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• Cubs, Foxes, & Bees Oh My!

  St. John’s Area School House System Plan
  Purpose/Mission of the House System at St. John’s Area School

  • The mission of the House System at St. John’s Area School is to inspire students to see God in all things and to equip them to work through successes and challenges to assist them in preparing to live in and contribute to a changing world.
    • The House system strives to create a welcoming, Christ-centered environment for all children.
    • The House system strives to instill in students the courage to imagine a bright future.
    • The House system builds on the diversity of student backgrounds and challenges them to achieve moral and academic success.
    • The House system aims to foster a safe and loving environment where students can become well-formed individuals who are life-long learners who live and model their Catholic faith.
    • The House system encourages students to use their God-given gifts to serve and positively impact the lives of others.
    • The House system supports students in their spiritual growth to prepare the next generation of Catholic leaders.
  • Throughout House activities, events, and initiatives, students will be encouraged to:
    • Respect God, themselves, and others
    • Serve God and others

   
  Structure

  • Multi-age Grade Bands to enhance student relationships
    • 6, 3, K 
    • 4, 1 
    • 5, 2, PreK
  • Students stay in the same house their entire time at St. John’s, grade level teachers will advise a different house each year (repeats every 3 years)

   
  Names

  • Religious Orders located in the Diocese of St. Cloud
    • Franciscan Foxes PreK, 2 & 5
    • Crosier Cubs 1 & 4
    • Benedictine Bees K, 3, & 6

   
  Houses can/will be used to organize:

  • Where students sit for assemblies, etc.
  • Reading/academic buddy opportunities
  • Mixed Age Service Projects
  • Fundraisers and/or friendly competitions
  • Recognition/Acknowledgement opportunities
  • Daily Announcement Contributions
  • Mentoring for new students

  House Identity
  Houses are free to develop/create:

  • a banner
  • a prayer to use when they meet
  • a chant/cheer
  • a motto
  • A connection with the religious order they are named after
  • Exploration of the charism of the religious order they are named after

   
  Benefits of House System to participants:

  • It encourages academic achievement, positive school culture, teamwork, friendship, service, and leadership.
  • It allows for constructive competition and positive peer influence.
  • It is an additional organizational structure beyond traditional grade and gender divisions.
  • It helps to foster student mentoring relationships across grade levels.
  • It allows for a new relational dimension in student-teacher relationships.
  • It encourages student self-government.