Holy Cross Primary School we do believe has established itself as a leading English medium school in George. Since 1895 this school has served the George community with distinction. We strive on a daily basis to give children a holistic education. We are a family school with Christian values and our experienced educators are committed to excellence in all areas of the learning programme.

ABOUT US

Ethos
Holy Cross is centred on Jesus Christ as its leader and guide with Christian values being of utmost importance.  We aim to create an atmosphere that is conducive to providing for well-balanced pupils with a strong academic base from which to launch into life. To ensure this, our children receive a structured and carefully planned academic programme from a motivated, dedicated and enthusiastic team of professional educators.  We strive to encourage individuality, creativity and a positive self-image in a warm caring environment.
A happy, cheerful environment is a priority at Holy Cross. Qualities such as loyalty, courtesy, consideration, tolerance, sportsmanship and respect contribute towards the unique tone and spirit of the school. Whilst a sense of achievement is fostered in team efforts that bring honour to the school as a whole, pupils are also encouraged to participate in as many sporting and cultural activities as possible.

Mission
Our mission is to be Christ centred, enlightened by Gospel values and a centre of excellence through commitment from the children, the teachers, parents and the wider school community. This will stand pupils in good stead for their future.

History
The Holy Cross Convent was founded in 1843 by Father A. Devereux. The Holy Cross Sisters took over the running of the school in 1895 and left 100 years later. In 1996 a new principal was appointed, Mr Doug Davis, to oversee the running of the school.  After his retirement at the end of 2011, Mrs Jane Askew was appointed principal.  The Holy Cross Sisters still own the property and have strong representation on our School Governing Body.

Structure
The school, including the Pre-Primary, consists of 450 pupils and 40 personnel. There are 21 academic staff all of whom are committed to making Holy Cross the primary school of excellence in George and the Western Cape. From Grade 1 – 7, there are two classes per grade. The Computer/Resource Centre, the Art Loft, Library and the Music Hall are used extensively to ensure a holistic education for our pupils.

Holy Cross Primary School is proud to be one of the feeder schools of Little Crosses Pre-Primary School.  Click on this link to find out more about them.

Holy Cross Staff 2023

CULTURE

MUSIC

There is a vibrant Music Department at Holy Cross offering practical and theory tuition in piano, recorder, violin, guitar and singing.  Group activities include Senior Choir, Junior Choir, Vocal Ensemble and Instrumental Ensemble. 

Highlights on the music calendar for our music pupils are the annual George Eisteddfod, Mossel Bay Eisteddfod, Tygerberg Eisteddfod and Young Musicians Competition. We are always well represented at the Gala Evenings of these events and Holy Cross has had several trophy winners in the past.  During 2016 Steven Kapp won the trophy for the Best Instrumentalist in the Junior section of the George Eisteddfod. Ludolph Pedro won trophies for 1st place in the Junior section and Best Pianist overall at the Young Musicians Competition.  The school’s Vocal Ensemble won trophies for 2nd place in the Junior section and Best Junior Ensemble at the same event.  Both Steven Kapp and Ludolph Pedro won trophies at the Tygerberg International Eisteddfod.

Music pupils are evaluated internally twice a year.  In addition, talented and hard-working pupils are trained and entered for external examinations such as UNISA and ABRSM.  Every year we have a consistent amount of pupils achieving Roll of Honour at UNISA (90% and higher for practical examinations, 95% and higher for theory examinations Pre-grade 1 to Grade 2, 90% and higher for theory Grade 3.)  Ludolph Pedro has won the Hennie Joubert merit award for being one of the two top candidates in the country in the particular grade examination for 3 years.

Our choirs and Vocal Ensemble take part in the Music Montage and Outeniqua Choir Festival each year, achieving excellent results.  During the course of this year the Senior Choir, Vocal Ensemble and Instrumental Ensemble will also take part in our school concert.

There is plenty opportunity at school for our music pupils and groups to perform, e.g. Assembly, Mass, Prize-Giving, Carol Service and the music concert series at the end of the year which is always tremendously enjoyed by parents, friends and music lovers.

Should you have any queries regarding music, please contact Mrs. M. Venter (Head of the Music Department) via the Front Office.

Drama

Our learners participate annually in the George Eisteddfod. We enter in the following categories: speech choir, reading, poetry, prose, dramatized prose and group projects.

In 2017 Holy Cross started an exciting new Performing Arts club, where we focus mainly on developing drama and performance skills. This club is currently only for the grade 4 – 7 learners.

The school presents a school production every three years where each child gets the opportunity to participate. The senior and junior phase take turns in staging these productions.

Computer & Resource Centre, Library and Technology

Computer and Resource Centre

We are indeed proud of the well-equipped, recently upgraded computer centre, which is offered to our pupils. They have access to a variety of Educational programmes, the Internet and numerous English and Maths programmes. These programmes are used for reinforcement, remediation and extension purposes. Our weekly Computer lessons mainly follow the CAMI programme, as well as teaching the pupils the necessary skills in the Office Suite (e.g. MSWord, MSExcel, MSPowerPoint, MSPublisher).

