Overview
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The Palma House System is represented by “four houses, one family.” Students are welcomed into one of four multi-grade level Houses, each led by a faculty House Dean and two student House Captains. Each House will have an identifiable name, color, and crest. Students in each House also belong to a smaller group within the House, called House Huddle, which is led by a faculty House Huddle Teacher and two student House Huddle Captains. Generally, students meet four times per week with their House Huddle group. Nearly all activities and events are run through the House System as Houses compete for the annual “Chieftain Cup.”
Mission
The purpose of the House System is to support all aspects of student life and to enhance an inclusive and collaborative community through Palma’s Mission, Philosophy, The Essential Elements and ISOs.
Goals
- To provide students with opportunity to connect with more faculty members who mentor and support their social and spiritual growth
- To provide increased leadership opportunities for all students
- To increase student engagement and school spirit through friendly competition
- To increase school pride and a culture of community.
The “Chieftain Cup” is awarded annually to the House that accumulates the most points in various events and competitions that meet Palma’s ISOs.
Structure
The House system is an alternative form of student government that places students from all grades into separate groups called “Houses.” Each House will have a designated name, assigned color, and a uniquely designed House crest.
Within each House are five House Huddles which consist of approximately 20-30 students. The small communities of students meet four days a week and are managed by a House Huddle Teacher (faculty), two House Huddle Captains (one male student and one female student), a House Huddle Influencer (student) and a House Huddle Chaplain (student). The students remain together in their House throughout their entire time at Palma. The student’s House Huddle group will change each year to provide a variety of community building opportunities for all students and faculty members.
House Huddle
House Huddle groups meet 4 times a week for 20 minutes, (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday). During this time students will engage in the following:
- Daily Announcements
- Prayer
- House Based Activities: House Competitions, House Identity, School Spirit
- Counseling Based Activities: Mental Health, Well being, Positive Relationships, Communication
- Campus Ministry Based Activities: Prayer, Reflection, Service.
Leadership
House Director
The House Director is responsible for operating and managing all facets of the House System. Additional responsibilities include:
- Help plan and organize House events and competitions
- Oversee and manage Student/House Government
- Help plan and organize House Huddle agendas
- Manage and oversee House Huddle Teachers
- Work with and assist Counseling and Campus Ministry.
House Deans
House Deans administer each of the four Houses. The House Dean is a faculty/staff member selected by the House Director and Principal. The Dean’s primary responsibilities are to lead the House’s effective development and oversee the House’s administration. Additional roles include:
- Assist in the development and refinement of the House System and guide the specific House in which they lead
- Assist in the social, spiritual, and personal/behavioral development of all students in the House
- Monitor and work with House Huddle Teachers to assure the effective development of the House Huddle groups
- Work with Student House leaders to develop leadership within the House
- Promote character and image of the House.
House Captains
House Captains oversee each of the four Houses. Each House will have one male House Captain and one female House Captain. The House Captain is a student who must apply for the position and be selected by the House Director and Administration. The House Captain’s primary responsibilities are to lead the House, serve the House Huddle Captains to ensure that the House Huddles are succeeding, lead in the planning of House-wide events and represent their House members when decisions are being made.
House Influencers
House Influencers are student leaders who will record and keep track of all things happening in their House. House Influencers must apply for the position and be selected by the House Director and administration. House Influencers will work together with their House Huddle Influencers to build communication throughout the entire House. Each House will be assigned the job of school wide daily announcements on a weekly basis. Each House will be assigned this job one week per month. The House Influencer and five House Huddle Influencers will complete this job together.
House Chaplains
House Chaplains are student leaders who will work closely with Campus Ministry to serve as the face of spirituality for the House. House Chaplains must apply for the position and be selected by the House Director and administration. House Chaplains will work together with their House Huddle Chaplains to build spirituality throughout the entire House. Each House will be assigned the job of creating daily prayers to be performed during House Huddle time. Each House will be assigned this job one week per month. The House Chaplain and five House Huddle Chaplains will complete this job together.
House Huddle Teachers
House Huddle Teachers administer one of the five House Huddle groups within a House. The House Huddle Teacher is a faculty/staff member selected by the administration. The House Huddle Teacher’s primary responsibilities are to oversee the House Huddle’s leadership and daily agendas. Additional roles include:
- Assist in the refinement of the House Huddle leadership and agendas and help guide their specific House Huddle group
- Assist in the social, spiritual, and personal/behavioral development of all students in the House Huddle group
- Monitor and work with House Huddle leadership to assure the effectiveness of their House Huddle time
- Work with students to develop leadership within their House Huddle group
- Promote character and image of the House in their House Huddle group.
House Huddle Captains
House Huddle Captains are student leaders who bridge communication from their respective House Huddle group to the House Captains and Dean. Each House Huddle group will elect one male House Huddle Captain and one female House Huddle Captain. The House Huddle Captains lead the daily House Huddle agenda alongside the House Huddle Teacher. Each student leader will have a distinct role to play during each House Huddle. Examples include:
- Creating and leading icebreakers
- Facilitate class discussions and student sharing
- Helping House Huddle teachers with logistics (ex. setup, gathering volunteers, creating a schedule for prayer, etc.)
