By Pacey Liss '20

One of the many things that makes Germantown Academy so unique is the close-knit community it manages to create among its students through the House System, advisories, athletic teams, and clubs. When freshmen come into the Upper School, they are automatically placed into one of seven different Houses (Alcott-Day, Galloway, Kershaw, Osbourn, Roberts, Truesdell, and Washington). Students stay in the same House during all four years of their high school experience. The House System is unique because it places students from all different grades into one space. The House allows freshmen to bond with seniors, sophomores to bond with juniors, and so on. Throughout the year, the Houses compete in several House competitions, from kickball to the Knowledge Bowl, and House Olympics is held every year in the spring. Through the House competitions, students are able to participate together and root for each other. These competitions are always a fun time for students to bond with each other and for some friendly competition. Throughout my Upper School experience, I always enjoyed having a smaller community within the Upper School that I could be connected to. House competitions were some of my favorite activities in high school, especially when my house won House Olympics when I was a junior. 

In addition to the House System, GA places students into advisories for additional support, and to give them a smaller setting within their House and grade. Advisories are the same for freshmen and sophomore year and change for junior and senior year. Advisories consist of one faculty member and 10-12 other students from your grade who are also in your House. Advisories give students the opportunity to have a built-in support system. When in times of need, students usually go to their advisors for help with any problems, big or small. Also, if your advisor is not able to help you, any teacher in the entire school is always open for help and support. The teachers at GA are amazing and always willing to help students if they are struggling in or outside of the classroom. Through my Upper School experience, my advisor was always my go-to faculty member when I was struggling with something, and he or she was almost always able to help me with my problems, and if not, he or she would just direct me to another resource. 

Established in 2007, the GA House System offers several compelling benefits for students entering the Upper School. Placement in one of our seven Houses 1) introduces students to a more intimate and manageable community, which supports greater connection and individual relationship-building; 2) provides leadership opportunities for students within each House; 3) creates a setting for additional mentoring and collaboration; 4) enables inter-house activities and friendly competitions; and 5) allows faculty advisors to focus on one House, ensuring that all student members receive appropriate amounts of attention and guidance.

Each House is named after a notable headmaster, teacher, alum, or community member in GA’s history - Alcott Day, Galloway, Kershaw, Osbourn, Roberts, Truesdell, and Washington. LEARN MORE about these GA leaders.

Informal, fun competitions earn points for the annual Competition Cup. Activities include intellectual, spirited and athletic events, culminating at House Olympics at the end of the year. Each House has its own space in the Upper School which includes lockers for all student members, lounge furniture and meeting space. READ MORE about how the House system was created at GA.