Welcome To Holy Family Catholic School & Step By Step Preschool

Holy Family Elementary Offers advanced academics, strong values, and high expectations.

Academics, service and excellence are an integral part of school life at Holy Family.  Our students leave Holy Family equipped to make good decisions.  Our school bustles with positive energy where respectful behavior is the norm.  Our graduates excel at all area high schools.  Call us at 607-732-3588 to find out more.  We welcome you to tour the school and speak to teachers and staff about the wonderful opportunities at Holy Family.
 
Set up a classroom visit.  If you would like your student to spend the day at Holy Family, call us to arrange a time and date.
 
We are excited to share with you all the positive opportunities Holy Family can offer!

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Our Mission & Philosophy

Holy Family Catholic School, striving to live in relationship with God, is a learning community that fosters academic excellence, builds character and develops behavior to reflect the virtues and values of Jesus.

The philosophy of Holy Family Catholic School is embodied in the documents of the Church on Catholic education.  The fundamental goal of our Catholic School is to see that each child reaches his or her full potential as a responsible, Christian adult.  Our school has committed itself to be a constant witness to the faith.  The Christian values of sacrifice and service are modeled and encouraged in our school.  Our school community takes pride in and derives strength from the knowledge that it is different where it counts, in its witnessing to the Gospel message.
 
The Holy Family Catholic School strives to inculcate life-sustaining values that build community at all levels: individual, family, and parish.  It also acknowledges and builds upon the fine tradition that is Catholic education in our community. The school recognizes that it is a vital supplement to parental efforts to develop individuals who are Christian, caring members of their communities and their churches.

Our History

The Holy Family Catholic Schools have developed from a rich tradition of quality Catholic education that has flourished for over a century.  From the late 1800’s through the mid 1900’s, seven of the nine Catholic parishes of Elmira and Elmira Heights founded and operated Catholic elementary schools.  In 1971, these parishes formed a consolidated school system to maintain Catholic education as a viable option for children from all parishes.  This consolidated plan called for nine parishes supporting three K through 6 elementary schools and one junior high school.  In 1986, a further re-consolidation resulted in renaming the schools, the Holy Family Catholic Schools, and in re-configuring the buildings:  Holy Family Primary School, grades Pre K-3, Holy Family Intermediate, grades 4-6, and Holy Family Junior High, grades 7 and 8. In 2009, the schools combined further to operate as Holy Family Elementary, grades Pre K – 5 and Holy Family Middle School, grades 6-8.  June 2012 was the final year for the Middle School.  Holy Family Elementary now serves students Pre K-Grade 6.  The success of our schools bears witness to the past and present commitment of our local churches, parishioners, families, and educators to Catholic education as an integral and vital part of the mission of our Church.
 
St. Mary’s school was erected in 1898 and stands today as one of the oldest schools in the region.  1998 was the centennial year for the St. Mary’s school building, known today as Holy Family Elementary School.  St. Mary’s opened for Grades 1 through 8 on June 26, 1898, with a faculty consisting of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester.