Making the Houses Home: Learn More About PRCA's Houses

Two years ago, Pusch Ridge Christian Academy implemented a House System within our high school. The houses are there to support lateral (across grades) rather than horizontal (within grade) relationships. Every high school student was sorted into one of  four houses, Ten Boom, Carmichael, Bonhoeffer, and Lewis. Each house was named after a patron of the faith, someone who fulfills all the parts of PRCA’s Portrait of a Graduate which include being a Courageous Christian, Virtuous Steward, Servant Leader, Truth Seeker, and Justice Keeper.    

About the Patron: 

Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983) lived in occupied Holland during WW2. Corrie Ten Boom and her family protected Jews in their home until they were caught. Corrie was arrested and taken  to Ravensbrück, a German concentration camp for women, where she watched her family die around her. Corrie kept her faith in God the entire time. After she was released, Corrie shared her story around the world, speaking in over 60 countries and authoring many books.  

1) Why was Corrie Ten Boom chosen for this house?

2) What do you want this house to be known for?

3) Why is the wolf for Ten Boom house?

4) What does your house mean to you? 

Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) was born in England but served as a missionary in India for most of her life. In India she opened an orphanage for children being sold or given to Buddist monks. She took in these children as her own, protecting them from the cruel life they had been condemned to. For Amy Carmichael, it was not about her, but about the children, and God. Even in her later life she refused to have people write and talk about her. 

1) Why was Amy Carmichael chosen for this house?

2) What do you want this house to be known for?

3) Why is the elephant the mascot for Carmichael house?

4) What does your house mean to you? 

 

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a German theologian who was passionate about the unification of Christians worldwide. Living during the reign of Adolf Hitler, Bonhoeffer took part in countless anti-semitism protests. He was also the founder of the Confessing Church, a movement focused on unifying the German Protestant church against the Nazi reign. Perhaps the most well-known fact about Dietrich Bonhoeffer was his involvement in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Sadly, the plot was discovered and Bonhoeffer was arrested due to letters found linking him to the conspiracy. He was later tried and sentenced to death by hanging. Dietrich Bonhoeffer died a martyr for the church and was remembered as the voice who defended the innocent and fought for justice.

Why was Dietrich Bonhoeffer chosen as a patron for one of PRCA’s houses?

What would you like this house to be known for?

 Why was the owl chosen as the mascot for this house?

What does Bonhoeffer house mean to you?

 

Clive Staples Lewis, better known as C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), was an Irish scholar and author best known for writing the widely loved series, The Chronicles of Narnia. He, of course, wrote many other things including Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and Out of the Silent Planet. As a young man, Lewis was a brilliant student and was accepted into Oxford University. He studied there for a year before volunteering to fight in the British army during the First World War. Lewis fought valiantly during the last few months of the war when he was injured and sent home. There he finished university and became a teacher. Many don’t know that the famous author struggled in his faith when he was young and even walked away for a period of time, but Lewis returned to the faith stronger than ever. The great C.S Lewis became passionate about apologetics through his novels and influenced the whole world with his writings. 

Why was C.S. Lewis chosen as a patron for one of  PRCA’s houses?

What would you like this house to be known for?

Why was the stag chosen as the mascot for this house?

What does Lewis house mean to you? 

  

Each house is different. From doing the next right thing, caring for the community and loving those who need it, to having courage when others don’t, these diverse houses set the grounds for all of Pusch Ridge Christian Academy and her students. 

To us, the House System gives us a sense of belonging and a sense of pride to be a part of something so special and so unique. It plants a sense of importance in each student to know that  one day when we’ve moved on and graduated from PRCA, we weren’t just part of a dearly loved class of students, but a part of a smaller, tighter knit family found in his/her house. It is an honor to be a part of the house system and to be involved in continuing the legacy of these great heroes of the faith that are our house patrons.