HOUSE SYSTEM
Each student and their siblings are assigned to a House which is led by a House Mentor with the support of Student House Leaders (Year 12 House Captains and House Representatives from Years 7 – 11 and IEC).
There are four Houses:
Kelly (Blue)
McAuley (Gold)
Pascoe (Green)
Rice (Red)
The House System provides a vehicle and a focus for students to:
- have an additional sense of belonging within the larger school population
- have the opportunity to mix with different age levels
- have increased opportunities to form mentor/role model relationships across age-groups
- further their engagement in College activities
- experience the building of team spirit and cooperation through friendly rivalry and competition.
House Shirts
House shirts were introduced in 2013. They are a compulsory uniform item for students in Years 7- 12 and IEC and are worn during Inter-House Carnival Days and on House Days. House shirts may be worn as an alternative to the College Sports Shirt in Physical Education classes by all students.
House Day
A House Day is included in the College calendar for each House. House days are held on Tuesdays; during Pastoral period, the host House will conduct a whole-school liturgy. The liturgy is followed by recess/lunchtime activities and competitions organised by the House Mentor, Captain and Representatives. On their House Day, students will engage in some fundraising activities to help the service-works associated with their House namesake. On House Days, all students of the College may wear their House Shirt and sports uniform to school.
House Activities
Students have opportunities to contribute to the performance of their House by accruing points for their involvement and achievement in a range of college activities, events and fields of endeavour (Sporting, Community and Academic).
House Names and Colours
The name of each of the four Houses draws upon the College’s dual heritage of the Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers (whose founders were Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice), as well as members of these congregations who have served in the Aranmore Catholic College Community - Sr Janina Pascoe and Br John Anthony Kelly (aka Br Tony or Br Jack Kelly).
KELLY – Christ our Light
The crest features a cross made up of four boomerangs. The short boomerangs at the top of the cross represent those used for hunting birds etc. they always return back to their origins. We hope that all Kelly members and students here can return to our protected environment at Aranmore.
The longer, uneven length boomerangs at the bottom fly straight and true and so are used for hunting land animals. Like the boomerangs we pray that every Kelly member and student at Aranmore can move through life in a straight and true path.
The symbols on the boomerangs represent the animals and plants that are native to the land on which our school sits, and the footprints show the pathway we take through this land to knowledge and enlightenment.
This link to Indigenous culture and the land on which we sit represents part of our heritage, our present and our future link with Aboriginal Australians, the land, and ties it to our Christian heritage through the symbol of the cross.
McAULEY – Faith and Compassion
The Portrait of the Venerable Catherine McAuley, repre-sents McAuley House’s legacy of Compassion, first initiated by our namesake. The portrait reminds McAuley members and all students to show com-passion for all people.
The guiding rays of light rep-resent our shared sense of Faith. McAuley House mem-bers remind all in our Com-munity to accept the chal-lenge of service through Faith and Compassion.
The Yellow rose, the Cathe-rine McAuley rose, is a trademark of Aranmore and symbolises ‘Care’.
We hope that all here at the College remember to care for each other and continue to make Aranmore a safe and welcoming place for all.
PASCOE – Make God Known
It was in 1966 that she began assisting teaching music in the current two music rooms. Sister Janina continued her own music studies until 1970 when she was posted to Mercy convents in Tuart Hill, Wanneroo and Girrawheen. In 1983 she returned to Aranmore (St Mary’s) and has been here ever since teaching Music and Religious Education and help-ing families become aware of family and education assistance available from the government.
The dove represents Peace and Compassion, two of the many qualities of Sr. Janina and visible in the work of the Sisters of Mercy. The dove shown in flight symbolises the current and past work of the Sisters of Mercy throughout the world. Through Peace and Compassion, the Sisters of Mercy have made God known.
The cross in the background is the Mercy cross and represents a ministry that is diverse but aligned to a common purpose. For the Venerable Catherine McAuley, the inner cross was a reminder that we should dedicate ourselves to the work God has given us, take up our own cross and serve with a deep reverence for others.
RICE – Strength from Heaven
The book symbolises Blessed Edmund Rice and how he wanted to provide ‘education for all’. Edmund viewed education as a priority and the book reminds all of us of the importance of education for bringing change.
The letters INRI is the Latin in-scription on Jesus’ Cross which translated means “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.” Placed on the book it reminds us that another book, containing the Gospel accounts of Je-sus’ life was important to Edmund Rice and we are called to draw on and grow in God’s Spirit and Strength. We are called on to show great spirit and strength as we develop our talents.
The guiding rays of light re-mind us that God is always living within us. It reminds us all that through our actions and words, we can bring God into the lives of others. The Celtic Cross represents the Christian Brothers and their Irish roots. ‘To Do and To Teach’ was the inscription on the original cross and all are asked to follow this simple yet powerful view.
