Published on: 2 May 2019

  • New House launch
  • Scholastic Book Fair

We welcomed back all of our classes on Tuesday with the unveiling and official launch of our new Houses in Manjar Square. With the exciting move into our new Preparatory School, we wanted to use this opportunity to introduce new House names that represent the cultural significance of this area. With the aid of Noongar Elder Richard Wally, last year’s House Captains investigated some Australian native animals to find new names and symbols to attach to our Houses. The 2018 Captains came up with the Australian Raven, Dolphin, Goanna and Kangaroo. These animals have lived here, where our school stands, for many years before we arrived. These new symbols give us an opportunity to reconnect with the land and shores where these animals lived and thrived, making it our home and uniquely Australian. These animals represent many things in Australian and Noongar culture and demonstrate many wonderful characteristics that we want to see in the good men of Christ Church. Each boy in Pre-Primary to Year 6 is allocated to one of four Houses; Karda – Goanna (gold), Wardung – Australian Raven (green), Kearla – Dolphin (light blue) or Yonga – Kangaroo (red), and remains in that House for the entirety of his schooling in the Preparatory School. See the video of the event here.

Each House has a co-ordinator, who is also a Preparatory School teacher. Throughout the year, the Houses participate in service and philanthropy activities and events. Boys can also gain House points for various other challenges, activities, rewards and events. Each of the House Co-ordinators shared information about each of our new Houses and their symbols – special thanks to Mr O’Driscoll (Karda), Miss Jeffs (Yonga), Mr Pozzi (Wardung) and Ms Donald (Kearla).

The new House badges will be presented to boys from Years 3 to 6 at the first House Lunch for Term 2. This exciting event will take place on Tuesday 7 May and coincides with the launch of the new Preparatory School Houses. We ask boys from Years 3 to 6 to attach the House badge to the lapel of their blazer and to wear it with pride.

The Scholastic Book Fair will be arriving at Christ Church on Thursday 9 May, Week 2 in the Preparatory Library! Come explore all the fantastic books during this period to write your wish list. Students will be viewing Book Fair during their library lessons and purchasing will be open in Week 3 with special times for parents/guardians to view Book Fair; Thursday 16 May and Friday 17 May from 2.30pm to 4.00pm.

Dr Steven Males
Head of Preparatory School