Community System
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HOUSE SYSTEM
Father McGivney Catholic High School uses a community-based system which allows for peer-mentoring, faith-formation, service, tutoring, team-building, and leadership opportunities. Each community is divided into houses that are comprised of a cross-section of students – freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The students meet daily in their houses to further develop their relationships with Jesus Christ, each other, and their faculty mentors. Houses also participate in quarterly service days, in which the entire school serves the surrounding community, fulfilling the school’s mission of Serving the Culture of Life.
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The History of our House System
2017-18: Growth from 8 to 12 Houses (adding St. Christopher, St. Aloysius, St. Nicholas, St. Albert; one new House per each of the four Communities). In each House: one teacher-mentor, and one sophomore, junior, and senior House leader. One House captain (Kolton Klette), and an assistant captain (Amaree Moss). Staff and administration were each associated with a Community. House at 3:00 each day, except one day a week for Mass. House Sorting ceremony at end of first day of school.
2018-19: One House mentor from each Community served as a "Dean" to provide input and deputed leadership to the other two Mentors in the Community. Jr. House Captain (Marta Korte) leads alongside House Captain (Caitlyn Pendall), in order to provide continuity between years. One "Gamekeeper" (Aaron Boulanger), and an all-encompassing Community Cup competition plan.
2019-2020: New Leader process (freshmen applicants) began in 1/2020 with several leadership training sessions; indefinitely postponed in 3/2020. Community Cup competition cut short.
2020-2021: One captain (haydee Rios), and one junior captain (Macy Smith). Houses have one junior and one senior leader. Community Captains (one senior leader from each community, in addition to House Captain) received delegated responsibility and provide representative input. Chapel beyond max capacity; moved to Mass twice weekly (two Communities at a time). Captain application process postponed to beginning of junior year (from end of sophomore year). "Apprentice-style" preparation for sophomore leader applicants. General guidelines for new leaders: up to two current sophomores could become "House Leaders"; movement of students was avoided if possible. Sophomore (upcoming junior) leader roster settled. Commissioning of new leaders in May 2021. Some alternative activities to replace Community Cup competitions as possible. Games held in gym were livestreamed to classrooms.
2021-2022: One captain (Macy Smith), no junior captains for first semester. Houses have one senior leader and 1-2 junior leaders. Process to discern need for "Assistant Captains"; current juniors were eligible to apply. New roles developed: Assistant Capt. for Service; for Games and Competitions; for Spiritual Formation (for girls, and for guys). Candidates elected by 1/2022, commissioned in 5/2022. Conversation about increasing number of Houses begun, as well as the need for new mentors and leaders for those new Houses. House period is 10:40-11:25 each day, except early dismissal days.
2022-2023: Assistant Captains begin their roles. Houses have 1-2 senior leaders, and 2-3 junior leaders. Full-time faculty who are not House mentors will serve as "Community Assistants" this year to aid current Mentors to communicate and interact more freely. Remaining staff (full- and part-time) will be associated with specific Houses, both as "assistant Mentors" and/or visiting members of the Houses, spending time with their respective Houses several times a week.
September 2022: all faculty begin to meet to discern the process of growing to 16 Houses for 2022-23 school year. By December, curent junior student leaders will also be involved in this process. New captain applicants will begin their process in October. Current sophomores will be invited to apply as House leaders in December; their selection will be synchronized with the forming of the new Houses' leadership teams. By March, four new Houses will have established leadership teams (anticipated mentors, leaders from existing sophomores and juniors, patron saint, etc.). Names of new Houses, along with their assigned mentors and leaders will be announced after Easter.
2023-2024 (anticipated): 16 Houses, increasing from 3 to 4 in each Community. All full-time faculty will be assigned as Mentors.
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Goals
- To form a strong academic community of disciples responding to the call of Jesus Christ
- To prepare students to serve the Culture of Life through a total gift of self
- To engage students in the mission, sacramental life, and magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church
- To develop faithful citizens to lead an America that values the dignity and worth of every human person
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Overview
- There are five Communities at Father McGivney Catholic High School: Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, Saint John, and Blessed Mother Mary.
- Currently, each Community is divided into two Houses. There are fourteen total Houses: St. Michael, St. Jude, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Cecilia, St. Sebastian, St. Rose, St. Patrick, St. Padre Pio, St. Albert the Great, St. Nicholas, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. Christopher, Pope St. John Paul II (the Faculty & Staff House), and Ss. Anne & Joachim (the Parent House)
- Each of the Houses are made up of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors
- Each House has at least one faculty mentor and a House Leader from each of the four classes. The only exceptions are Pope St. John Paul II House, comprised of the school’s faculty and staff, and Ss. Anne & Joachim House, comprised of the student’s parents.
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Leadership
- There is a Senior Community Leader that oversees the other House Leaders. This student also serves as the alumni contact for the class after graduation.
- Each House has at least one faculty mentor that guides and directs the House Leaders and mentors the students in their House.
- Each House has a representative from each class that serves as a House Leader. House Leaders are responsible for the day-to-day curriculum implementation and to oversee the organization of their Houses.
- The Community and House system is supported by the Faith Formation Director. The Director plans the curriculum, service opportunities, and daily activities of the Houses, in conjunction with the Senior Community Leader.
- House is a full class period between 3rd and 4th period and is used for faith formation, developing study skills, leadership skills, and strengthening community relationships.
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