St. John's Berchmans House System

"Cura Personalis": the Care of the Individual

"Jesuit education insists on individual care and concern for each person." (The Characteristics of Jesuit Education - paragraph 41.)

At St. John's Jesuit, teachers, staff, and administrators, both Jesuit and lay, serve as more than academic guides. Involved in the lives of the students, they each take personal interest in the intellectual, the moral, and the spiritual development of every student. It is their mission to help each student develop a sense of self-worth and become a responsible individual giving back to the greater community.

While the privacy of a student is maintained, as guides the faculty is ready to listen to students' cares and concerns, to help them grasp the meaning of life, and to share their joys and sorrows.

It is in such direct contact that a young man's personal growth and interpersonal relationships are enhanced. In these and others ways, the adult members of the educational community guide students as they develop values leading to life decisions that reach beyond "self interest" and include a concern for the needs of others.

As mentors, faculty try to live in a way that offers an example to students, and they are willing to share their own life experiences. "Cura Personalis" (care and concern for the individual) remains a basic characteristic of Jesuit education." (The Characteristics of Jesuit Education, para. 43).

There are eight Houses in the St. John's Jesuit House System - each comprised of 100 students from freshman to senior. Students remain in the same House during their entire time at SJJ. Through all the interaction and House activities during the school year, they develop a special identity with that House and the students within it.

Each House will be supervised by a Dean who will be responsible for the overall formation of the House. The Dean will report to the House Directors as to the health of the House and work to create a strong community within each House.

Within the House, each student belongs to a Mentor Group. This smaller group enables the senior students to meet informally with the underclassmen and gives them opportunity to develop leadership skills.

There are short 30-minute meetings once a week for the Mentor Group to meet with the Mentor. At regular intervals the entire house will meet. Friendly competition between the Houses over the year culminates with the winning House being awarded "The Berchmans Cup." Houses will be awarded points in four categories: academics, conduct, service, and competition.

The House Directors are Mr. Ron Miller and Mr. Greg Richard. The Deans are Mr. Frank Carnicom (Pro House); Mr. Brian Tittl (Hurtado House); Mrs. Jill Lipinski (Claver House); Mr. Dave Hartwig (Miki House); Mrs. Stacie Clark (Canisius House); Mr. Steve Spenthoff (Jogues House); Mr. Gordon Bumpus (Kostka House); and Mr. Todd Black (Mayer House).