The house system is a cornerstone of PointDash, enabling schools to foster community spirit, healthy competition, and student engagement through a time-tested organisational structure.
Overview
Houses in PointDash provide:
Community belonging - Students develop identity and pride within their house
Healthy competition - Inter-house competitions drive engagement and school spirit
Point tracking - Comprehensive analytics for house performance and individual contributions
Recognition systems - Celebrate house achievements and milestones
Cross-year connections - Houses typically span multiple grade levels, fostering mentorship
Planning Your House System
Determining House Count
When deciding how many houses to create, consider both the size of your school and the desired level of engagement. Fewer, smaller houses can foster close-knit communities, allowing students to build strong relationships and receive more personalized attention. Larger houses, on the other hand, may encourage broader participation and create dynamic, spirited competitions.
Think about your school’s goals—do you want to prioritize mentorship and tight bonds, or maximize excitement and inclusivity? You might also factor in available staff, resources, and the ability to run events smoothly. Ultimately, choose a house count that best supports your school’s culture and ensures every student feels involved.
House Themes Examples include:
Nature (animals, trees, elements)
Values (courage, wisdom, compassion)
Academic focus (discovery, expression, leadership)
Geographic/cultural themes
Historical figures
House Identity
Choose distinct colors that photograph well
Design house crests or logos
Create mottos or taglines
Use banners, clothing, and designated areas
Setting Up Houses
Log in as an administrator
Go to Settings > Houses
Click New House
Enter:
House name
House color
Optional logo
Status
Save
Assigning Students
Strategies:
Balanced distribution across houses
Keep siblings together for family unity
Random assignment for fresh starts
Methods:
Manual assignment through PointDash
Bulk import via CSV
Example Events
Weekly challenges (academics, behavior, activities)
Monthly events (sports, academic competitions, arts)
Annual traditions (house cup, special weeks, celebrations)