Newark Catholic High School has instituted a house system to build and foster a sense of community and camaraderie among students.
The Houses of Service at Newark Catholic was conceived with a two-fold mission.
First, the administration and faculty identified the need for service to our community. As such, the houses put the focus on the surrounding area and gives our students the resources and knowledge to build projects that will better our community while sharing the faith of Jesus Christ.
The second is to enhance the enthusiasm for all the things that are done at Newark Catholic. School spirit can take a variety of forms and the houses are looking to highlight the activities that students excel in. Whether its Battle of the Books, the drama department, or football Friday nights, the goal is to let students and families know the school is there for them.
Newark Catholic is committed to making the school a place where everyone belongs, help others see beyond themselves and explore what it means to be a servant of God.
In each house, students are placed into four different groups, each involving a variety of grade levels, student mentors and faculty. Each group will meet monthly, select a community organization to support and engage in friendly competition with one another.
Houses will encourage students to be part of something bigger and help answer the question, “What is God calling us to do?” while working together to address needs in the Licking County area.
Tying into our heritage as the Green Wave, each House is named after one of the borders of ancient Israel: House Red (the Pathfinders, inspired by Moses and Exodus), House Mediterranean (the Voyagers, inspired by St. Paul), House Jordan (the Messengers, inspired by John the Baptist) and House Galilee (the Fishermen, inspired by the Apostles Andrew, James, John and Simon Peter). Each chose a patron saint and has a scriptural motto fitting their name and the mission of the Houses of Service to share the faith with compassion and love for each other and the surrounding community.
Houses encourage students to get involved in school and support one another with a bit of friendly competition to earn points in things like attendance, school spirit at games and participating in extracurricular activities. Students will compete throughout the school year in activities and games in hopes of winning the House Cup.
Starting with the Greenie Games on the first day of school, houses can earn points by attending spotlight events, through school attendance and in competitions such as the House Olympics at the end of the year.
Houses are made up of individuals who are talented in many different arenas. They will be encouraged to use those talents to bring their house closer. At the end of the year, the group with the most points will earn the coveted house trophy.
It has been through the leadership of the administration, the willingness of the faculty and the drive of the students that Newark Catholic was ready to launch the Houses of Service this fall. We must, as the motto of House Jordan states in Mark 1:3, “prepare the way of the Lord,” working to bring about His Kingdom in this time and place.
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