Father McGivney
Catholic High School

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Community System

- HOUSE SYSTEM
  
  At Father McGivney Catholic High School, we embrace a community-based system that fosters student-led faith formation, service, tutoring, team-building, and leadership. Our students are grouped into four communities that are further divided into sixteen Houses, each House composed of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
  House Captain Team
  The House Captain Team represents the pinnacle of student leadership within the House system. The team is led by the House Captain. This role is a highly regarded position that is responsible for overseeing the Captain Team and facilitating communication with the House Leaders and the Faculty Mentors. The House Captain plays a critical role in developing and improving our House system.
  Supporting the House Captain are six Assistant Captains in three different roles:
  Assistant Captains for Spiritual Formation: Collaborates with the Faith Formation Director to offer students spiritual growth opportunities such as retreats, prayer groups, and studies.
  
  Assistant Captains for Service: Partners with the Faith Formation Director to foster service-oriented experiences, upholding the school’s motto - Serving the Culture of Life.
  
  Assistant Captains for Events & Competitions: Works with the faculty and the Faith Formation Director to plan and execute quarterly House activities and competitions, promoting community and engagement across the school.
  Life in House
  Our Houses meet daily, providing an environment where students can deepen their relationships with Jesus Christ, their peers, and their faculty mentors. Junior and senior leaders within each House take on leadership roles, guiding activities during the forty-three minute House period, and ensuring that all students are actively involved.
  In addition to daily activities, our Houses participate in Mass weekly and service days throughout the year, where the entire school comes together to serve the surrounding community. This initiative is a key part of our mission to "Serve the Culture of Life," instilling the values of service and community in all our students.
  Spiritual Growth: Encourage students to grow in their faith by praying with and for their House, school, and community while forming a stronger relationship with God and their peers.
  
  Supportive Environment: The House System reinforces our commitment to connect each and every student with adult mentors to ensure personalized support and guidance.
  Strengthen School Community Bonds: Foster stronger relationships throughout the school regardless of grade level or interests, encouraging a sense of unity and family among students and staff.
  
  Build Leadership Skills: Create opportunities for juniors and seniors to take on leadership roles as House Leaders, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the school community. In addition, expanded leadership roles in each House provide opportunities for freshmen and sophomores to also develop and demonstrate leadership skills.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.