The history of the houses

The four-house system is a traditional way of organising students and is used in various educational institutions.(Harry Potter fans will be familiar with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin)

Many of the Christian Brother Schools in India have the 4 house system and the houses are often named after significant people or just as colours.

Some examples.

Regina Mundi School,Goa

Regina Mundi School,Goa have Red,Blue,Green and Yellow houses named Hayes,Slattery,Mulligan and O Farrell.These were brothers who spent many years of dedicated service in the school.

St Mary’s School,Mount Abu

St Mary’s,Mount Abu have Red,Blue,Green and Yellow houses named St Johns,St Joseph’s,St Patricks and St Francis.

St Joseph’s College,Nainital

St Joseph’s,Nainital have their Red,Blue,Green and Yellow houses named Tagore House, Gandhi House,Pant House and Nehru House.

St Edmund’s School Shillong

St Edmund’s School ,Shillong have four houses named after 4 Irish brother past principals – McCann,McGee,O Leary and Roe -the house colours being Red,Blue,Yellow and White. Roe House (White) was renamed O’Brien house when the house colour was changed to green.

St Augustine’s High School

The exact date when a four house system was started in St Augustine’s school is lost in the mists of time.Some ex student or past teacher may remember.It started with a house system named after the four colours Red,Blue,Green and Yellow. Between the years 1995 and 2017 the number of houses was increased to 6 and two more house colours – Orange and Purple were added.

( Marchpast – Sports Day 2016 : Marchpast of Red,Blue,Green,Yellow,Orange and Purple Houses.)

6 house inter house race in 2016 with blue house in the lead …

In the year 2018 the school reverted to the 4 house system.The four houses were named after 4 of our own well loved past principals – Brs Keane,Gomes,Murphy and Whiting.

Sports Day 2018 was the first time the houses marched under their new house names. The students of each house also created rallying cries for their own houses in that year. They are..

Keane House : Don’t be mean – Cheer for Keane !!

Gomes House: East or West – Gomes is the Best !!

Murphy House : Raise your voice higher- Murphy is on Fire !!

Whiting House : C’mon Whiting – Keep on Fighting !!