NEWARK– Christ the Teacher Catholic School (CTTCS) has introduced a new House System for its 6th through 8th grade students, aiming to build community, encourage leadership, and boost both academics and school spirit.
The initiative is modeled after traditions used in schools worldwide and is designed to create what the school calls a “school family within a school family.” Students are placed into mixed-grade Houses where they will learn, collaborate, and compete throughout the academic year.
“Our goal is to foster deeper connections, leadership skills, and positive character development while celebrating school pride,” said Kelly Lanza, Principal of Christ the Teacher. “The House System gives students a chance to shine in new ways—academically, socially, and spiritually.”
How the House System Works
- All middle school students have been assigned to one of seven Houses: Catherine, Mercy, Dublin, Carlow, Callaghan, Doyle, or McAuley.
- Each House is led by a faculty mentor: Miss Donahue (Catherine), Mrs. Jones (Mercy), Mrs. Shea (Dublin), Mrs. Murray (Carlow), Ms. Phillips (Callaghan), Mr. Walton (Doyle), and Mrs. Glaviano (McAuley).
- Students can earn points for their Houses through positive behavior, academics, teamwork, and service.
- Houses will gather every other week for activities, competitions, and service projects.
- At the end of the school year, the House with the most points will win a final prize to be chosen by the students.
The program began with a special kickoff event where students learned about their House history, met their teammates, and participated in games to start earning points…