House System
The House system is very important at The Cathedral School. It provides the framework for pastoral care of students, encourages participation in sporting and cultural extra-curricular activities and promotes leadership development.
There is keen but good-natured rivalry between the four Houses to see who will win the coveted House Shield each year. Points towards this prize accumulate from the various sporting and cultural competitions that are held throughout the year.
In the Junior School, these include: Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals; and a hotly-contested Quiz contest.
In the Middle and Senior Schools, the competition includes the three major sports carnivals, as well as Drama, Musical, Choir, Instrumental and Debating Competitions; and team sports such as Volleyball, Basketball, Hockey, Touch Football, Netball, Vigoro, Softball and Soccer.
Strong house loyalty and good-natured rivalry dominate the school atmosphere. The four houses are:
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Bede House
Motto: Judge us by our actions
Colours: Red and Blue
Mascot: Bear
History
Bede House is named after The Venerable Bede (c.672-735), an English Benedictine scholar, monk, and saint. His most important work is The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. He introduced the system of dating events from the birth of Christ. Bede was made a saint in 1899; his feast day is May 27, the day of his death. His bones are buried at the altar tomb in Durham Cathedral.
House Competition
Our main goal in any competition is to participate to the best of our ability. Our mascot of the bear is warm and cuddly, but a fierce competitor. GO BEDE!
Chatham House
Motto: I know that I can do it.
Colours: Yellow and Black
Mascot: Cheetah
History
Chatham House was named after the First Earl of Chatham, William Pitt. He was an outstanding war-time leader, and is chiefly remembered for his success in strengthening and expanding the British Empire in the mid-eighteenth century. He was a great patriot and a fiery orator who was respected because he passionately defended his beliefs and had the courage to follow his convictions. At the outbreak of the Seven Year War, he declared "I know that I can save the country, and nobody else can."
House Competition
Participation in a wide variety of House events is viewed as more important than being "winners", but the encouragement that students receive from being an active participant increases House spirit and gets results!
Langton House
Motto: To serve is to reign
Colours: Maroon & Gold
Mascot: Lion
History
Langton House is one of the School's original houses. It is named after the thirteenth century theologian and churchman, Stephen Langton. Langton was born in England, studied and taught in Paris and Rome, was created a cardinal by Pope Innocent III and was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1213. Langton played an instrumental role in persuading King John to sign the Magna Carta and in establishing the autonomy of the English Church against excessive papal interference.
House Competition
Langton has always emphasised the importance of participation and enjoyment. Sending students into competition, be it sport, drama, music or debating, for the purpose of having fun has resulted in a great deal of success and the creation of a wonderful House spirit. The successes have come in plays, musicals, debating, swimming and a whole range of other sports.
More House
Motto: On the wings of an eagle
Colours: Green and Black
Mascot: Eagle
History
More House has been part of the House system of the Cathedral School since 1917. It is named after Sir Thomas More (1477-1535) who was a prominent English lawyer and theologian during the reign of King Henry VIII. He was beheaded because he would not support Henry VIII when he decided to ignore the rules of the Church in order to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
Sir Thomas More was a great man, a knight and a saint. He was well known for being courtly, courageous, faithful, diligent, dedicated and dependable. The members of More House are proud to be connected with such a strong personality and strive to adopt at least some of his attributes.
House Competition
House spirit is very strong within More House. The students are always keen to participate in all House events. While events such as Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics are historically More's strongest areas, with a number of age champions being More House members, we have also been successful in the Drama competition and our results in Debating and Musicals continue to improve. Winning the House Shield is important but the primary aim for More House is participation and enjoyment.
