At the heart of every House lies its Prefects. These three leaders of each House’s student body represent the House and bring them together to form the GA House System. They work closely together with each other and also their House Heads, playing a critical role in the House System.
“I think they’re a vital part of the House System. They run so many things, from House meetings to participating in House competitions,” Mrs. Margaret Bradley, Alcott Day House Head, said. “But above and beyond, they set a tone for a sense of belonging and community and family in a way that nobody else can.”
Each year, the three graduating senior Prefects of each House pass the torch down to their upcoming Prefects. While bringing up new Prefects every year means that each House gets to operate under new leadership yearly, some seek to lead as their previous Prefects did.
“We’re going to maintain the status-quo most likely,” Utsav Mittal ‘25, upcoming Prefect of Truesdell, said. “The group this year did pretty well.”
On the other hand, some Prefects hope to improve upon their predecessors and shape their Houses in their own ways.
“I think that I’m going to try and replicate the same positivity that the previous Prefects radiated throughout the House, while also trying to create new experiences that better engage every member of Roberts,” Aiden Swartz ‘25, upcoming Prefect of Roberts, said.
With the variety of House competitions that occur throughout the year, namely House Olympics, being critical parts of the House System, performance in the competitions shapes how the Prefects hope to lead.
“We’re going to try to take Roberts to their first House Olympics championship,” Swartz said. “We’re planning on having training for the specific events to better prepare ourselves for when the time comes to compete.”
To many, the role of Prefect appears to be solely for leading the House. However, the Prefect’s role as a leader of the House but also a fellow student allows them to not only connect with their peers, but also to inspire them to do better.
“I think they’re valuable as a face of the House that is student-facing,” Mr. Joe Taylor, Washington House Head, said. “Being a student leader and getting out in front of your peers can provide opportunities to connect with each other more.”
“But it could also be a way for students who don’t see themselves in that light to maybe set a pathway so they could step into that. As model citizens of the community, Prefects really hold an important role in the House System and totality.”
Indeed, many students who may not have felt as comfortable as leaders are encouraged to step up and take on these leadership roles as they grow and watch others succeed.
“Early in my junior year, I wasn’t really expecting to become a Prefect of Osbourn,” Andrei Vava ‘24, Osbourn Prefect, said. “My friend Carolyn [Connolly], an Osbourn Prefect last year, inspired me to run for Prefect later that year.”
With Prefects playing such a vital role in the House System, changing Prefects yearly has a significant impact on each House and its members. Having new Prefects rise to the occasion every year allows more students to mold their Houses.
“I think changing Prefects can provide different perspectives into the community, and let the underclassmen see different ways of leading which could open doors to some types of leadership,” Mr. Taylor said.
It’s not just that the leadership of the House changes, but it also promotes more student involvement, which can inspire other members of the House.
“Well I think the idea is you’re encouraging students to grow their leadership skills,” Mrs. Bradley said. “By changing every year it means the students have an opportunity to grow both as a leader and as a person.”
Overall, the Prefects in the class of 2025 are excited to step up and take their roles as leaders within the Houses. They will continue their predecessors’ legacy and make lasting impacts that will inspire the future generations here at Germantown Academy.