you. The house system might feel fresh and exciting, but it cannot come at the cost of the class pride that has already built this school’s spirit from the ground up.