House System

Students are sorted into one of our four Houses (Aquinas, Seton, Newman, and Kateri) impartially, with the goal of even distribution of students, between grade levels, French Immersion and English, Sports for Life, and Performing Arts.  Once they were sorted into their Houses, students remain in that House for their time with us.  The only allowance we make, by tradition, is that siblings are sorted into the same House.  So, every classroom should have a fairly even distribution of students from each.

Students are encouraged to be part of the life of their House, but participation is ultimately voluntary.  Beyond the bare fact of belonging to a House, no student must participate.

Every teacher will also belong to a House.  The Principal and Support Staff (EAs, Custodians, and Secretary) will not belong to any single House.

In addition to 1/4 of the student population, each House has a leadership structure.  This involves both staff and students, and it is the student leadership within the House system that fulfills the school need for that kind of energy and initiative.  House Leaders are as follows:

1) Head of House:  this is a member of the teacher faculty who will assist with coordination of House activities.

2) Senior Prefect:  this the senior student leader for his/her House.  The Senior Prefect is a Grade 8 student of strong character, both as a leader and as a representative on the House Council.  Prefects are selected after an application process.

3) Junior Prefect:  this the second student leader for his/her House.  The Junior Prefect is a Grade 7 student of strong character, both as a leader and as a representative on the House Council.  Prefects are selected after an application process.

4) House Ambassador: this a motivational leader/rabble-rouser for his/her House.  The House Captain comes from any grade, should have a strong sense of team spirit, and is selected by a student election within his/her House.

The Head of House, the Prefects, and the Ambassador provide leadership and coordination for the remaining students in the House.  They also join the leadership from all other houses to form the House Council, which serves in much the same capacity (and more) as a traditional student exec.