The Trinity Christian School House System

Why a House System?

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Program Overview

Since 1987, Trinity Christian School has existed to educate students to the glory of God by pursuing excellence for mind and heart. It has always been our goal to impart truth, instill courage, and inspire service in our community.

In the fall of 2022, Trinity Christian School launched a House system in the Upper School. Trinity’s House system is built upon our school’s core values of Truth, Courage, and Service, which are united in our common bond of Faithfulness. In Trinity’s four Houses, students build community, not only as an Upper School student body, but as members of smaller House and Form communities. These Houses and Forms create opportunities for students to foster relationships with peers in the Upper School (Houses) and within their own grade levels (Forms). Trinity’s faculty and staff are members of Houses as well, leading our students in example and in prayer. At Trinity, we want students to know that they are seen, known, and loved, ensuring that every student feels a sense of belonging and knows that he or she has a place in our school. We want students to be involved in the spiritual culture of Trinity as they journey on their own walk with Jesus Christ.

Trinity’s four Houses exemplify the core values of our school.

Veritas - House of Truth
Fortitudo - House of Courage
Caritas - House of Service
Fidelis - House of Faithfulness

The House system is an integral part of our day. Each school day begins with Form time. Form Advisors use this morning time to share announcements, pray with students, offer a devotion, or lead a conversation with the students in their Form. These groups reconvene at the end of each day during Seminar. Form and Seminar time with the same Form Advisor and the same group of students create a natural community that bookends every school day for every Upper School student. Forms and Form Advisors stay together a student’s Upper School experience. Form Advisors remain with their same form from year to year, moving up with them from Grade 7 through Grade 12.

House Structure

Faculty Leadership Roles

Four Heads of House
24 Form Advisors

Student Leadership Roles

Head Boy
Head Girl
House Mentors

Form Reps
Prefects

VERITAS
House of Truth

House verse:

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

House Hymn:

Holy, Holy, Holy

FORTITUDO
House of Courage

House verse:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

House Hymn:

10,000 Reasons

CARITAS
House of Service

House verse:

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28

House Hymn:

Mighty to Save

FIDELIS
House of Faithfulness

House verse:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22 – 23

House Hymn:

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Heads of Houses

Dr. R. C. Crocker
Veritas

Mrs. Stacy Knight
Fortitudo

Mr. Aaron de Gastyne
Caritas

Mrs. Joni Whitaker
Fidelis

Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms

FORM

A Form refers to the students in a particular grade within a particular house (meaning there are four Forms in each grade, one corresponding with each of the four houses). Each Form is approximately 15-20 students and is overseen by a faculty member called a "Form Advisor." Forms meet every morning before class, Tuesday – Friday, for 20 minutes. This time is called "Form Time."

FORM ADVISOR

A Form Advisor is an adult faculty member who oversees a Form. The Form Advisor fosters spiritual growth, facilitates peer-to-peer relationships, and monitors students' overall wellbeing.

FORM TIME

Form Time refers to the daily (Monday – Friday), 20-minute meetings held in each Form before class. The purpose of Form Time is to foster community within a smaller group of students with the mentorship of an adult faculty member called the "Form Advisor."

FORM REP

Form Reps are elected student leaders in each Form. Their responsibilities include leading their Forms in devotion and prayer, advocating for their Form, and being leaders and role models for their peers and younger students.

HEAD BOY

Head Boys are a male students nominated by faculty from the student leaders (made up of Prefects and Mentors) who serve the student body and lead the Student Leadership Team. There is one Head Boy for each Trinity House. This is the highest rank of student leadership for a boy at Trinity.

HEAD GIRL

Head Girls are female students nominated by faculty from the student leaders (made up of Prefects and Mentors) who serve the student body and lead the Student Leadership Team. There is one Head Girl for each Trinity House. This is the highest rank of student leadership for a girl at Trinity.

HEAD OF HOUSE

The Heads of House are the four faculty members who each oversee one of the four houses in the Upper School. Their responsibilities include holding House Assemblies, dealing with behavioral issues, and providing pastoral care for students in their assigned house.

HOUSE

A House refers to one of four subsets of students in the Upper School. Every Upper

School student is a member of one of four houses. Each House has members from all Upper School grades.

HOUSE DAY

House Day is a day dedicated to team-building activities and fellowship for Upper School students to have with their fellow House members. House Day occurs on the first day of the fall semester.

HOUSE MENTOR

House Mentors refer to student leaders from each House who intercede on behalf of students in their respective Houses and build rapport with students.

PREFECT

Prefects are students who serve and lead the student body by introducing new school events and proposing policy changes on behalf of the student body.

SLT

SLT stands for Student Leadership Team. This is a group of Upper School students made up of Prefects and House Mentors, and also includes Head Boys and Head Girls from each House.

Hear from Trinity's 2022 Head Boy and Head Girl

We sit down with Trinity's Head Boy Jonathan M. and Head Girl Christine S. As seniors and leaders of the school, the two share their insights into what it means to be a leader and how they strive to use their influence for the good of the community. Fueled by a love for their fellow students and a desire to serve others, Christine and Jonathan strive to emulate Christ in their roles. These students are truly wise beyond their years, and offer excellent advice for students and adults alike about leading others well.

Christine S.

Christine is a Senior at Trinity and is also Head Girl, the highest-ranking student leadership position for a girl at Trinity. Christine is a passionate social entrepreneur, exploring and facilitating connections in her community through projects like her independently developed app “ScolioBend” which connects members of the Scoliosis community.

Jonathan M.

Jonathan is a Senior at Trinity and is also Head Boy, the highest-ranking student leadership role for a boy at Trinity. Jonathan is passionate about servant-leadership and listening to the needs and concerns of his fellow students. Jonathan is also a captain on the Boys Varsity Cross Country Team, loves math, and also runs a personal landscaping business on the side.

Jo Wilbur

Jo Wilbur is a Marketing and Communications Specialist at Trinity Christian School and proud JMU grad who loves writing, shopping, and making new friends. She and her husband live in Paeonian Springs and spend time together cooking plant-based meals, singing worship songs, and volunteering as Young Life leaders in their community.

The Trinity Christian School House System

Glossary of Terms

House Reveal Video

Volleyball Tournament