HOUSE SYSTEM

All St Mark's School children belong to one of three houses and throughout the year, in the spirit of House competition, there is a series of events planned between the houses, including swimming, athletics, cross country, house sports day and a classroom competition.

Williams (Red house)

Julius (Blue House)

Cholmondeley (Green House)

All the House names were originally adopted from local clergy who had an association with the school. Williams House was named after Cannon Henry Williams, vicar of St Mark's Parish in Opawa from 1908 - 1930. In 1921 he established a church day school in the St Mark's Church grounds and later in 1925 the St Mark's Open Air School was established on the present school site.

Julius House was named after Bishop Churchill Julius, the second Anglican Bishop of Christchurch. Julius was convinced that there was a need for a Church teaching order and had a vision that parish church schools be available to all children whose parents wished them to have an education based on Christian religious teaching.

Cholmondeley House was named after Archdeacon Cholmondeley, the first vicar of the separated St Mark's Parish from the Heathcote Parish from 1875 - 1901.