School House System
The House System was introduced into the school in 1930 by Miss Helen Park, who was the Principal at the time.
It created healthy competition and friendly rivalry between the houses and also a sense of unity among the girls in their respective houses. The house system also encouraged girls to take on responsibility and brought out certain leadership qualities within each student that hitherto had remained dormant. Today we follow this same house system that was begun so long ago.
At the beginning, in 1930, there were only four houses namely, Scott, Choate, Rigby, and Restarick. In 1952 as the number of students had grown considerably two other houses were added, namely Shire and Park.
Each house has a different motto and bears a different colour. The colour of the school tie being green, each house is differentiated by a coloured band at the top denoting to which house a girl belongs.
School Houses
SCOTT HOUSE
Motto :
“Play the Game”
Colour : Brick
Scott House was named after Ms. Catherine Scott, founder/Principal of Methodist College, or English School for Girls’ as it was then called. Miss Scott watched the school grow from small beginnings when she founded it in 1866, to 1833 when she left, by which time its numbers had reached almost one hundred.
CHOATE HOUSE
Motto :
“Knit together in love and Service”
Colour : Brown
Choate House was named after Ms. Mary Choate, who became Principal in 1894. She was at Methodist College for a long period of 33 years, 26 of which she served as Principal. It is interesting to note that she always wore a brown dress – and perhaps that is how the house got its colour.
RIGBY HOUSE
Motto :
“Never say Die”
Colour : Primrose
Rigby House was named after the Rev. Rigby who was the manager of the school during two different periods, the 2nd period being from 1907-1917. When he first came, Methodist College was a small school, ill-housed, with poor facilities. But he believed we had a future and worked towards building new classrooms, which dream he achieved in 1916.
RESTARICK HOUSE
Motto :
“Utmost for the Highest”
Colour : Crimson
Restarick House was named after the Rev. Restarick, Manager of the school for a period of 13 years from 1917-1930. It was mainly due to his efforts that the present Hostel was built.
SHIRE HOUSE
Motto :
“Aim High And Persevere”
Colour : Mauve
Shire House was named after Ms. Elsie Shire, who joined the school as a teacher in 1909, and later became Vice Principal. She served the school selflessly for a period of 33 years.
PARK HOUSE
Motto :
“Unity is Strength”
Colour : Silver Grey
Park House was named after Ms. Helen Park, who came to Methodist College as Vice Principal in 1912. Miss Park completed 31 years of selfless devotion to the school, and retired as Principal in 1943.