Why a Community System?

The primary objective of the Community House system at St. James Academy is to further enhance our mission by emphasizing integral formation of the entire person.  The Community system will provide  a vehicle for stronger bonds between all members of the school community, promote the development of relationships, both personal and collegial, and enable a more proactive development of each student’s leadership skills.

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!

Goals

• The goals of the House system shall be to:
• To ensure individual care by providing each student with at least two adults-a Community Dean and a House Mentor who will monitor and support the academic, social, and spiritual growth of each student
• Embracing our Catholic values and traditions, the Community system will enhance the ministry provided to all our students
• To strengthen the bonds of the St. James Academy Family Spirit among the 9th-12th grade divisions in the school family
• To create opportunities for senior students to be trained and to serve as leaders
• To advance each student’s interpersonal relationship skills
• To promote open discourse between divisions, students, and faculty
• To enhance the community strength outside St. James Academy school

Overview of the St. James Academy House System

• There will be six Communities at St. James Academy: St. Benedict, St. Padre Pio, St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Gregory, St. Gianna Molla, St. Peter
• Each student will be assigned to the same Community for 9-12th grades.  There will be approximately 100 students in each community
• Each Community will be assigned One Dean who is a faculty member chosen by the administration
• Each Community will be assigned two senior students (Community captains) who will be elected by the faculty and senior students
• Each community will be divided into six Houses.  Houses will be approximately 15-20 students
• Each student will be assigned to the same House for 9th-12th grades
• Each House will be assigned a mentor teacher
• Each House will be assigned one senior student (House Captain) and three underclassman (Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Leader)
• House Captains and Junior, Sophomore and Freshman leaders will be elected in houses.
• Each student will have the same Dean and Mentor teacher during their 9-12th grades
• Each House is overseen by a Dean,  2 community captains, Mentor teacher,  and House Captain
• Each House will contain 9th-12th grade students
• There will be two school captains who will be responsible for the atmosphere of care and concern for the entire school as fostered by the House system.

Keys to Success

• Houses will meet daily
• Deans will meet weekly for planning.
• Deans will meet with their respective community captains and house captains weekly
• Community advisory team will provide support and assistance to deans
• Deans and Community captains will work collaboratively and communicate with House mentors and House captains on a weekly basis
• All members of the community will actively participate in school and community functions.

Junior, Sophomore, Freshman Captains Responsibilities

Junior-Freshman leaders will be elected in their respective houses in the fall. In order to be considered for a leadership position, students must be in good academic standing as well as good standing with the dean of students. The primary role of any elected captain is to support, by words and actions, the agenda set forth by the house captain and mentor teacher in your house. All captains will energetically assist with the development and growth of the Community/House system as it supports the mission of St. James Academy. Specific responsibilities listed below.

Junior captains:

· Coordinate house plans during the absence of the house captain or anytime asked

· Active participation on a prom committee (meetings from January-April, time TBA)

· Work actively with the dean, and community captains to support your assigned sport/activity

· Be a present and active participant within your community at liturgies,

assemblies, and community events

· Promote collaborative team work within your house

· Joyfully engage in community activities when asked to do so by dean/community captain

Sophomore captains:

· Host 8^th grade sports nights: Sept 9^th, Oct. 13^th and two dates in winter TBA

· Ambassadors for 8^th grade guests for months of September/October

· Make posters as assigned by community captains. Paper and paint in room 1110

· Be a present and active participant within your community at liturgies, assemblies and community events

· Joyfully engage in community activities when asked to do so by dean/community captain

Freshman captains:

· Ambassadors for 8^th grade guests in the months of Nov/Dec/Jan

· Assist as needed for the freshman mixer, Sept. 17^th.

· Assist the senior captains in decoration and/or clean up after homecoming and sweetheart dances: Oct. 8^th, Feb. 4^th

· Be a present and active participant within your community at liturgies, assemblies, and community events

· Joyfully engage in community activities when asked to do so by dean/community captain.