JSerra Catholic High School in Southern California has launched a 'house system' to build community and foster leadership among students. The system, which has been in development since 2021, divides students into houses named after places significant to the life of St. Junipero Serra. The initiative aims to address social disconnection and mental health challenges while cultivating students' growth as leaders and deepening their faith. The school's approach emphasizes spiritual growth and creating a more supportive and engaging environment.
about 1 month ago
JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California, is launching a "house system" designed to connect students and cultivate leadership 1 2. The program aims to foster community, provide mentorship, and instill Gospel values in students 1.
The initiative seeks to address social disconnection and mental health challenges prevalent among young people 1. Principal Eric Stroupe emphasizes that the house system is a transformative approach to developing leaders and deepening faith 1. Brian Ong, the house director, notes the school's philosophy of "fields, not factories," aiming to cultivate students' potential 1 2. The school hopes to foster a sense of belonging within its large student body of approximately 1,300 students 1 2.
The house system comprises six houses: Alta, Carmel, Monterey, San Onofre, Petra, and Ventura, each named after locations significant to St. Junipero Serra 1. Students are grouped into these houses to encourage interaction with peers they might not otherwise meet 1 2. A key component is mentorship, with students meeting in "dens" three times a week for support and guidance from older mentors 1. Houses earn points through competitions, service projects, and displays of school spirit, culminating in the awarding of the JSerra Cup 1. The school has already held a "calling day" to assign students to their respective houses 1 2. Parental response to the program has been positive 1 2.
JSerra's house system shares similarities with other programs at Catholic institutions, such as Franciscan University of Steubenville's "faith households" 1. These households aim to foster spiritual growth, mutual support, and accountability among students 1.
The Church values community, leadership, and integral human formation.
I can provide information on the Catholic Church's teachings on education, community building, and leadership.
Catholic education aims to form individuals with their ultimate purpose and the well-being of society in mind . It goes beyond imparting facts and skills, focusing on the holistic development of individuals, encompassing intellectual, cultural, and spiritual aspects . Catholic education is concerned with the whole person, their eternal destiny, and the common good of society . It seeks to develop the physical, moral, and intellectual talents of young people, fostering a sense of responsibility and the proper use of freedom, enabling them to actively participate in society .
Catholic schools should aspire to become Christian communities that foster profound relations of communion, creating an environment for an authentically ecclesial experience . The presence and life of an educational community, where all members participate in fraternal communion nourished by a living relationship with Christ and the Church, is essential .
Catholic education prepares lay Christians to take an active part in every area of life, bearing witness to justice and truth . Schools should help students seek the meaning of life in the right direction, investing in the formation of the younger generation to secure the future of the Church and nation . Catholic schools should identify and train leaders who can promote a community based on solidarity and sensitivity to individual needs .
Teachers in Catholic schools have the mission of educating the young by becoming examples and guides for them, enriching their programs with spiritual, human, and cultural values . They are called to form the minds and hearts of children, ensuring their personal development is matched by the growth of the "new creation" within them . Lay Catholic educators play a vital role in integrating temporal reality with the Gospel and providing integral human formation and faith education to young people .
The "House System" aligns with the Catholic Church's emphasis on holistic education, community building, and leadership development. By fostering a sense of belonging, promoting Gospel values, and providing opportunities for service and leadership, Catholic schools can contribute to the formation of individuals who will positively impact the Church and society.