Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School has introduced a House System for the 2025-2026 school year. This system is being implemented to enhance the sense of unity and engagement across all grade levels, and to provide opportunities for increased individual and small group instruction. This effort will also provide activities to maximize students’ unique spiritual, physical, emotional, and professional potential.
Teased to the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen as an upcoming program in April, the deeper explanation of the new House System came during an assembly in the Selby Center, following the final school Mass of the school year on May 6, 2025.
The new program will fall under a three-tier leadership system, each having unique sets of responsibilities but equally important in making the House System what it can be.
The Community tier puts the identity of Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in focus as all students and faculty are part of that one community. This tier will be led by three teachers, Ryan Krause, Julie Mulligan and Brian Flatter, who will serve as Directors of Community, supported by two student Community leaders, rising seniors Mason Jordan and Layla Larrick.
At the next level are the six Houses. Each House has an identifiable name, color, and crest and will have student and teacher mentors, also announced at the assembly. The Houses are named for the Gifts of Christ: Caritas (Charity); Fides (Faith); Gaudium (Joy); Lumen, (Light); Veritas (Truth); and Dignitas (Dignity).
Under each House will be six Families, smaller groups which will also be led by students and teacher mentors. Students will meet daily with either their full House or their Family. Moving forward, nearly all activities and events will be run through the House System.
Director of Community Ryan Krause presented the overview of the new House System during the assembly, explaining the broad goals and benefits the students will gain under this system.
“The best way to think about it working, is the Community leaders will be setting the tone for the entire school House System,” Krause explained. “Our House leaders are going to guide our House’s big picture, and the Family leaders are where leadership gets personal.”
Benefits of House System include the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and develop new relationships with students, faculty, and staff members. There will also be increased availability for Campus Ministry opportunities such as Mass, small groups, etc., which will enable the students’ faith life to have more space to grow and mature.
Krause said with having six Houses, the goal is to create one big family at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School., while also ensuring each student is recognized and given individual attention.
“This is rethinking the way students connect,” Krause said. “This system will improve the everyday wellness of the students.”
Student Community Leaders Mason Jordan and Layla Larrick both see great things in the House System, primarily helping students connect to their fellow students while tearing down the walls of former grade-level hierarchy.
Krause encouraged the rising seniors who were not selected to Community or House leadership positions to apply for the 72 Family leadership posts, as they will prove critical in ensuring the House System succeeds at Cardinal Mooney.
These Family leaders will lead a small Family group within their House, fostering unity and belonging, while building relationships and ensuring every student feels included, valued, and supported. They will also serve as a mentor for younger students and a connector between peers, while bringing energy, creativity, and care to the daily life of their House.
“Family leaders will also lead activities during House events, competitions, and Family time.” Krause said. “It will be ideal for students who lead through kindness, enthusiasm, and initiative. This is a chance to make a visible impact and shape the culture of your House community.”
By the fall, each House and Family will also have junior, sophomore and freshman leaders, which will ensure that students at every grade level will have a say in their Family and House and ultimately the Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School Community.
Cardinal Mooney Principal Ben Hopper said the ultimate goal of the House System is about “truly developing the whole person in mind body and spirit. This has been years in the making.”
Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers was the first Diocesan Catholic high school to incorporate the House System with great success. Verot faculty and staff have offered significant guidance for the Mooney faculty and staff in launching its House System. St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples also has a successful House System.
