Infinite Potential Learning Academy
Every K–5 scholar belongs to a house — a smaller family inside the larger IPLA family.
Why we built it
The IPLA House System brings scholars, staff and families together through four distinctive houses — Lumora, Ignis, Verdan and Elevaré. Each house carries a foundational value that scholars take into the classroom, into the community and into their future.
After an educational visit to Ron Clark Academy, our leaders and educators saw how powerfully a house system can build belonging, school pride and relationships across grade levels. We took that inspiration and built something original — rooted in our own mission, our own values and our own scholars.
The houses are not meant to separate scholars. Every IPLA scholar is expected to demonstrate community, courage, ingenuity and voice. The houses simply give each scholar a smaller family within the larger one.
The House Choosing Ceremony
Scholars and staff each draw a color-reveal popper from the IPLA House Vault. The color inside decides the house — gold for Lumora, red for Ignis, green for Verdan, blue for Elevaré. Because the draw is random, no one picks a favorite, and every reveal is a real moment of surprise.
Open the House Vault
Just for fun — real house assignments happen at the ceremony, in person, with the whole school watching.
Once a scholar is placed, they stay in that house for the rest of their time at IPLA.
Each scholar is selected independently, so siblings and classmates may land in different houses.
Every staff member draws a popper and joins a house, serving as a mentor, encourager and example.
Core Value — Community
To shine with purpose
Lumora scholars understand that leadership is not only about standing in front. True leadership means helping others, building relationships, acting with integrity and making sure everyone has a chance to succeed. Greatness matters most when it lifts other people up.
The Lumora Creed We are Lumora. We shine with purpose, build community, lead with confidence, act with integrity and choose kindness. Born to shine. Built to lead.
An educator, community builder and civil rights leader, Bethune founded a school for African American girls that became Bethune-Cookman University, founded the National Council of Negro Women and advised national leaders. Her life shows what it means to turn education, determination and service into lasting community impact.
Core Value — Courage
Fire that fuels growth
Ignis means fire — passion, strength and transformation. Ignis scholars learn that courage does not mean never feeling afraid. Courage means doing what is right and moving forward anyway. Obstacles become lessons, pressure becomes power, setbacks become growth.
The Ignis Creed We are Ignis. We rise with courage, stand with valor, face challenges with determination, remain resilient and persevere. Rise above. Turn pressure into power.
An abolitionist, freedom fighter and conductor on the Underground Railroad, Tubman escaped slavery and then returned again and again to guide others to freedom. Her strength did not come from an absence of fear — it came from her willingness to act in spite of it.
Core Value — Ingenuity
Growth and new beginnings
Verdan scholars ask questions, investigate possibilities and use what they know to solve real problems. Learning is not only memorizing — it takes imagination, experimentation and the willingness to try another way. A limitation does not have to end an idea. It can be where invention begins.
The Verdan Creed We are Verdan. We learn with curiosity, create with purpose, take responsibility and grow through every challenge. Grow every day. Create. Discover. Grow.
An agricultural scientist, inventor and educator, Carver used curiosity and science to help farmers restore depleted soil and find practical uses for the crops they already had. His work shows that innovation rarely starts with perfect conditions — it starts with a question and the determination to find a better way.
Core Value — Voice
To lift others higher
Elevaré scholars learn that their ideas, questions and perspectives matter. Voice is not only speaking loudly — it lives in writing, art, service, leadership and encouragement. A voice becomes strongest when it is used to include, serve and lift other people.
The Elevaré Creed We are Elevaré. We use our voices with purpose, stand in unity, serve with respect and encourage others to rise. Your voice can lift us all. Together we rise.
An abolitionist, author, publisher and orator, Douglass escaped slavery and used his voice and his writing to challenge injustice. His speeches and publications changed how a nation understood freedom and equality — proof that a well-developed voice, backed by knowledge and purpose, can create lasting change.
Earning House Points
House Points recognize pride, purpose, academic commitment, character, effort and teamwork. Every scholar can earn in all four categories — the categories are not tied to a house. An Ignis scholar can earn character points. A Verdan scholar can earn spirit points.
Show pride. Build unity. Lead with spirit.
| Distinction | Points |
|---|---|
| Demonstrating the core value of your house | +1point |
| Showing respect and support for scholars outside your house | +3points |
| Helping organize a spirit-inspiring activity or event | +5points |
| Helping organize or lead a school-wide event | +10points |
Spirit isn't just cheering the loudest. It's participation, service, respect and the ability to bring the school together.
