4 Houses, 1 Home

To build a culture of belonging, leadership and friendly competition, every middle school student is sorted into one of four houses – two houses for boys and two houses for girls. Each house elects a Captain and Lieutenant to help plan activities, lead house meetings, and promote virtuous behavior. Teachers award house points throughout the week, which accumulate towards monthly and yearlong competitions among the houses. Students wear apparel featuring the house crest on special House Challenge days and strengthen peer bonds during structured house meetings, facilitated by a teacher moderator.

Key Activities

  • Sorting Hat: New middle school students are sorted into a house on the first day of the school or throughout the year if they are incoming mid-year transfers.
  • House Games: Monthly challenges (e.g., minute-to-win-it, trivia, sports games) between houses.
  • House Meetings and Service Projects: Monthly meetings within the house to discuss a particular virtue, saint, or complete a service project.
  • House Breakfast: Students eat breakfast at tables with their houses and honor graduating 8th graders. The House Cup is presented.
  • House Cup: The coveted trophy awarded to the house that accumulates the most house points throughout the year.

House Points

Teachers award house points throughout the week to highlight behavior that typically goes above and beyond what’s expected. Points are not deducted. Students specifically receive points for acts of Courage, Courtesy, and Contemplation, as well as being altar server or lector at school Mass, completing book reviews, memorizing poetry or scripture, and winning house challenges.

Here is what we look for when awarding House Points:

Courage
  • I show a growth mindset by working hard and not giving up.
  • I am a risk taker who steps outside my comfort zone to try new things.
  • I stand up for others if they are being picked on.
  • I practice self-advocacy by asking for help or speaking up when needed.
  • I confidently share my ideas and present in front of others.
Courtesy
  • I say please, thank you, sorry, and excuse me.
  • I always respect teachers and classmates, in-person and online.
  • I welcome guests and visitors.
  • I clean up after myself and take care of shared spaces and property.
  • I strive to make eye contact when speaking with adults.
Contemplation
  • I think before I act and admit mistakes as needed.
  • I show gratitude for the people and opportunities in my life.
  • I set goals for my learning and work toward them.
  • I contribute thoughtful questions and comments in class.
  • I take time to pray, reflect, or notice the beauty around me.

House Patrons

In 2023, the first student captains selected the house patrons. The only criteria were that they had to have lived during the 20th or 21st century and be canonized or on the path to sainthood. Students study the lives of their patrons, who are in close proximity to their own, so they become inspired by their heroic virtue and everyday holiness. The charisms of these patrons will continue to unfold as the House System develops over time.

Badano House

Patron: Blessed Chiara Badano
Feast Day: October 29
House Motto: “Let my life be a light for others.”

As a teenager in Italy, Chiara Badano loved singing, dancing, tennis, swimming, and hiking. While battling bone cancer, she remained joyful and inspired faith in her friends, family, and other patients. She died at age 18 in 1990 and requested to be buried in a wedding dress, symbolizing her love and union with Jesus.

Casey House

Patron: Blessed Solanus Casey
Feast Day: July 30
House Motto: “Pray not for easy lives. Pray to be stronger people.”

Solanus Casey was born on a farm in Wisconsin to a family of sixteen children. He joined the Franciscan Capuchins in Detroit and studied to become a priest despite academic struggles. He was assigned to be the monastery porter, where he ministered to the poor, provided spiritual direction, and cured countless ailments before he died in 1957.

JPII House

Patron: Pope St. John Paul II
Feast Day: October 22
House Motto: “Be not afraid.”

Born Karol Wojtyła in Poland, the eventual Pope John Paul II secretly studied for the priesthood during Nazi occupation during World War II. He became the first non-Italian pope in more than 450 years and was known for his extensive travels, love for skiing and hiking, and role in bringing about the fall of Communism in Europe. Before dying in 2014 from Parkinson’s disease, he survived an assassination attempt and famously forgave his attacker.

Vicuña House

Patron: Blessed Laura Vicuña
Feast Day: January 22
House Motto: “Let love shine brighter than fear.”

Laura Vicuña moved from Chile to Argentina with her mother at a young age to receive financial protection from a wealthy rancher. At school, Laura fell in love with Eucharist and the Virgin Mary but unfortunately endured abuse from her mother’s partner. She died in 1904 after extending forgiveness and was praised by Pope John Paul II as a model of purity, sacrifice, and filial love.