Canisius began its House System in 2019 guided by the Jesuit hallmark of cura personalis – care for the whole person. The program, based on similar models used around the world for centuries, is exclusive to Canisius in Western New York.

The Canisius student body is comprised of six houses, with students from all class years included within a house, and students remaining part of the same house for his entire Canisius experience.

Houses can gain points for academic achievement, participation in co-curricular activities, athletic teams and the quarterly “House Games,” which see friendly competition in anything from traditional sports to watermelon relay races and grilled-cheese cook-offs. Points are put toward a year-long competition for the House Cup. Along the way, the smaller communities within the larger school community help students build stronger bonds and connections between students and faculty and within all four grades.

There are also great leadership opportunities for students within all six houses, which are named for prominent Jesuits – Arrupe, Campion, Gonzaga, Jogues, Loyola and Xavier.