House System
The purpose of the House System at Aquinas is to enhance the mission of the school by focusing on faith, character, and scholarship. We are dedicated to developing student leadership skills and connecting students with their peers, the faculty and staff, and the Aquinas community. Houses are like teams; everyone belongs and everyone participates. Houses work together to compete in the areas of academics, attendance, virtue, participation in school spirit and activities, and community service.
Quick Facts about House
- Each House is named after a Saint: St. Francis of Assisi, St. Lawrence of Rome, St. Catherine of Siena, St. John Vianney
- As Freshmen, students are randomly assigned to one of four Houses, giving them the opportunity to interact with students from all grade levels. (Siblings belong to the same House)
- Every House is divided into 3 mentor groups that we call Tiny Houses.
- Tiny Houses meet 4 times a week: one day in the chapel, one day for reflection, and two days to play!
- All students participate – you don’t have to be at the top of the class academically or athletically.
- Houses provide great opportunities for student leadership.
House System Leadership
Chrissy McLaughlin
Tara Garrison
Point System
Monthly: Each month, house members will compete to accrue the maximum possible points for their House via competition, event attendance, conduct, uniform, etc. The House with the most points at the end of the month will be named the House of the Month.
Marquee Events: Marquee events are select school activities where students earn points for their house by attending the event. Points are awarded to each house based on the percentage of the total number of students their house represents.
Competition: Points will be awarded as follows: 1st- 20 points, 2nd- 15 points, 3rd- 10 points 4th – 5 points
Virtue: Each month will have a specific event related to the quarterly virtue that will earn points for the house. Points will be based on participation of the whole house and will be rewarded as follows: Highest – 40 points, 2nd – 30 points, 3rd – 20 points, 4th – 10 points
(See schedule below for details on events)
Academics: At the end of Semester 1 only, points will be based on whole house GPAs and will be rewarded as follows: Highest – 20 points, 2nd – 15 points, 3rd – 10 points, 4th – 5 points.
100% Points: 100% participation is defined as every student attending at least one school sanctioned event per quarter. It does not have to be a marquee event. At the end of each quarter, the house that has 100% participation in school events during that quarter will receive 50 extra points to their total. In addition, there will be other events that will allow the house to earn 100% participation points. These points will be awarded at the time of the event and will vary in amount.
Quarterly: The house with the most points at the end of each quarter will receive a jeans day.
Yearly: Each House’s monthly point totals will be tallied into the House’s Yearly Totals. The House with the most points for the year will be named House of the Year and receive the House Cup to be kept in the Dean’s Room, as well as have the house name inscribed on the Overall House Cup.
History of the House System
Aquinas started the House System in 2017 with the goal of building an inviting school community. We have recently been working hard on reinvigorating our house system to create a unified campus built on Jesus’s call to love and serve one another.
House of the Year:
- ’23-’24- Siena
- ’22-’23- Vianney
- ‘21-‘22- Rome
- ’20-’21- Siena
- ’19-’20- Assisi
- ’18-’19- Rome
- ’17-’18- Assisi