By JENNIFER BAILEY / Staff Writer

ALABASTER – The first day of school for Evangel Classical Christian School is different from other schools in the area. Since 2010, ECCS has been using a house system similar to systems at English boarding schools.

These houses are named for the six days of creation. The houses are Domus Lucius -the house of light and dark, Domus Caeli – the house of sky and sea, Domus Terrae – the house of earth and plants, Domus Solis- the house of the sun, moon and stars, Domus Avium – the house of fish and birds and Domus Regis – the house of man.

Each year, the upcoming sixth-graders and any students who have joined the school at higher grade levels are sorted into one of these houses. Elise Montgomery, a former house sponsor, explained that the students who are to be sorted will line up in alphabetical order to draw a disk from a bag that bears the house colors.

As the students are sorted and their house is announced, the existing members of the house erupt into cheers and applause. The new member of the house is then pinned by one of the student leaders of the house with a pin bearing the house crest.

Montgomery said the house system “gives the younger students an immediate connection to the school” and a sense of community.

Senior Jon Connor Davis is a member of Domus Avium. He said the house system “bridges the gap between grades” by giving the younger students mentors and allowing students of all ages to interact with each other.

Davis said the houses help to prevent cliques from developing and promote good behavior through the house points system.

Hannah Turner, senior student leader of Domus Terrae, said that the ECCS house system promotes healthy relationships within the school and allows the older students to “be a friend” to the younger students.

Throughout the school year, students at ECCS are awarded house points for good behavior and excellence in academics. House points are taken away for things such as unpreparedness or tardiness, among others.

At the end of the school year, the houses have the opportunity to receive two different awards: “Princeps” for the house with the highest amount of points and “Constans” which is awarded for how much the group cares for one another, according to Logic and Rhetoric School Principal Melissa Bell.

Montgomery said that the house system at ECCS allows for “fun competition within the school” and many of the students seemed to agree.