St Mary's sixth grade class poses after receiving their house t-shirts.
St. Mary's School students in grades 6, 7, and 8 are in homerooms that are typical to most schools. The students are also placed into multiage houses, which meet briefly four days a week.
At the end of fifth grade, fifth graders are "installed" in their Jr. High Houses. This is an exciting day for the fifth graders. Students walk through a door and enter their houses. The door, which was painted by students in house colors, symbolizes the entrance into the student's new house. The house installation is held in May and on a day in which the eighth graders are involved in graduation or other end-of-year activities. Sixth and seventh graders welcome their new house members with enthusiasm.
The house program began during the 2007-2008 school year when the Jr. High teachers visited several school who used a similar model. After review of research, school visits, much planning and discussion, six houses were established. All of the houses were named for Mary, Mother of Jesus. After the first year, the houses were reduced to four and some other minor changes were made in order to adapt the house model to school's Jr. High program.
The four houses are: The House of Our Lady of Fatima, The House of Our Lady of Snows, The House of Our Lady Star of the Sea, and The House of Mary, Untier of Knots. Houses have a color, a mascot, and a Latin motto. The student enjoy gathering on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays between 3rd and 4th periods. They enjoy a snack, interactions with other students, and planning projects and activities.
Once each quarter, the houses participate in a House Challenge afternoon. Challenges always include a variety of competitions that require teamwork, individual skill, and problem solving. House Challenge days are very popular with the students. Parents also volunteer to assist on House Challenge days and help as observers, scorers, and judges.
Houses have about 20 students in each. Each house has 3 or 4 teacher mentors and 1 or 2 student mentors. All Jr. High teachers are assigned to a house. They meet with the students each day during house break and the teacher, with help from their students, plan a House Challenge afternoon once a year. Student mentors take on leadership roles in the houses and also help on House Challenge afternoons by providing instructions, demonstrating the challenges, and leading the attendees in prayer.
Toothpick and Marshmallow Tower Easter Bonnets Our Lady Star of the Sea & Our Lady of Fatima
Easter Bonnets Mary Untier of Knots & House of Our Lady of Snows "Go which way?"
