6 Houses. All Irish.
2020-2021 Irish Cup Winner - Elliston House
2021-2022 House Leaders
For nearly 100 years, Father Ryan High School has been forming lives of excellence in the Catholic tradition. In 2019, the school launched its new strategic plan, which inspired us to think about the next 100 years.
The plan challenged us to think about how we educate students during a time of formation and change. It also challenged us to deepen the Father Ryan experience and enhance meaningful relationships through a culture of engagement and involvement.
To answer this question, we searched high and low. A single model emerged, one used at more than 50 Catholic high schools. One that provides a safe environment that allows students to explore, develop and navigate experiences that will shape their future. One where students will be known, and they will be loved.
What’s the answer? The House System.
The plan challenged us to think about how we educate students during a time of formation and change. It also challenged us to deepen the Father Ryan experience and enhance meaningful relationships through a culture of engagement and involvement.
We asked ourselves: How will Father Ryan develop spiritual servant-leaders with a global view and a thirst for inquiry, creativity, and problem-solving, while challenging students to reach their full potential, in a way that doesn’t simply focus on GPA or achievements on the field?
To answer this question, we searched high and low. A single model emerged, one used at more than 50 Catholic high schools. One that provides a safe environment that allows students to explore, develop and navigate experiences that will shape their future. One where students will be known, and they will be loved.
What’s the answer? The House System.
Frequently Asked Questions
List of 9 items.
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What is a House System?
A house system is a way to make a large high school feel smaller and increase the level of mentoring and pastoral care provided to students while increasing the number of student leadership opportunities. -
What is the benefit of a House System?
Father Ryan’s House System fosters a caring and supportive environment where students from all grades will have more opportunities to lead, collaborate and contribute. This model allows for more peer-to-peer mentoring, leadership opportunities, and spiritual development.
An anchor of the House System is the student-faculty relationship. Over the course of four years, students will interact with a mentor who will foster social and emotional intelligence. These soft skills are difficult to teach in a traditional setting. -
Is there any correlation between a house system and academic performance?
Studies show that academic performance is positively impacted when there’s an atmosphere of care and connection. With Father Ryan’s House System, student care and connectedness are amplified like never before! The house system model addresses a student’s social and emotional learning, which is a vital educational component. Those so-called “soft skills,” like cooperation and communication, are imperative for college and career success, but their development is often lacking in our tech-focused world. The house system model is designed to fill this void. -
When did the House System go into effect?
Father Ryan's new house system began in the 2020-2021 school year. -
When will the Class of 2025 and incoming transfers learn what House they are in?
Students in the Class of 2025 and incoming transfers to Father Ryan will learn their house assignment during their orientation in August. -
What does the House System look like?
The House System divides students, faculty and staff into six houses. Each of these smaller communities has a faculty Head of House, a Personal Counselor and a College Counselor.
Houses are separated into smaller mentor groups, led by two adult mentors (faculty and/or staff). These mentor groups include students from all classes and meet daily, staying together through graduation, all while allowing students more chances to discover their talents, lead their peers, and celebrate successes in a supportive community. -
How many Houses are there?
Father Ryan’s House System has six houses. -
Are there be opportunities for student leadership?
One of the advantages of a Father Ryan High School education is the opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience while on campus.
There are 210 leadership positions within the House System. In each of the six houses, there are seven house leadership positions and 28 mentor group leadership opportunities open to all grade levels. -
Father Ryan is built on a foundation of tradition. Does this change with a house system?
Father Ryan has a storied history built on a tradition of faith, knowledge, and service. We believe that the house system enriches and deepens this experience, while also providing students more opportunities to help build new traditions for each individual house.
House System Leadership
List of 7 members.
Glossary of Terms
List of 5 items.
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Director of Houses
The leader of the entire house system. -
Head of House
Faculty/staff leader of a house. -
House
A collection of diverse students across all grade levels. Led by a student and faculty leader, this group will collaborate on service-learning projects, friendly competitions, and more. -
Mentor
A faculty/staff leader of a mentor group. Each house will have at least two mentor leaders whose role is designed to accompany students throughout his/her four years at Father Ryan, providing a continuity of pastoral care and mentoring. -
Mentor Group
A small group of students led by two faculty/staff mentor leaders and student leaders. Mentor groups will meet daily and will benefit from peer-to-peer interaction.
