School Houses
The girls in the Preparatory School are divided into 4 houses. During the course of the year, many varied house events take place that are designed to be competitive but very enjoyable. House points are awarded to the girls for good work and behaviour in addition to participating in house events. The girls eagerly await the competitions that take place such as the general knowledge quiz, the singing and poetry competitions and also the inter-house sporting events - netball, rounders and swimming. At the end of the year, the house with the highest number of points overall wins the house cup.
In addition to these enjoyable competitive events, girls from each house get involved in charitable giving activities which they devise and organise themselves with guidance from their house teachers. The four school houses are all named after chosen saints:
- St. Teresa's
- St. Catherine's
- St. Elizabeth Ann's
- St. Bernadette's
St. Teresa's House
St. Teresa of Lisieux
Saint Teresa of Lisieux (also known as The Little Flower). St. Teresa was born in France in 1873. She was deeply religious from a very early age and entered a Carmelite convent at the age of 15 where she lived a hidden life of prayer. Teresa was ill for much of her life, and died at the age of 24. During her short life she lived by the motto of St. John of the Cross: “Love is repaid by love alone”. She believed in what she called her “little way” of performing her duties with childhood simplicity. Her greatest work was her untiring prayers for others, especially priests. Our house is dedicated to St. Teresa because we feel she is a good female role model for our girls.
Feast day: October 1
House Colour: Yellow
St. Catherine's House
St. Catherine Laboure
St. Catherine’s House is named after the French saint Catherine Laboure who was born in France in 1806. She was the only one from her large family not to go to school and did not learn how to read and write. Her Mother died when Catherine was 8 years old and she was left to care for her Father and the house. During this time she prayed a lot and walked miles every day to attend Mass. Catherine felt called by God to join the Sisters of Charity and so she became a sister of Charity; living a quiet life always caring for others especially those who were seriously ill or dying.
As a patron of our house we pray that like Saint Catherine we may as Marist pupils be aware of Our Lady's power with her son Jesus - may we too show care and concern for those who are ill.
Feast day: November 28
House Colour: Green
St. Elizabeth Ann's House
St Elizabeth Ann Seton
Saint Elizabeth was born in New York in 1774 and came from a wealthy family who were most considerate and caring towards the poor children of New York. She was invited by a priest to open a school for poor girls and especially for those without parents. Saint Elizabeth then invited other women to join her and together they started a community of people who dedicated their lives to helping the poor, telling them about God Our Creator, Jesus Our Redeemer and teaching them to read and write. Saint Elizabeth is known for her love of music. She wrote hymns and also prepared and gave spiritual talks. She was the first North American to be named as a Saint by a Pope.
As patron of our house we would wish to imitate her in her awareness of others who are less well off than ourselves and most of all, in her desire to help others to know God Our Father through prayers and her example.
Feast day: January 4
House Colour: Red
St. Bernadette's House
St Bernadette Soubirous
Our house is named after St. Bernadette Soubirous, who lived in France over 150 years ago. St Bernadette is particularly special to us because of her link with Mary, mother of Jesus, who is the patron of our school. As a young girl, she had visions of a beautiful lady dressed in blue and white with stars around her head and roses at her feet. She saw the lady, in a cave by a river and on one occasion the Lady told her to dig where she stood and water came gushing from the spot. Many people came to visit the spot and prayers were offered. Blind and sick people rubbed the water on their bodies and many were cured because they believed that Our Lady was asking God to make them better. Today, thousands of people visit the shrine in Lourdes, where they pray for their illnesses to be cured.
Feast day: April 16
House Colour: Blue