St Mary's School, Waverley
- Boarding School
- Girls’ schools
- Religious schools
- Private
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Head of school
Deanne King
Contact person
Lorraine Davis
Telephone Number
011 531 1870
Email address
lorraine.davis@stmary.co.za
Website address
https://www.stmarysschool.co.za
Physical address
St Mary's School, Waverley, 55 Athol Street, P O Box 981, Highland North, 2037, Johannesburg, Waverley
Number of learners
1050
Average class size
25
Religious
St Mary’s is an Anglican school. As such, the chaplain is an Anglican priest within the Diocese of Johannesburg, and is part of staff, management and executive meetings. The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg appoints a representative to sit on the school Board.
The chapel is placed at the centre of the school. To paraphrase Sister Janet (1949): the chapel stands as a witness to all who come to know what we stand for here, and as a place that the girls looking back on their school days will never forget.
Once a week, girls attend a chapel assembly led by the chaplain, where various aspects of the Christian faith are presented. Holy Communion is celebrated three or four times a term. A highlight of the second term is the school’s Patronal Festival, celebrated in The Close with the entire school. Girls are encouraged to actively participate in worship, by reading, leading the prayers and as altar servers. Sisters of Christ Society (SOCS) offers an opportunity for girls to explore and grow in their relationship with God.
St Mary’s School caters for pupils from pre-school education through to their final national examinations. The school’s aim has always been to be a leader in the education of young women and set the pace for educational change. The school believes in an unconditional positive regard for all in its care. We subscribe to the Independent Examination Board (IEB) curriculum, which has as its focus independent, critical thinking and creativity. There is a long history of outstanding matriculation results, with an unbroken record of 100% pass rates. Both the very talented and those who find their studies challenging fulfil their potential as they develop a positive work ethic, and are encouraged and supported by an experienced, highly qualified and dedicated staff. What is important to us is that you can always expect a first-class effort from St Mary's girls in all their undertakings.
St Mary’s offers a unique boarding experience, either full-time or weekly, from Form I (Grade 8) to matric. There are five lovely homes, each with a charming and friendly ambience. Dedicated staff monitor the academic, social and emotional progress of each girl, ensuring that she thrives in this environment. The boarders are taken on outings, and their experience in boarding is as rich and warm as possible.
With a state-of-the-art performing and visual arts centre, The Edge, the girls at St Mary’s have access to superb facilities that allow the development of creativity in all spheres. The 530-seat concert hall or theatre, natural light art studios, music practice rooms and loud practice rooms, dramatic art venues and a superbly fitted dance studio give our girls the facilities required to extend their understanding of their creativity. Visual Arts, Dramatic Arts and Music are firmly entrenched in the curriculum, and the girls are encouraged to explore their talents in a wide range of cultural activities. These include choir, jazz band, string ensemble, marimbas, debating, public speaking and folk guitar, to name only a few. Private lessons in a wide variety of instruments are available to St Mary’s girls. The current thinking is that pupils can easily be taught skills, but creative and imaginative ideas are increasingly sought after in the workplace. St Mary’s girls are encouraged to explore their cultural talents and become leaders in critical, lateral thought.
Tradition is one of the defining characteristics of St Mary’s School and it is upheld strongly in our sporting achievements. Many girls represent their school in athletics, swimming, diving, water polo, rowing, hockey, rhythmic gymnastics, tennis, squash, netball, equestrian and basketball teams. They enjoy notable successes in these sports, and many girls are selected annually to both provincial and national sports teams. Girls who do not play for a team still enjoy the experience of team sports and the thrill of the games. The opportunity to play sport is seen as a vital part of the growth of all individuals. Sport and the experience of playing in a team are microcosms of society. Our coaches strive to teach our girls life lessons through the medium of sport. The St Mary’s sports coaches are passionate about their sport and have proven themselves in their field of expertise. As with anything, our success will not be measured by getting to the top, but rather in our ability to remain there!
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