School Life

House System

The eight Veritas Houses are Ambrose, Ansano, Benedict, Cecilia, Clement, Felicitas, Minias, and Pudenziana.
The Veritas House system was established to further the mission of the school in grades 7 - 12 through the formation of small communities within the Upper School student body. Within these houses, students have opportunity for fellowship, leadership, service, healthy competition, and mentoring by faculty members and older students, ensuring that students know each other and build relationships across grade levels in the regular life of the Upper School community. Each year, rising seventh graders and new Veritas students are inducted into Houses, where they will remain members throughout their Veritas experience.

The House System also provides the basic structure for the formal student leadership of the Upper School. Each House has a House Head who both leads the House and works together with leaders from other houses, faculty, and administrators to oversee many Upper School activities. Teams of additional student leaders from the Houses collaborate to organize and execute inter-House activities—things like socials, service projects, and competitions—as well as to lead intra-House mentorship and fellowship.

By providing this structure, House System encourages students to bring their desires, ideas, and talents into the life of the school - we want them to shape the identity of the Upper School and leave their mark on it. The Houses allow for real responsibilities, real participation, and the possibility for real failure. Through healthy competition and shared goals, students learn to work together, solve problems, initiate new ideas, and participate in meaningful traditions. 

Where do the house names come from?

When considering the names for the eight houses, the leadership choose them based on one of the most highly-anticipated, culminating events at Veritas: the senior trip to Italy. Given the prominent role that cities in Italy have played (especially ancient and medieval times, including the blossoming of Christianity), traveling there with our students embodies much of what they have learned at Veritas. In order to highlight the supremacy of Christ and faithfulness to Him as the ultimate goal of a Christian classical education, we have chosen eight exemplars from the locations visited on the senior trip to be our house namesakes. 
 
These early Christian men and women lived in cultures that were at odds with Christian orthodoxy and practice. In the midst of empires that demanded allegiance, the people from this minority culture chose to serve Christ as their King instead. Most were persecuted for that choice, some were martyred for it, and all are wonderful examples that embolden us to serve Christ and not power, wealth, or fame.