There are four houses at Carmel College. These houses become the girl’s “secondary-family” while they are at Carmel. The house system encourages girls to invest in the life of the school and build school character and spirit in the student. It also rewards involvement in the schools non-academic events, such as sports and cultural.

Students are placed in a house on arrival to the school. They can choose to be placed in the same house as their siblings and relatives.

Houses promote inter-form mingling and a sense of community and unity within the school.

Houses offer the girls a chance to participate in social sporting and cultural activities and events:

School athletics days  - 2 separate events for Years 7/8 and Years 9 -13 usually held in February each year.
Swimming sports days - 2 separate events for Years 7/8 anf Years 9-13 usually held in February each year.
Common house games - whole school event during luncthime usually held in Term 2.
 
A healthy competitive nature is nurtured complimenting the schools encouragement of students to drive for success.

“Pom” is named after Bishop Pompallier, founder of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand. He lived and worked in New Zealand for over 30 of the most eventful and stirring years of our history. He was Aotearoa New Zealand's first Catholic bishop. He was a devout man of very considerable talent and vision, an idealist willing to spend his life in the service of others.

Cecilia Maher (CM)

“CM” is named after Mother Mary Cecilia Maher, the founder of the congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in Auckland. In April 1849 the first links between Mother Mary Cecilia Maher and New Zealand were forged when Bishop Pompallier, the first Catholic bishop of Auckland, visited St Leo's to seek Irish nuns for his diocese. He succeeded in obtaining the services of Mother Mary Cecilia and seven other sisters from Carlow. Mother Mary Cecilia and her companions landed in Auckland on 9 April 1850. They were the first women religious to arrive in New Zealand. Her work, and that of her sisters, had an important influence on early Auckland. The Sisters of Mercy contributed to the growth and well-being of the community, particularly in the fields of education and social work where they met a vital need.