Excellence in the classroom. Success in every lesson.
| Distinction | Points |
|---|---|
| Consistent academic excellence | +1point |
| Meeting or exceeding a personal academic goal on a progress report or benchmark assessment | +3points |
| Achieving Honor Roll on a report card | +5points |
| Achieving Principal's List on a report card | +10points |
Academic points celebrate both steady classroom performance and major accomplishments.
Lead with kindness. Choose what's right.
| Distinction | Points |
|---|---|
| Performing an unexpected act of kindness | +1point |
| Standing up against bullying or helping someone feel included | +3points |
| Demonstrating consistently good character | +5points |
| Earning the Scholar of the Month distinction | +10points |
Character shows up in everyday choices. No title or special event required.
Work hard. Help others. Grow together.
| Distinction | Points |
|---|---|
| Modeling good sportsmanship | +1point |
| Working well collaboratively | +3points |
| Demonstrating remarkable improvement in school | +5points |
| Maintaining perfect attendance for one full month | +10points |
Effort points recognize progress. Growth counts as much as arrival.
How the points work
Every IPLA staff member can award House Points to any scholar, in any house.
Only the Dean of Academics enters points into the official record, so every total stays accurate and consistent.
All points are recorded and house totals are updated every week so scholars can watch their house grow.
Totals are counted at the end of each quarter. They never reset — every point a house earns stays on the board all year.
Once a scholar earns a point, it belongs to their house. Points are not taken back for behavior. A scholar may be placed on point probation, which pauses their ability to earn new points for a period of time.
Ties are settled within the houses, case by case. Administration determines house recognition and celebrations case by case as well.
Points are not reserved for the highest-performing scholars. A single act of kindness matters. Supporting another house matters. Showing improvement matters. Working well with a team matters.
Every point matters. Every scholar matters. Every house matters.
One school family
House competition should bring energy and motivation to IPLA — not walls between scholars. Supporting someone from another house is written into the point system on purpose, because unity matters more than rivalry.
House pride should never come at the expense of school unity.
Families
Learn your scholar's house values. Say the creed together. Then watch for the moments we can't see.
If you see your scholar living out their house's core value at home, in the community, at church, in athletics or in another activity, tell their teacher. The school reviews what you share and decides whether it qualifies for House Point recognition.
Moments worth reporting
Send it to your scholar's teacher — a sentence or two is plenty. Include what happened, where, and when.
Contact your scholar's teacherQuestions families ask
No. House assignments are revealed randomly through the IPLA color poppers. The house chooses the scholar.
Not necessarily. Every scholar is selected independently, so siblings may end up in different houses — and often do.
No. Once a scholar is placed, they remain in the same house for the rest of their years at IPLA.
No. IPLA staff members also participate in the House Choosing Ceremony and join the four houses. Staff help mentor scholars, build house culture and model the values their houses represent.
No. Lumora builds community, Ignis develops courage, Verdan inspires ingenuity and Elevaré strengthens voice. Every scholar is expected to grow in all four areas.
Any IPLA staff member can award points to any scholar. The Dean of Academics enters every point into the official record, so all four house totals stay accurate.
Points are recorded and house totals are updated weekly, then counted at the end of each quarter.
No. Totals carry forward. Quarters are checkpoints for recognition, not a restart.
No. Points are earned and never removed. If a scholar's choices call for it, they may be placed on point probation — a temporary pause on earning new points for their house — but their house keeps everything already earned.
Ties are handled within the houses on a case-by-case basis.
Yes. Scholars earn points through school spirit, character, teamwork, attendance, improvement, service and verified positive actions outside of school.
Yes. Supporting and respecting scholars outside your own house is a written way to earn House Points.
No. Houses add a layer of connection across the academy. Scholars remain part of their regular classes and grade-level communities.
Points build each house's total and are used to recognize collective achievement, participation and growth across the school year. Administration determines house recognition and celebrations on a case-by-case basis.
One academy. One mantra.
At Infinite Potential, we shine bright! We lead with love and do what's right! There is no limit to what we can do — Infinite Potential lives in ME & YOU!
Four Houses. One Family. Infinite Potential.