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St Mary’s School in Waverley was established in 1888 and is the oldest school in Johannesburg. It is a school with a rich history, which exudes spirit, integrity and passion in every facet of its life. St Mary's is an Anglican School for girls and welcomes the enrichment provided by other cultures and religions. St Mary’s is unpretentious, real and relevant and strives for excellence in everything. We believe that each pupil is important and we provide a balanced education in a nurturing, friendly environment.
The Approach to Education at St Mary's Junior School
Mrs D Hugo - Headmistress
 To be prepared for the changing world in which we live and the working world our girls will enter in 10 to 20 years time we need to ensure our academic program remains relevant and rigorous. A strong academic core, the development of creative ability and creative thinking and building a deep personal resilience are areas on which our current curriculum is built.
To ensure we remain a local school within a global context we celebrate our 120 year history and acknowledge where we come from while looking around the world for best practices to ensure top quality teaching and learning. This creates an effective school which is constantly improving.
A good school is one where girls are nurtured to grow, encouraged to take risks and given opportunities to be successful but know that support is available if they fail while doing this. Failure is not seen as bad but as a starting point for future learning. This is what encourages girls to reach their own potential - they can try and be the best that they can be every day.
Our Pre-primary school, Little Saints, is a co-educational environment where constructivist theory is practiced. The creative Reggio Children approach has recently been implemented, and the success of this exciting philosophy has excited all of us who are involved in this creative and vibrant learning initiative. This is an approach that is implicit about the defense and promotion of the rights and potential of all children. (Read more on Reggio Emilia)
In the Junior School we offer an academic program that focuses on the core skills of mathematics and language development. Our two classes in each grade are split into smaller sets to allow individual time for each student to question and be extended or supported.
After much research both locally and abroad we have implemented Singapore Mathematics - an approach that is eclectic and teaches fundamental number manipulation skills as well as routine and non-routine problem solving. It is a well planned developmental approach with a successful learning spiral.
In all languages - English, Zulu, Sotho and Afrikaans, a focus on communication and successful comprehension of various texts and genres, good language development and visual literacy extend the girls' skills while creative writing and poetry creation provides them with opportunities for intra-personal communication and time for self-reflection. These are valuable lessons to face a busy, challenging future.
In natural sciences the girls are taught the scientific approach to investigation and problem solving at an early age, with a strong focus on environment and the sustainability of our practices and our world. We attempt to construct the right knowledge from very early learning experiences.
In social sciences the girls look at historical events and research how they have changed lives and countries - politically and economically. Current affairs form a great part of this learning and the teachers and girls use our wonderful media centre and laptop banks for regular research in these areas.
The use of technology, both information and design, and economic management science are integrated into many aspects of the curriculum and all girls will have entrepreneurial skills, design ability and be computer literate before they leave junior school.
Visual and performing arts play a major role in the extension of creative abilities of all girls. Performance opportunities and art exhibitions are a regular part of the school week.
All of this is not possible without a dedicated and caring team of teachers who are fabulous and only want the best for each child in their care. All teachers offer KIN lessons before or after school to support the learning of the children to ensure they reach their potential.
We have an incredible team of on-site therapists who work closely with the teachers to meet the needs of the children. We have a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language specialist and a remedial therapist who provide professional guidance and therapy at school.
Our counseling department is available for girls and families needing emotional support.
There are many varied extra activities offered at school and they are planned to allow each girl the opportunity to participate academically, culturally and on the sports field.
Our extra-mural program has two slots. The first is for sport and the second is for cultural and academics. Our sporting calendar is full and we ensure that all girls who wish to be part of a team are given opportunities to do just that. Our program includes: swimming, squash, tennis, netball, hockey, athletics, gym balls, rock-climbing, rhythmic gymnastics and taekwondo. The successes of the teams and achievements recorded in all sport are a tribute to the dedicated team of coaches who ensure each girl gives of her best at all times.
Cultural time offers chess, musical ensembles, orchestra, choirs, marimbas, thinkers club, gardening, craft work such as scrap booking, teddy bear making and pottery, we encourage public speaking, drama and ballet.
A strong Anglican faith and value system underpins the curriculum and we aim to foster the development of positive and friendly girls who strive to do their best in any endeavor whilst observing the Anglican faith. Chapel services, class assemblies, prayers and readings are an important part of our school lives. We want girls to be healthy and sporty and teach them to look after their body and minds. We encourage community conscious girls who get involved in service to a variety of communities and girls who know the urgent need to protect our environment and to investigate how to make a difference.
To this end our Grade 7 girls participate in our "Making the most of me" program. This is a leadership program that promotes development of self, whilst being committed to the various charity and community initiatives we support.
We especially aim to acknowledge girls who are committed to supporting the ethos of the school and continue to support it when they leave.
Our primary intention is to guide children to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be self confident, caring and able young people who are prepared for the intellectual, social and real life challenges in senior school and beyond.
Headmistress Report 2008
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