The Hogwarts’ houses of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff might be the most famous, but the new houses at Boston College High School (MA) are getting glowing reviews from students and staff after the rollout of an innovative house system last fall.
The idea for implementing a house system grew from a partnership between BC High President Grace Cotter Regan, who wanted to strengthen student support, and Principal Adam Lewis, who was an advocate for house systems and had seen them in action. The house system, popular in the United Kingdom and among Jesuit schools like BC High for decades, brings together about 90 BC High students—slices from each grade (ninth to 12th)—in 12 houses located in offices and classrooms across campus.
The houses offer “a community within a community” and provide students with the “holistic care” that is part of the school’s mission, according to school leaders. “We know that boys learn best when they feel known, loved, and when they have a close connection to their teachers,” says Jennifer Manning, vice principal of student life.
“The house system allows us to bring together care and learning in a concrete way and will be a catalyst for greater depth in both learning and relationships.”
Students were assigned to houses based on geographic locations, academics, and other factors school leaders believed would create cohesive, supportive groups and connect students beyond their already-established relationships. House members chose leaders for each house, who are responsible for a variety of decisions about their house and its direction, and decided on a name for each house, as well as a patron and a motto that reflects the patron’s work. For example, the “Judge House” recognizes Father Mychal Judge, OFM, the chaplain for the Fire Department of New York, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11 as he tended to injured firefighters. His humble service and compassion are traits the students in the Judge House want to emulate.
Students participate within their houses and against others in competitions ranging from sports to spelling bees and can collect merit points for their group from positive interactions at the school, which are then tallied toward recognition and rewards for the house with the most. But the greater benefits are slightly less tangible. “It is nice to see seniors working with freshman on homework, without it being required, and see other mentoring that happens spontaneously,” Manning says. “In the morning, they all have to come by their house and everyone chats and checks in with each other and connects. It’s a great way for them to start the day.”
The Judge House meets in the library with Father Don MacMillan and reflects on the life and legacy of their house patron, Father Mychal Judge, OFM, chaplain for the Fire Department of New York, who died on September 11.
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