This Desert Christian Academy school year has taken many by surprise! From new architectural additions, to our eleven man football making a debut this season; DCA is not done with the surprises they have up their sleeves. For the first time in the school’s history, DCA introduced the house system. The house system is the idea of grades (9-12) being divided up into four houses: Atromos, Thysia, Epimelis, and Statheros.

Olivia Borchert (11) – Consul of Statheros
What were your first thoughts when learning we would have this house system?
I was extremely excited for the house system. I was pumped for something new at DCA in the ASB program. I was definitely sad about leaving our classes but we are onto bigger and better things.

What made you step into this leadership role for your house?
I love leadership, I always have. I definitely wanted to be a part of the new system. I was so pumped for the people on my house (Statheros), and I wanted to step out of the box and be on house council as a junior.

Now that spirit week is over, how do you honestly feel how it went with the house system?
I thought spirit week was so fun and different. I think that it was a great learning experience and that there’s always something to improve!

How do you think your house do as a whole last week?
My house definitely rocked it, we won! My house was at last place at one point of the week and I am so proud of them for working together and coming back!

Jonas Smith (11) – Consul of Epimelís
What were your first thoughts when learning we would have this house system?
I was very excited! I was also concerned about how I thought spirit week would work with this new system. Overall I had an optimistic attitude about how it would be. I was a bit disappointed to not be fighting for the win with my class against the seniors though.

What made you step into this leadership role for your house?
I had already been interested in ASB before the end of last school year, because I really wanted to improve the quality if ASB events. I was also on ASB last year, and I saw a large of things that needed to be improved and I thought that the best way to do that was learning from last year and improving the things I saw that needed improvement.

Now that spirit week is over, how do you honestly feel how it went with the house system?
I think that spirit week went great! The house system really did work out! I still did miss being able to battle against the seniors for first but it was very fun either way. There were some kinks that needed and still need to be worked out when it comes to the House system but it overall worked out well!

How do you think your house do as a whole last week?
I think they did well! Although my house (Epimelís) did lose, we had a lot of fun. We did well and I can’t wait to continue having a good time with my house!

Blake Preston (12) – Consul of Thysia
What were your first thoughts when learning we would have this house system?
Who is my competition for House Council? And what houses are the best? I think it is a good plan for creating relationships between grade levels.

What made you step into this leadership role for your house?
It sounded like fun and I believe I will do a good job.

Now that spirit week is over, how do you honestly feel how it went with the house system?
I think the houses system was great for Spirit Week and a thoroughly enjoyed being with other grades for the dance.

How do you think your house do as a whole last week?
House Thysia did great last week! Personally I more proud that we won the dance than I would be if we won Spirit Week as a whole

Ashley Klopfenstein (12) – Consul of Atromos
What were your first thoughts when learning we would have this house system?
My first thought was “What the heck is this?” then I wanted to know who my team was.

What made you step into this leadership role for your house?
I have always loved leading my class, so leading my house wasn’t even a second thought.

Now that spirit week is over, how do you honestly feel how it went with the house system?
I thought it was pretty smooth. We played it pretty well. There’s always room for improvement, but it ran really smoothly.

How do you think your house do as a whole last week?
We did really good. I was really proud of all of then. All the houses got really into it. It was awesome.

Profe Schraepen (Statheros) – Head of House
What were your first thoughts when hearing that DCA was going to implement this housing system?
As being part of someone who was planning it I felt like this is a huge change and we have to put a lot of things in place, but at the same time I was super excited.

After experiencing it with spirit week, do you think it was a good change for us as a school?
I do. I think people really started buying into the idea of having their houses!

As a house leader for your house, what can we as DCA expect from this year?
At least from my house, you can expect a lot of passion!

Mr. Fulton (Atromos) – Head of House
What were your first thoughts when hearing that DCA was going to implement this housing system?
I thought that the idea of maintaining houses for several years as opposed to grade levels only was great. I think that over time the house system is going to create a greater sense of community on campus.

After experiencing it with spirit week, do you think it was a good decision for us as a school?
I do. It was awesome to see students of multiple grade levels come together for a common purpose, set goals, and then work together to accomplish those goals.

As a house leader for your house, what can we as DCA expect from this year from your house?
I don’t know that expectations are necessary. My goal is to aid the student leaders and motivate my house members to simply keep an open mind, have a good attitude, and just enjoy the experiences that the new model of ASB will provide for them.

Mr. Palmer (Statheros) – Head of House
What were your first thoughts when hearing that DCA was going to implement this housing system?
I was excited because I thought it was going to be a great idea to gain a new identity and mix up the classes a little bit, and get some more participation. I was excited because I got to work with some different students from some different classes.

After experiencing it with spirit week, do you think it was a good change for us as a school?
Oh I do yeah, I think it took a lot of pressure off of the classes, and even change the attitudes, cause some of the freshman attitude is “Oh well we’re not gonna win anyways cause we’re freshman” but this year some freshman actually won and were part of a house I think it was an amazing change.

