Holy Family School began as the parish school for St. Ann Church in Phoenixville. Construction of the school was begun in the early 1920s on a plot located at Third Avenue and Buttonwood Street. The pastor, the Rev. James J. Wilson, initiated and oversaw the construction of the school. He invited the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, whose Motherhouse was at Villa Maria, West Chester, to staff the parish school.  They readily agreed, establishing a loving relationship which grew throughout their 60 years of service to the parish.

1922

Parishioners were joined by thousands of residents of Phoenixville and local communities to celebrate the dedication and laying of the cornerstone of the school on June 25, 1922. During this ceremony, a parade of children clad in white and bearing small American flags presented officiant Bishop Michael J. Crane with bouquets of flowers. A large national flag and the parish service flag was draped from the new building and a time capsule, containing documents and coins from that year, was placed inside the cornerstone before it was sealed.

1923

On February 4, 1923, the completed school building was blessed and the following day the school officially opened with 100 students, grades 1 through 8. By the end of the first week of school, 145 students were attending. The original school building, constructed by John McShain, consisted of two stories and a basement. The first floor was divided into six classrooms and located on the second floor was a large auditorium complete with stage. The structure of the light tapestry brick building measured 56 feet wide by 102 feet deep. The roof consisted of black slate and all the metal work was copper.

1924

In September of 1924, commercial classes were begun for ninth graders. These classes  continued until 1944.

1941

By 1941, an expanded student body required more nuns to teach courses, and this larger group of sisters was moved to a new convent at Fourth Avenue and Main Street. The first Mass was offered in the convent chapel by Father Corbett.

1944

Graduating class of St. Ann, 1944

1956

In October 1956, it was apparent that the school building needed to be expanded and Rev. Anthony L. McCarron initiated plans for the construction of a new school building.

1957

On July 28, 1957, Father McCarron broke ground for the new building, which was to be connected by a glazed passageway enabling the two buildings to function as one unit. The construction consisted of a two-story edifice of reinforced concrete with brick and limestone exterior, designed to make possible the addition of another floor should extra facilities ever be needed. It included 10 classrooms, a basement cafeteria, and storage facilities.
Fr. McCarron breaks ground for the new school as Sexton Eddie Morgan watches.  July 28, 1957

1958

On August 31, 1958, Bishop McCormack dedicated the new school and, assisted by the pastor, curates, and priests from surrounding parishes, laid the cornerstone. Classes officially began in the new building in September 1958 with Mother Rita Augustin, IHM serving as principal.


Dedication of the new school, 1958

To accommodate the increased enrollment additional nuns were assigned to the facility. Through the years improvements were continuously made to St. Ann School and its equipment through the generous support of the St. Ann’s Women’s Guild and the Home and School Association.

1986

1989

1991

1993

1995

1999

As principal, Mrs. Dura implemented many technological advances that put Holy Family ahead of most diocesan and many public schools. A website was launched, the library was computerized, on-line grading and parental access to grades were initiated, report cards were computer-generated, and projectors and whiteboards were installed in many classrooms.
 

2009

With Mrs. Dura’s retirement, Mrs. Ann Marie Braca is named the new principal, and Holy Family continued to evolve.  Smartboards are installed in all classrooms; seventh and eighth graders are outfitted with personal iPads; fifth and sixth graders are equipped with personal netbooks; a set of iPads is acquired for lower grades; the computer lab is upgraded; and a new website is launched.

2012

The Holy Trinity and Sacred Heart parishes merged with St. Mary and St. Ann parishes, respectively.

During this time the schooled increased the focus on DIBELS and other reading assessments in Grades K-2 to enable teachers to identify and address areas of concern. The adoption of the Common Core Standards, the introduction of Rosetta Stone Spanish in grades 6-8, and the implementation of the First-In-Math on-line program enhance an already strong academic program.

Beyond academics and service, the school undertook many facility improvements, including repainting more than 75% of the interior, replacing most of the old carpeting with more sanitary tile, and landscaping the exterior, and installing a Holy Family statue in the front of the school.  

An Annual Fund Drive is established to increase revenue from outside sources, and Holy Family enjoyed an increase in both scholarship money and EITC funds for scholarship.

2016

2017

2019

2020s & Beyond