House System
The House System at Chanel College is pivotal to our Pastoral Care structure.
The House System is significant as that structure which provides students with a sense of belonging. It also facilitates a stronger sense of identity, spirit and participation along with opportunities to exercise leadership.
This structure is conducive to enriching the lives of students in each House as they are supported in their spiritual, social, intellectual and emotional growth.
Chanel College has five Houses. All students belong to one of these five Houses. Each House has Year 12 House Captains who lead the House. They are supported by the Middle Years Leaders and House Pastoral Care Representatives.
Each House is led by a Head of House who is a member of the Middle Leadership structure of the College. House Pastoral Care Teachers assist the Head of House in supporting House activities, promoting participation in House events as well as managing Pastoral Care time in the mornings and afternoons.
The name of each House reflects significant aspects of the tradition of Chanel College.
Futuna
Futuna House takes its name from the island of Futuna, the place of martyrdom of St. Peter Chanel in 1841. Futuna Island is situated in the Pacific Ocean about 400 kms north-east of Fiji. Arriving in 1837, Fr. Peter Chanel endured hardship and suffered persecution at the hands of the Pacific Islanders. In four years of missionary work, fewer than one hundred people were baptised. Peter Chanel was martyred in 1841 and this eventually led to the conversion of the whole island.
Marcellin
Marcellin House takes its name from Saint Marcellin Champagnat, the French priest who founded the congregation of the Marist Brothers in 1817. The congregation which Marcellin founded, began its first school in Australia in 1872, arriving in Queensland (in Brisbane) in 1929, and in Gladstone at the beginning of 1968.
Stella Maris
This traditional title for Our Lady meaning “The Star of the Sea”, had its origins in the seafaring ports of Europe. Explorers and sea travellers sought the protection and guidance of Mary in their many travels. In 1900, our local Catholic parish adopted the title of “Star of the Sea” and the girls’ section of the Gladstone Catholic High School was also called Stella Maris College.
McAuley
McAuley House takes its name from Mother Catherine McAuley, the founders of the Sisters of Mercy. The establishment of the Sisters of Mercy in 1831 was a major event in the life of the Catholic Church. Today, the Sisters of Mercy are found worldwide. The first group of Sisters arrived in Australia in 1846. On 11th July 1900, a community of Sisters arrived in Gladstone and were involved in the education of young people until 1994.
MacKillop
MacKillop house takes its name from Australia’s first saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Mary MacKillop was a woman of great faith and courage who responded with total commitment to God. She visited Gladstone in June 1875 and again in 1878 and established St Joseph’s School in 1874.