Library

The air-conditioned Library is well stocked and the pupils have access to a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, all of which are scanned on computer. Weekly lessons are given by our Librarians and special theme days are celebrated to ensure that a love of reading is developed from a young age.

Library

The air-conditioned Library is well stocked and the pupils have access to a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, all of which are scanned on computer. Weekly lessons are given by our Librarians and special theme days are celebrated to ensure that a love of reading is developed from a young age.

Technology in the classrooms

We have installed new Interactive Whiteboards in all of our classrooms. These interactive whiteboards are linked to a data projector and computer / notebook. The learning opportunities are endless.  We are constantly empowering our teachers to use this technology to its fullest extent as well as providing our learners with innovative lessons.

Eco-Schools
The Eco-School’s adventure was started by a past educator, Mrs Anne Davis, in 2004 where we signed up as an Eco-School. We are part of both a national and international venture. Each grade is committed to contributing to the Annual Portfolio that is submitted to WESSA for evaluation each year.

We received our Diamond Award for 10 years as an Eco-School in 2013. During our 10th year we went on a journey back to when the programme started and we published a photographic journal of our 10 years of participation. This journal may be viewed in the school’s Reception area.

In 2014 we embarked on a new 10-year commitment to Eco-Schools. We have taken up the challenges of looking at the themes of: Healthy Living, Resource Use, Community and Heritage and Nature and Biodiversity. New endeavours have meant changes to our Tuckshop as well as planting medicinal and vegetable gardens. We introduced owl and bat boxes in strategic places around the school and we are committed to recycling. More children are involved on the Eco-School’s committee and we hold a fortnightly Eco-club meeting for all learners who are interested in looking after our environment.

We aim to create awareness amongst our school community and encourage learners to actively become eco warriors; passing on the message of keeping our earth healthy, litter free and water wise.

We draw awareness to special themes and projects in our Assemblies as well as various Eco audits. Our Eco board is kept up to date and relevant. A favourite outing is the annual National Beach Clean-Up where our learners are given the opportunity to be pro-active in keeping our beaches litter-free. 

We have teamed up with businesses in our town who sponsor our Eco-club which enables us to be more proactive in caring/protecting our environment.

School Outings
Every grade is given opportunities to go on outings each term.
These often form part of an extension as to what is being taught in the classroom and also provide practical application thereof.
Grade 5 Learners have 2 1-day outings during the year:

  • A 1 day outing in Oudtshoorn with team building and a cave adventure.
  • A Plettenberg Bay outing as a fun end of the year outing.
Gr 6 Learners have three 1-day outings during the year:

  • Knysna and surrounds:  an educational visit to the area.
  • Mossel Bay and surrounds:  an educational visit associated with the History syllabus on explorers.
  • Garden Route Botanical Gardens:  a fun and interactive visit to the gardens to learn about medicinal plants and their uses.
The Grade 7’s participate in a 3 day intensive Leadership Camp where they have to conquer their fears as they participate in night walks, abseiling, caving and the like.  The Grade ’4 classes participate in two day outings.  In the Third term they visit the Transport Museum and have a ride on the Powervan, which links to the History Transport Theme. The other day outing is to Wild Adventures based at Timberlake, near Sedgefield. The obstacle courses with their ziplines 8m above the ground proved exhilarating for all. Many learners conquered their fears and ‘Just did it’.  All these outings and camps certainly enhance the learning process and are thoroughly enjoyed by the learners.
Sports
Holy Cross is passionate about sport! We proudly host annual tournaments and our U/13A Hockey side participates in the annual Kingswood Derby.  The emphasis at Holy Cross is on participation and we are competitive holding our own against all our opposition.

Our facilities on offer are:

  • A 25m swimming pool
  • Extensive sports fields
  • Multi-Purpose Astro-turf

For the boys we have:

  • TERM 1: cricket, swimming, athletics, tennis, waterpolo
  • TERM 2: rugby, hockey, tennis
  • TERM 3: rugby, hockey, tennis
  • TERM 4: cricket, swimming, athletics, tennis, waterpolo

For the girls we have:

  • TERM 1: swimming, athletics, tennis, waterpolo
  • TERM 2: netball, hockey, tennis
  • TERM 3: netball, hockey, tennis
  • TERM 4: swimming, athletics, tennis, waterpolo

Chess can be played all year around. Horse riding and golf are offered externally.

As hockey is our biggest sport in terms of participation (± 300 boys and girls play!) we have built a multi-purpose Astroturf.
We can use it for hockey, tennis, soccer, netball, cricket, phys. ed. and a general play area.

Head of Sport and Sports Administration

Please contact Mr Hilton Hanreck via the Front Office for any queries regarding sporting /coaching issues.

Holy Cross Sports Policy
Please take time to peruse our Sports Policy

Quick Contact

ADDRESS DETAILS
Physical: 115 Meade Street, George, 6529
Postal: PO Box 14, George, 6530

SCHOOL HOURS

Grade 1 and 2
07h30 - 13h15 (Monday to Thursday)
07h30 – 13h10 (Friday)

Grade 3
07h30 - 13h30 (Monday - Thursday)
07h30 - 13h10 (Friday)

Grade 4 to 7
07h30 - 13h50 (Monday to Thursday)
07h30 - 13h10 (Friday)