As a house leader for your house, what can we as DCA expect from this year?
I’m excited about formulating our mascot and just how we can unify ourselves, and how we can continue to foster, not only healthy competition amongst the houses but how we can turn these houses into almost discipleship houses. To see older girls mentoring younger girls, and older guys mentoring younger guys not just what we do on a bigger level as a school but how the houses will really grow closer together, and I think because the houses are perpetual. It’s gonna start building legacy.

Mrs. Harrison (Atromos) – Head of House
What were your first thoughts when hearing that DCA was going to implement this housing system?
I was actually really excited, because I immediately went to Harry Potter and I was a big fan of that. I thought it would be a great opportunity for intermingling to happen instead of that segregation in classes getting along and knowing and sticking together. It was an opportunity to watch legacy pass on from senior, junior, sophomore, to freshman, and to really break ice.

After experiencing it with spirit week, do you think it was a good change for us as a school?
I think it was, but I thought that we definitely ran into some challenges, a lot of people don’t like change, there was some grumbling within the student body. But in the end I think it was a great experience, it was a step in the right direction

As a house leader for your house, what can we as DCA expect from this year?
We have a lot of drive in Atromos and a lot of talent I think we’re a house to be feared.

Mr. Tobin (Atromos) – Head of House

What were your first thoughts when hearing that DCA was going to implement this housing system?
I was part of the brain trust that decided to move forward with the new House System so I have been and am looking forward to using it moving forward.

After experiencing it with spirit week, do you think it was a good change for us as a school?
I think spirit week was awesome and I saw several student leaders rise up for responsibility and so much cross grade communication and interaction, which is what we are looking for.

As a house leader for your house, what can we as DCA expect from this year?
House Atromos is looking to show we are fierce, courageous and competitive. We may not win everything, but we are going to try!

Mr. Daigle (Epimelis) – Head of House
What were your first thoughts when hearing that DCA was going to implement this housing system?
I actually thought it was a really good idea. I think it was better than the individual grades because there is pride between grades. Now for underclassmen and upperclassmen to be developing relationships, I think it is way more powerful.

After experiencing it with spirit week, do you think it was a good decision for us as a school?
No doubt. I think that there is still stuff we have to work out but seeing students thriving was the right decision.

As a house leader for your house, what can we as DCA expect from this year from your house?
Because we have student leaders that are leading part of me does not know what to expect. It puts responsibility on the students. Because of our excellent leaders we’re going to redeem ourselves from a fourth place rank on spirit week.

Mrs. Guy (Epimelis) – Head of House
What were your first thoughts when hearing that DCA was going to implement this housing system?
I wasn’t sure about it at first because I’m not very good with change. So, I decided that I wouldn’t complain and wait and see how it all plays out.

After experiencing it with spirit week, do you think it was a good decision for us as a school?
So far so good. I enjoyed watching how the different classes interacted with each other and worked together for one goal. Many students had and opportunity to step up and lead that normally wouldn’t be able to. I feel that this will ultimately bring DCA together as one community.

As a house leader for your house, what can we as DCA expect from this year from your house?
Even though we did not win Spirit week, our group had great participation and I saw students who I didn’t think would jump and help did. Our representative is Jonas Smith. He did a phenomenal job organizing and leading our house. I’m not sure what the year will bring but if Spirit week was any indication of what’s to come, then I feel our house will be up for anything.

Mr. Scott (Principal)
Why did we as a school start the the housing system?
I was feeling like we needed to reboot our ASB that just wasn’t doing much. I sat down with Mr. Tobin, I sat down with Mrs. Schraepen just to get their thoughts. We met together and decided that we would like to see a change and adjustment. Through that they really liked the house concept.

Why/how are the houses beneficial to us as an community?
I think it’s important because anytime you’re mixing the grades you are developing deeper connections and relationships. That was one thing that we felt would be a great benefit for the school.

Now that spirit week os over what should we look forward to in our House activities?
To be honest I’m not entirely sure; but I’m excited about with this new structure is that the students are really gonna drive it.

Due to the separation in our classes now, what does the school have planned for us when it comes to bonding within our classes?
I’m not entirely sure, I’ve handed the thing over. I know that Profe and Tobin are totally fine with classes doing class based things through the new “ASB”.

Katie Schmidt (12) – Student
What were your first thoughts when learning we would have this house system?
I didn’t like it at all because I wanted to be with my class and every year the seniors usually win, so we thought it was going to be our year to win but we as a class didn’t get the regular ‘senior winning’ because we weren’t even together.

What house are you in?
Epimelis

Now that spirit week is over, how do you honestly feel how it went with the house system?
It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. It’s still not my favorite thing ever because I miss my class. But I feel like we did good for what we had to work with.

Walker Smith (10) – Student
What were your first thoughts when learning we would have this house system?
I was surprised about the sudden change and excited for the future changes.

What house are you in?
Atromos

Now that spirit week is over, how do you honestly feel how it went with the house system?
I feel it went very well, it was a fun change of pace.

Lawren Flemming (12) – Student
What were your first thoughts when learning we would have this house system?
I was surprised that they changed the ASB team and wasn’t really fond of them at first, but as the week went on it seemed to get better.

What house are you in?
Thysia

Now that spirit week is over, how do you honestly feel how it went with the house system?
It was overall okay, the dances and games with people in different grades was interesting but progressed as the week went on.