UPPER SCHOOL

A house is a community unified by purpose , joined in competition to celebrate common values and shared vision . Houses exist within the CPA Upper School community to build camaraderie and community within a smaller portion of the student population . These smaller communities work together throughout the year in competitions and activities to foster and create genuine relationships between house members of all grades .

“ The house system was designed to weave community and camaraderie into the fabric of the upper school experience for every student every year , bringing students from all different walks of the school together ,” says Head of School Nate Morrow .

It all began in 2013 when Morrow was the Head of Upper School . Students had moved into their new school building , and unaccustomed to the enlarged space , began to feel the need for closeness and overlap in student life . Morrow , along with a few key faculty members who are still keeping the House traditions alive today , met with students across the school to brainstorm ways to bring all groups togehter . One student ’ s side remark about Harry Potter began a creative hypothetical around starting a house system at CPA , every bit as endearing and exciting as the dynasties of

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Hogwarts ! That was it . Faculty members Maria Jernigan , Becky Legate , Chris Hooper , Jeremy White , Rachel Roper , and Dan Carpenter dove into former Head of Lower School Anne Purdy ’ s Scottish history books and researched ancient Scottish clans , their customs and traditions , and their bravery in battle . Identifying Wallace , Barclay , Mackinnon , and Sutherland as the four-house system for the school , they began devising ways to build buy-in and house pride for new students as they were chosen for one of the four houses as incoming freshmen .

Like coats of arms used to distinguish and symbolize clans in the past , each house has its own coat of arms with a set of symbols unique to them and expressive of their character and persona within the larger community . These coats of arms include the clan motto , dominant symbol , and prevailing armor . Using the age-old system of heraldry , these house symbols represent meaning outside themselves .

If you ’ ve ever walked the halls of CPA Upper School , you ’ ll notice each house has a hallway , and at its conclusion a coat of arms , guarding each wing as students filter in and out of class each day . Symbols of strength – and reminders of core house values : bravery , unity , and honor . While we no longer live in medieval times , we too face battles as followers of Christ

in a war torn world . We fight and sift through ranks of heresy , combat defeating messages of self-doubt and inadequacy , and struggle with forces we cannot see . The armor on our shields symbolizes this struggle and also represents our outlook in the face of it as we continue to take all things captive to the throne of the Lord . The armor then serves a dual purpose – reminding us of the heritage that is our own by the blood of Christ , but also representing the group of believers unified in community and striving for transcendence .

This year , The Clash of the Tartans , a culminating House field competition day , will celebrate its tenth anniversary since the first throw down for the Anderson Cup ( named for Headmaster Emeritus Richard Anderson ). The pomp and house pride on display grows with each passing year , making it a cornerstone event of upper school student life . The event is designed to build teamwork , excitement , and healthy competition to name the year ’ s reigning house . It ’ s also a break from the high-focus academic schedule in the spring , reminding students to laugh and enjoy the adventures of school life before the year ends . The winners of the 2023 Anderson Cup : Sutherland ! Won by an extremely close tug-of-war final with Barclay .

“ The first Clash was full of nervous excitement . I ’ m not sure anyone knew what to truly expect but it proved to be one of the most memorable moments for me at CPA ! Barclay ended up coming in second place that year , despite leading the competition board all year . The competitive spirit of that day is something special that I ’ ll never forget . I ’ ve seen the House system become such a pivotal part of the student experience at CPA . I ’ m hopeful that we will bring the Cup home one of these days , and I ’ m so proud of the legacy our class left for today ’ s students to enjoy ,” says first elected Barclay House Head Boy Chase Smith ’ 13 .

“ The memories I have from the first year of the House system at CPA are some of my favorites from high school . The administration walked alongside us seniors and encouraged us to dream , create , and implement all kinds of ideas in an effort to foster vertical community between individuals in each grade . I remember competing and encouraging not only members of my own senior class , but freshman , sophomores , and juniors in the spirit of Sutherland moving closer to the goal of winning the Anderson Cup ,” says first elected Sutherland House Head Boy Robert Brown ’ 13 . “ So many of us felt a sense of pride that we were invited to work with administrators to build a framework for rediscovering – in the new high school building – the community that makes CPA so special . Even 10 years later , I still find myself connected to Sutherland , and most importantly , the relationships it continues to create .”

Our hope as we head into the tenth Clash in 2024 ? To quote the motto of the 2023 winners – sans peur – without fear .

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