Students at Christ the Teacher Catholic School gather with their new Houses during the kickoff event for the school’s House System. (Photo courtesy Christ the Teacher Catholic School)
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.
“This is more than just a competition,” said Mrs. Lanza. “It’s about creating memories, forming bonds across grade levels, and empowering students to lead with faith and integrity.”
Claudia is a Philadelphia-based journalist and reporter passionate about storytelling that informs and engages the community. Claudia, a proud Temple University graduate, has built a career covering impactful stories and creating compelling content across digital and print media platforms. With a strong background in writing, editing, and research, Claudia has worked on various topics, from local news to in-depth features, always striving to deliver meaningful and accurate reporting editor@townsquarelive.com
