The House System provides a vehicle and a focus for students to:
• have an additional sense of belonging within the larger school population
• have the opportunity to mix with different age levels
• have increased opportunities to form mentor/role model relationships across age-groups
• further their engagement in college activities
• experience the building of team-spirit and cooperation through friendly rivalry and competition
Students and staff belong to one of four Houses. Each House has students from Years Seven to Twelve and IEC with siblings belonging to the same House.
House Names and Colours
The name of each of the four Houses draws upon the college’s dual heritage of the Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers (whose founders were Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice), as well as members of these congregations who have served in the Aranmore Catholic College Community - Sr Janina Pascoe and Br John Anthony Kelly (aka Br Tony or Br Jack Kelly).
Kelly (blue)
McAuley (gold)
Pascoe (green)
Rice (red)
House Insignia
In 2013, House crests and mottos were developed and unveiled. Additionally, a House shield was designed and presented for the first time to the Champion House.
House Shirt
House shirts were introduced in 2013. They are a compulsory uniform item for students in Years 7- 12 and IEC and are worn during Inter-House Carnival Days and on House Days. House shirts may be worn as an alternative to the College Sports Shirt in Physical Education classes by all students.
House Leaders
From 2016 each House will be led by 2 House Captains (a male and female Year 12 student) assisted and mentored by a member of staff, the House Mentor.
Role of the House Mentor
The role of the staff House Mentor is to:
• meet with the other House Mentors to prepare for House meetings and events
• lead House meetings prior to House events
• assist House Captains in generating House spirit prior to House events
• mentor the student House Captains and House Representatives in their leadership roles
• regularly meet with the House Captains and House Representatives to organize and manage House activities, service and events
• keep a record of House points and ensure these are entered to the appropriate data bank by relevant staff
• contribute to the further development of the House System in a consultative capacity, working with the Deputy Principal.
Role of House Captains (Year 12 students)
Year Twelve students are elected to the role of House Captains by all Year 12 students and staff. While serving as a key member of the college’s Student Leadership Team, the role of the House Captain is to:
• attend and provide leadership at Student Council meetings
• act as leaders at House-day liturgies
• generate house spirit prior to House events
• assist the House Mentor in leading House meetings prior to major House events
• assist in the setting up and organisation of House events and functions
• contribute to the further development of the House System in a consultative capacity
Role of House Representatives (Years 7 – 11 and IEC)
Students in Years 7 – 11 are elected to the role of House Representative by the students in their House at a particular year-level. As well as serving as a year-level representative within the college’s Student Leadership Team, the role of the House Representative is to:
• support the House Captains in the generating of House spirit prior to House events
• assist at House-day Liturgies
• assist in the setting up and organization of House events and functions
• attend Student Council meetings as representatives of their House and their Year-group
House Day
A House Day is included in the college calendar for each House. House days are held on Tuesdays; during Pastoral period, a whole-school liturgy led by the host House will be conducted. The liturgy is followed by recess/lunchtime activities and competitions organized by the House Mentor, Captain and Representatives. On their House Day, students will engage in some fundraising activities to help the service-works associated with their House namesake. On House Days, all students of the College may wear their House Shirt and sports uniform to school.
House Activities
Students have opportunities to contribute to the performance of their House by accruing points for their involvement and achievement in a range of college activities, events and fields of endeavour. These include:
Sport
The Inter-House Swimming Carnival
The Inter-House Athletics Carnival
The LifeLink Fun-run/Cross Country Carnival
At the Inter-House Swimming and Athletics Carnivals, points will be awarded to the competing Houses in accordance with the rank they achieve in the competition:
1st – 100 points; 2nd – 75 points; 3rd – 50 points; 4th – 25 points.
At all three Carnivals, individual students will be awarded points for the events in which they compete. These points will be used to determine the champion student in each year group. The champion student in each year group will be awarded the following points for their House:
1st = 25 points; 2nd = 15 points; 3rd = 10 points.
In addition, 1 bonus House point will be awarded for each student who competes in an event at each of the Inter-House Carnivals.
Academic
House points will be awarded for the following achievements:
Academic Honours = 25 points; Academic Merit = 10 points
House points will also be awarded for achievement and participation in academic competitions such as the Australian Mathematics Competition, Australian Science Competition, and the National Geographic Australian Geography Competition in accordance with the following:
Achievement in each year-group:
1st = 25 points; 2nd = 15 points; 3rd = 10 points
Participation = 1 House point
College Awards
Students who are acknowledged for their achievements and contribution to the community through the College Award system which leads to them receiving Honours or Merit Levels 1 or 2 in Christian Leadership, Christian Service, Sport, Music, The Arts and Culture will earn House points in accordance with the following:
Honours = 25 points; Merit Levels 1 – 5 = 10 points
The Arts
Students who are involved in the college production will be awarded House points in accordance with the following:
Lead roles = 25 points Participation = 10 points
Community Service
Students who engage in community service are awarded House points in accordance with the following:
Years 10 – 12
Students’ accumulated Community Service hours throughout Years 10, 11 and 12 are tallied and ranked at the end of Year 12. The student who has:
Highest number of community service hours = 25 points
2nd Highest number of community service hours = 15 points
3rd Highest number of community service hours = 10 points
Additionally, students who achieve the minimum of 20 hours of community service are each awarded 5 house points.
Years 7 - 9
Students’ accumulated Community Service hours throughout Years 7, 8 and 9 are tallied and ranked at the end of Year 9. The student who has:
Highest number of community service hours = 25 points
2nd Highest number of community service hours = 15 points
3rd Highest number of community service hours = 10 points
Additionally, students who achieve a minimum of 20 hours of community service are each awarded 5 house points.
The Collection and Recording of Points
Teachers responsible for each of the activities for which points can be earned are required to enter these points for the relevant events or students into the House Points database. The House Mentors are responsible for ensuring that these points are finalised and collated at the end of the year. As of 2015, these points will be recorded in Seqta.
Champion House
The award of Champion House is presented to the House which accrues the greatest number of points
during the year. The champion House is announced at the Awards Presentation Evening in Term Four. The House shield is held in the display cabinet in the foyer of the CASS
Special Events / Assemblies
In addition to support ongoing activities throughout the year, each House is allocated some specific events for the management of which its members are responsible. The specific events include:
Whole School Assembly #3 (W7/T2) Kelly
Whole School Assembly #4 (W8/T2) McAuley
Whole School Assembly #5 (W7/T3) Pascoe
Whole School Assembly #6 (W9/T3) Rice
Review and Development
Ongoing reviews of the House System will be conducted with a view to refining it and extending its scope in 2016 and beyond.