- Community team building.
House Huddle Influencers
House Huddle Influencers are student leaders who will record and keep track of all House Huddle happenings and report to their House Influencer. House Huddle Influencers are an elected position within the House Huddle group. House Huddle Influencers will work together with their House Influencer to build communication throughout the entire House. Each House will be assigned the job of school wide daily announcements on a weekly basis. The House Influencer and five House Huddle Influencers will complete this job together.
House Huddle Chaplains
House Huddle Chaplains are student leaders who will work closely with Campus Ministry and their House Chaplain to serve as the face of spirituality for their House Huddle group. House Huddle Chaplains are an elected position within the House Huddle group. House Huddle Chaplains will work together with their House Chaplains to build spirituality throughout the entire House. Each House will be assigned the job of creating daily prayers to be performed during House Huddle. Each House will be assigned this job one week per month. The House Chaplain and five House Huddle Chaplains will complete this job together.
House Support
Two departments support the House System: Campus Ministry and Counseling. All departments involved play an integral role in the House System, enhancing the Palma House system purpose, developing student leaders both inside and outside the classroom, and providing mentorship.
Counseling
The Counseling Department’s goal is to support students and encourage them to challenge themselves both in and outside the classroom. Counseling is an integral part of assisting with mentorship and creating healthy student leaders.
Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry challenges students to deepen their faith, enliven liturgy and prayer, serve our local community, and be caretakers of the world around us. Campus Ministry is vital for creating and empowering faith-based student leaders.
Onboarding
New Students
New students are placed into their houses using a randomized approach while giving same house consideration to immediate family members. Students will receive their House assignment during class orientation on August 12th, in which students meet their House Dean, receive some House swag, and meet other incoming members of their House! Students will remain in their Houses for their entire time at Palma. Change requests are allowed under extenuating circumstances.
Mid-Year Transfer Students
The Admission Director notifies the House Director of new transfer students. The House Director then places the student in a House based on the House Huddle group’s capacity. A welcome message is sent to the new student and his or her parents. The Director will notify the House Dean and House Huddle Teacher via email of the incoming student.
New Teachers
The Vice Principal will notify the House Director of new teachers. The House Director will sort teachers based on House Huddle capacity and needs. The Director will send a welcome message to the new teacher and notify the House Dean and the House Huddle co-teacher(s). The teacher will shadow their first House Huddle to get acquainted with the agenda and House Huddle Teacher expectations.
Attendance Policy
Students
Students should treat his/her House Huddle as any other class. Please refer to the 2024-2025 Palma Student-Parent Handbook for additional information on our attendance policy.
Teachers
If a House Huddle Teacher must miss his/her House Huddle meeting, the teacher must notify the House Director and his/her Co-House Huddle Teachers as soon as possible. After notice is received, the House Director will inform his/her House Dean.
Friendly Competition
House Events
Houses compete throughout the year in a variety of academic, athletic, and team-building activities to earn points towards the coveted “Chieftain Cup,” a perpetual award given to the House with the most cumulative points.
Examples of possible House events include:
- Back to School Rally
- Red & Gold Family Day House Hangout
- Dodgeball Tournament
- Homecoming Week
- Gingerbread House Contest
- Cornhole Tournament
- Trivia Night
- March Madness Basketball Tournament
- Chieftain Games
- Homecoming, Winter, & Spring Rallies
- Spirit Days
House Points
The Houses compete in predetermined competitions. At the end of the school year, the House with the most points will carry the Chieftain Cup title until the following year.
How to get points:
- Competitions
- Participation
- Acts of Service
- Academics
- Chieftain Cheer
- More to come…
How Points are Awarded
Each event is mutually exclusive so points are per event (Available points for each event will be included with all promos). The points for any competition, events, etc. are normalized through the below percentage scale:
1st - 100% of event points - (If event is worth 100 points, first gets 100 points)
2nd - 95% of event points - (If event is worth 100 points, second gets 95 points)
3rd - 90% of event points - (If event is worth 100 points, third gets 90 points)
4th - 85% of event points - (If event is worth 100 points, fourth gets 85 points)
How Points are Tracked
Points will be tracked through a Google Spreadsheet in “The House” database
- Show live point standings in the Student Activities Center
- Will be shown on school website and social media
- Weekly updates in House Huddles
Spirit Days will be counted during House Huddle and Games of the Week will be counted at the gate.
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Mindful of our primary mission to be a witness to the love of Christ for all, Palma School admits students of any race, color, national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to the students at the school. Palma School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and/or ethnic origin, nor age in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. While Palma School does not discriminate against students with special needs, a full range of services may not be available. Likewise, Palma School does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of gender, age, disability, race, color, and national and/or ethnic origin. Palma School reserves the right to be a sole judge of merit, competence and qualifications, and can favor Catholic applicants and co-workers in all employment decisions, especially in those positions that have direct bearing upon the pastoral activity of the Church.