Our School

Developing a Sound Value Based System

Holy Family College is a warm and caring community surrounded by prayer and centred on the values taught to us by God. We welcome all people of Faith and all who are searching for a wholesome, balanced education.  Religion is an integral part of our curriculum and religious education is taught to every class, from grade one all the way up to matric. The focus is on the holistic development of each learner: academically, spiritually, morally, emotionally and physically. This is achieved through a variety of school and community-based outreach projects. Our leadership model is based on servant leadership which guides our learners into developing value- based systems that will stand them in good stead throughout their lives.

All learners are expected to:

• Participate in our religious education classes
• To respectfully attend our school Masses and other compulsory religious celebrations
• Respect the religious and cultural affiliations of others

We begin and close each term with a special School Mass. Special feast days are observed and celebrated accordingly.

Chaplain’s Desk

Through Our Chaplain’s Eyes

Holy Family College is unique in many ways and the most outstanding aspect of this is the way in which I see the growing movement of its spiritual ethos, which is based on Christ Jesus, and is experienced through the personal relationship of the venerable Father Bienevue coming to us through the institution of the Holy Family Sisters, which he founded and who in turn, established our college.

This beautiful, all-embracing spirituality permeates every aspect of life at the college whether on the sports field or in the classroom, and enters into the subject matter. We all imbibe it and this is the root of our being; such a truly family-orientated place of education, rather than a mere venue for learning.

At Holy Family College, we offer and in turn are recipients of, a holistic experience of education, that is spiritual, academic, emotional and physical through exposure to God, classroom activities, religious education, life orientation and sport – all come together to form a whole.

May God bless you all

Father Ngubane

School Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, we thank You for each person in our school community.

We pray that Your Holy Spirit may fill us and inspire us to be a source of light, life and love to everyone we meet.

We thank You for Your unconditional love for each of us.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Holy Family College Primary School is a vibrant and joyful school community where we equip children to develop the means to become well-rounded team-oriented members in their classrooms, school community and in the greater social community. Our school is committed to developing each child to his/her full potential in the spirit of good Christian values. Our vision in the primary school is growing children to be confident family members in their homes, school and in the greater community.

• We strive to build independent learners who take responsibility for their learning and growth.
• We work together to build confidence and self-esteem in all our learners.
• We celebrate our learner’s achievements by the use of a variety of rewards and awards.
• We strive to create lifelong confident learners in a loving, supportive, nurturing and responsive environment.
• We provide opportunities for our learners to serve the greater community in many outreach programmes.
• We strive to develop an environment where honesty and a deep respect for each other is nurtured.
• We create an environment where bullying is viewed as unacceptable.
• We strive to create strong family bonds within families and our school community.
• We provide professionally run extramural sport and cultural programmes, which will enable our learners to participate in and excel, under the guidance of dedicated staff/coaches.
• We sow these seeds and know that they will be reaped later in many parts of the world.

School times (punctual arrival at school is essential):

Grade 1 – 3 | 07:15 – 13:00 (Mon to Thu)  07:15 – 12:30 (Fri)

Grade 4 – 7 | 07:15 – 14:00 (Mon to Thu) 07:15 – 13:30 (Fri)

At Holy Family College, we begin molding the value system of the learners so that they can take up a meaningful place in society.

The school’s teaching follows CAPS, which lays down the principal subjects that all South African schools must teach. Teachers plan using a thematic approach (topic) and make relevant links between subjects. This makes learning fun while still ensuring that we cover all the CAPS entitlements.

There are 3 CORE subjects which must be taught in the Junior Primary phase of the school, viz. English, Maths and Life Skills.  Afrikaans and isiZulu are taught as additional languages from Grade 1.  Each subject has its own ‘scheme of work’, which identifies exactly what part of each subject should be taught in each grade. This means that in each grade, learning in all subjects should build on all the learning of the previous year.

We also offer Computer Literacy, Robotics and Coding, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths), Media Studies, Drama and Physical Education in Junior Primary.  Our learners are also given the opportunity to participate in Speech and Drama Festivals as well as honing their skills academically in the National Conquesta.

At the end of each term, we send home a Newsletter that encompasses what has taken place during the term along with key dates for the new term.  We view communication with our families as key and the homework book (BOB), the Classroom Dojo App, ZOOM meetings/MS Teams and the D6 Communicator assist in this regard.

Children at this age are eager to explore, discover and investigate everything around them. Our programme encourages exploration and discovery while providing a formal education in a safe and secure environment.

Our curriculum has been carefully tailored to meet the specific needs of young children with developmentally appropriate themes and activities to spark a child’s natural curiosity, interest and enthusiasm.

