Finding Their Home in the House System

All Great Hearts prep academies in Arizona now take part in the House System to promote school community between grade levels and accelerate school spirit among both the student body  and faculty. This tradition came about through the efforts of the Great Hearts Arizona Prep School Promise, where the high school experience at our classical academies is being reimagined based on feedback from families. For over 20 years, Great Hearts has provided families with the best in classical education, and now, without compromising what sets our academies apart, we’re taking it to the next level.

The House Systems are designed to break down barriers created by academic level, age, or extracurricular interests so that every scholar can find a community. When scholars are sorted into a House, they find a group of students with whom they can serve, play, compete, and enjoy shared upper school experiences with.

Glendale Prep recently held its annual House Sorting Assembly to welcome the newest member of the school community. During this assembly, all new students, whether the incoming 6th graders or newly enrolled scholars, learn in real time along with the entire student body which house they will call home all the way through their senior year.

Headmaster Rachel Janssen announced the four house possibilities before giving the roll call for each new student. “Will you be selected to soar with all of your heart and soul toward your desires with Falconis? Will you be sorted to hunt where wisdom reigns with Vulpes? Will you be sorted to swim in delight against the tide with Lutra? Or will you defend with claw and fang in Hyrax? While your home will always be the Griffin Den, we hope you find your place in your select houses today,” she announced to a cheering student body.

The House System is a proven way to create a positive climate and culture for students and staff. The process builds character, relationships, and school spirit. While all the upper schools have their own unique Houses, the spirit behind them remains the same. Upper classmen serve as mentors to their Houses and even the faculty are divided up into the Houses to serve as advisors.

The House Sorting Assembly shows off the comradery and school spirit of the academy. It is a celebratory time to appreciate and honor one another as they formally and ceremoniously welcome the new members into their House. And it is always a kaleidoscope of colors when students don their House color in their sections while waving flags and signs as they cheer. The whole school was together and involved, with the seniors hyping up the Houses in celebration and warmly welcoming students as they were placed. The cheering was loud, but the joy was genuine, and the excitement was infectious as each House chanted.

In a time where fitting in consumes us, especially in our formative years, our academies offer an opportunity to belong. When we belong, we find others who stand by our side through life and experiences because they genuinely understand and respect who we already are in our journey of human formation. In their House, our scholars gain that sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves in an affirming way.

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Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.