FROM OUR HOUSES
House Life at New Covenant School
It all started when…
The house system had its beginnings in academic institutions. In the early Middle Ages, students who desired an education would gather in a city where a Master Teacher was living. With this Master, they would share a house and devote themselves to study. The Master not only taught these students their academics but also disciplined them in their Christian walk. These gatherings of students were the foundations of the great universities of Europe. Today, the term “house” refers simply to groupings of pupils, with no buildings involved.
How houses began at NCS…
The House System at New Covenant School was formed during the fall of 2017 to enhance the upper school experience at NCS. It serves to foster community among our students through service to our school and friendly competition.
The purpose of houses at NCS…
The purpose of our House System is to promote a culture of joy, discipleship, and respect among our Logic and Rhetoric School students. Our hope is that the House System will support strong camaraderie, spiritual growth, unity, and mutual helpfulness among our students that they will take with them when they graduate and become Christlike leaders in their generation. The NCS House System has become an important part of our mission to present every student complete in Christ.
How the NCS house system works…
Beginning in 6th grade, students are assigned to a House where they will remain a member until they graduate. Families are kept within the same House. Seniors are elected leaders of each of their Houses providing leadership, planning activities, and organizing service projects. The house system provides camaraderie as students, faculty, and families come together for various culture and tradition-building activities, academic and athletic challenges, community building service projects, and a student government that crosses age and grade boundaries. Throughout the school year, the four houses participate in an ongoing competition with quarterly rewards which culminates in the House Cup.
Each House is comprised of both students and faculty. Students are members taking various roles to help serve the House. Faculty members serve to support and encourage leadership and service as students grow in these abilities.
Incoming 6th graders and students new to NCS are placed in a House based on the following guidelines:
The eldest student in a family is placed in a House.
Incoming siblings of students already in a House will automatically be assigned to the same House as other siblings before them.
The Houses are named after three previous headmasters along with the school’s founding pastor. Each House is composed of 20-25 students from 6th - 12th grade. Emblems, mottos, colors, and crests of each house are based on Psalm 1:3:
“He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”
House points are given for such things as:
Winning games and tournaments (House camp, recess competitions)
House member participation in games, tournaments, and service events
In-school service (noted by staff and faculty)
Scripture memory work
Culminating field day event
Points are calculated every month and posted on a large House bulletin board. Final count and House Cup will be awarded at the Awards Day event at the end of each school year.
Our Unique Houses…
Symbols, banners, and articles are created using identifying characteristics of emblems, mottos, colors, and crests.
Lopez House - House Color: Orange House Symbol: Leaf
Bills House - House Color: Red House Symbol: Fruit/Apple
Thames House - House Color: Blue House Symbol: Stream/Water
Rountree House - House Color: Green House Symbol: Tree
House Captains
House Captains are selected by vote by each house member at the end of each school year for the following year. Rising 10th-12th grade house members are eligible for the position of house captain. 3 house captains are selected for each house. House captains must include at least one male and one female.
Teacher votes from each house will count twice. Student votes from each house will count once. Headmaster and Dean of Student Life have the right to disqualify a house member from the position of House Captain, if that student does not demonstrate the virtue of good sportsmanship, participation, and unity among the students.
House Captain Responsibilities
Participation- If there is an opportunity to serve, step up. Lead by example. You will often need to “rally” your group to join a project. Be the first to sign up and participate if you are able and available.
Student Government- You are the “governing” body of the school. You are the leadership team. In any events the school hosts, you will be the advising group that the Dean of Student Life will work with to organize each event. This includes Spirit Week, Dances, Field Day, etc.
Monthly Meetings- We will meet monthly (Wednesdays during lunch) to discuss upcoming events and activities that are on the calendar. Be ready with ideas and ways to serve. Smaller committees will be set up within this group and there may be times when you will recruit other house members to serve on these smaller committees.
Encouragement/Exhortation- You have the privilege and responsibility of getting behind your house to motivate and encourage participation and enthusiasm in house competitions as well as other point earning activities for your house.
Creativity- This team of leaders will also help to create the “fun” in house competitions and service opportunities for the school. Basically, you are the brainstorming group! Our meetings each month will allow for brainstorming and sharing your ideas. This will also allow you the opportunity to bring up ideas that your house members might have, so you will need to encourage your members to share their ideas with you.