• Drama, Arts & Culture

The learners at Holy Family College are offered a wide range of cultural activities to encourage self-expression, enhance their self-confidence, explore their creativity and develop their talents. Unique to our school is our Cultural Period which is incorporated into our timetable.

Learners have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of activities, including:

• • Art Club
  • Master Chef
  • Music Academy
  • Mini-Toastmasters (Grade 3)
  • Drama
  • Yoga

We are extremely fortunate to have staff members and coaches who run these activities with passion and dedicate many extra hours in the pursuit of excellence in their respective fields.

• Sports – mini cricket, mini hockey, soccer, swimming

• Extra Murals

In this phase, we continue to encourage children to grow spiritually and academically. Our aim is to build confident leaders who can take their place in society, both nationally and internationally, in the future.  The value-based ethos of the school permeates the school life in the Senior Primary and the subjects we offer include:

• English
• Afrikaans
• isiZulu
• Mathematics
• STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, a
• History
• Geography
• Computers
• Art
• Choir
• Drama
• Media
• Religious Education
• Physical Education

We believe in the dictum, “A healthy mind, in a healthy body”, therefore every learner is afforded the opportunity to participate in our extra-curricular sports programme.
We offer the following sports:

• Soccer
• Netball
• Basketball
• Swimming
• Athletics
• Cross Country
• Squad Swimming
• Chess
• Table Tennis
• Volley Ball
• Golf

Our learners are also blessed with the opportunity to participate in the Eisteddfod of the Speech and Drama Association of South Africa, as well as the National Conquesta and ‘Beyond Maths’ Olympiads.  We take our learners on excursions once a term to visit places of interest, and on a team building weekend once during the year.

•Drama, Arts & Culture

The learners at Holy Family College are offered a wide range of cultural activities to encourage self-expression, enhance their self-confidence, explore their creativity and develop their talents. Unique to our school is our Cultural Period which is incorporated into our timetable.

Learners have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of activities, including:

• • Gentleman’s Club/Etiquette Club
  • Breakfast with Books
  • Music Academy
  • Choir
  • Debating
  • RAK (Random Acts of Kindness)
  • Environmental Club
  • Arts Club

We are extremely fortunate to have staff members and coaches who run these activities with passion and dedicate many extra hours in the pursuit of excellence in their respective fields.

• Sports

• Extra-Murals

Holy Family College is unique, in that we offer Religious Education as a compulsory subject in our curriculum. The college has an excellent academic record. We have been in existence since 1875, with a proven track record at matric level. We follow the prescribed National Curriculum of the Department of Basic Education, culminating in the National Senior Certificate examination in Grade 12.

Our medium of instruction is English which is studied by all learners as a Home Language. A choice between Afrikaans, isiZulu and French as First Additional Languages (through Alliance Francais) is offered from Grade 8 onwards. In addition, we offer a wide variety of subjects from which they can choose their electives.
Assessments are carried out on both a formal and informal basis.  Any academic concerns are addressed as soon as possible to ensure meaningful improvement and progress. The importance of providing the learners with a high academic standard is endorsed by the staff who provide where necessary, free extra lessons, in the various subjects during the time period immediately after school closing time. In addition, when necessary, free extra lessons are offered in all subjects on weekends and in the holidays.  However, the teacher’s focus is on providing a happy and productive learning environment.

The College is divided into the GET (Grade 8 & 9) and FET (Grade 10 to 12) phases.

School times (punctual arrival at school is essential)
07h30 – 14h00 Grade 8-9 (Monday to Thursday)
07h30 – 14h15 Grade 10-12 (Monday to Thursday)
07h30 – 13h30 Grade 8-9 (Friday)
07h30 – 13h45 Grade 10-12 (Friday)

Academics

Holy Family College has a long history steeped in academic excellence. A dedicated and experienced staff of educators is employed to support our learners. The CAPS curriculum is taught throughout the high school in order to prepare the learners for the National Senior Certificate at the end of Grade 12.
In Grade 8 and 9 learners are taught the foundation of the compulsory learning areas. This prepares learners to make an informed choice on their subject packages for the senior secondary phase. The subject packages include the traditional subjects such as Physical Science, Mathematics, Geography and History as well as commercial subjects including Accounting and Business Studies. For more creative or practically inclined learners Consumer Studies, Dramatic Arts, Engineering Graphics and Design (EGD), Information Technology (IT) and Computer Applied Technology (CAT) are offered.
The classroom curriculum is extended to extra lessons after school in order to support learners who require additional attention. Excursions are also encouraged so that learners can experience real world connections to what they have learned in class.

