Building BHHS “Nests” Promotes Community and Belonging

Much like the houses of Harry Potter, the new Bloomfield Hills High School “Nests” provide a sense of community for small cohorts of 13 to 16 students, within four larger cohorts of “Bird Houses.” The goal of these randomized 9th-12th grade student groups is to improve school spirit, build school culture and pride, meet and connect with students across grade levels, and provide students with an additional adult in the building who can be a source of support. The “Nests” will meet several times each semester for academic progress checks, community activities, and projects in preparation for school-wide events.

Principal Dan Hartley explained, "Relationships between staff and students continue to be a priority at BHHS. One of the goals of our staff the last two years has been for every student in the high school to have at least one adult that they trust and can go to for support. When a group of students pitched the idea of creating "houses" within BHHS to members of our Instructional Leadership Team, a group of teachers took the idea and ran with it. I am excited to see the impact that this initiative has on student culture and belonging."

The goal of the initial Nest meeting was rooted in the BHHS Cornerstone of Relationships, to lay the foundation for a great year of community. Students were encouraged to learn one anothers’ names through a variety of games and activities, such as throwing balls with questions written on them, using “Alphabet Cards” with letters on them to play word games, “Two Truths and a Lie,” and other ice-breaker games.

Julianne Umbarger, BHS Mental Health Specialist, also helped with the development of Bird Houses and Nests. Umbarger noted, “When we consider Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, all humans have a need for interpersonal relationships and social connections, which are essential for emotional well-being and personal fulfillment. While BHHS offers many social opportunities such as clubs, sports teams, and academic programs that foster social connectedness and belonging, we wanted to offer something that could fulfill this need for all 1,500 students. We also know that as basic needs are increasingly met, students' (and adults') capacity to learn also increases; this initiative helps us fulfill our duty to support students' academic success." 

While the Bird House assignments are randomized, each group has about an equal number of students from each grade level, and staff representation from various departments in each House. The Nest meetings will always occur simultaneously, such that the whole school will maintain the same schedule. This first meeting was 30 minutes, while future meetings’ length and timing during the school day will be determined by topic. Student Bird House assignments will last throughout their enrollment at BHHS.