Subjects

GET Subjects (Grades 8 & 9)
English (Home Language)
Afrikaans, IsiZulu or French (First Additional Language)
Mathematics
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences (Geography & History)
Technology
Economic Management Sciences
Creative Arts (Drama & Music)
Life Orientation (incorporating Physical Education)
Religious Education
Computer Literacy

FET Subjects (Grades 10-12)
English (Home Language)
Afrikaans, IsiZulu or French (First Additional Language)
Mathematics Core or Mathematical Literacy
Life Orientation (incorporating Physical Education)
Religious Education
Electives
Electives
Drama/Geography/Accounting/Information Technology (IT)
Business Studies/Computer Applications Technology (CAT)/Life Sciences/Engineering, Graphics and Design (EGD)
Physical Science/Consumer Studies/History

Drama, Arts & Culture

The learners at Holy Family College are offered a wide range of cultural activities to encourage self-expression, enhance their self-confidence, explore their creativity and develop their talents. Learners have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of activities, including:
Book Club
Chess
Choir
Altar Server
Debating
Environment Club
Music Academy
We are extremely fortunate to have staff members and coaches who run these activities with passion and dedicate many extra hours in the pursuit of excellence in their respective fields.

Sport

We at Holy Family College believe in the holistic development of the child. In order to maximise our learner’s healthy physical development, and to take up a meaningful place in society, we have a physical education programme which is part of the school curriculum and forms part of the academic day. In addition to this, we encourage every learner to participate in at least one extracurricular activity per term.  This programme takes place after the school academic day ends at 14h40. Our learners enjoy this well-structured and organised programme with great enthusiasm and we field numerous teams in a number of sporting codes.  Whilst competitive, Holy Family College learners are entrusted to project the necessary values of good sportsmanship, when playing against other schools.  A number of internal social leagues also add value to the expansive sport programme.
The following Sporting Codes are offered in the High School (Grades 8-12)
Boys
Soccer
Aquatics
Basketball
Athletics
Cross Country
Squad Swimming
Volleyball
Chess
Girls
Action Netball
Netball
Aquatics
Athletics
Cross Country
Squad Swimming
Volleyball
Chess

The values of participating in sport for our learners are as follows:

Sport allows learners to channel their energy in a positive manner.
Sport gives learners a means of self-expression.
Sport helps to reduce tension and promote relaxation.
Learners understand the value of socialising as they take part in different sporting activities with people from different backgrounds.
Students learn to be contributing group members as they are part of the team.
Students learn to be courteous and thoughtful towards their playmates and peers.
Sport teaches learners to be disciplined, whilst enjoying the skill concerned.
Sport promotes the development of physical fitness, muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and skills and abilities.

Learners who are part of winning teams develop positive attitudes as they achieve success. However, it is also important to develop the skill of losing gracefully.
Through school sport, learners are identified and can be encouraged and moulded into pursuing professional sporting codes.

It is strict school policy that children should leave the school grounds within twenty minutes after their academic or sporting activities are over for the day.  Where this is not possible, learners must register to attend the After School Care facility. Our Primary School After Care has a well structured curriculum that is designed to suit learners of all ages.  All homework is supervised and when completed, learners are allowed to draw, play board games, read and have their snack. All learners are screened on entry to After Care.  A register is kept of each learner’s attendance and this is signed by the adult collecting the child at the end of the day.

The After School Care operates from 13h30 to 17h00.  Please see the various options available below:

LEARNERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE: Grade 1 to Grade 7 learners (inclusive).

NOTE: Learners who stay for After School Care must bring their own mid-day lunch pack and juice.  No sharing of stationery or food is allowed.

TELEPHONE FACILITY: Please dial 073 003 9015 (Direct number for After School Care Department when the office closes at 15h00).

REGISTER: A register is taken each day and all learners are screened prior to entry into the After Care.

ACTIVITIES: The afternoon is run as an informal group with homework supervision and creative activities.

All learners registered with the After School Care must sign the register before proceeding to any sports activity that afternoon.  This includes registered After School Care learners who, for whatever reason, will not attend that day, and who will leave directly after school.

Learners who have sport or any extra lessons or music lessons at the school during the afternoons, are to return to After School Care immediately after their lesson.  Should a parent in an emergency wish to fetch his/her child directly from an extra-mural lesson, then he/she still needs to be signed out at the After-Care Department.

FEE STRUCTURE

Grades R to 3 – R500 per month

Grades 4 to 7 – R480 per month

Cashual Fee – R40 per hour

Fines – R50 for every 10 minutes after 17h00