Holy Heart currently has an enrollment of 1040 students and offers curriculum for Levels I to III as prescribed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Education. Also both International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs provide opportunities for students to attain post-secondary credits and placement.
There are over 60 rooms at Holy Heart including choral, instrumental, home economics, challenging needs, and industrial arts rooms. There are also four computer labs, an art room, gym and language labs that are used regularly for instruction during the school day. There is a resource center, and physics, chemistry, biology and physical science laboratories. Other specialized areas include a Partnerships Center, English Second Language Center, International Baccalaureate Center, Guidance Center and Special Services Center. These areas are now an integral part of the instructional space at Holy Heart and are a reflection of the changing organization of educational process for students.
At Holy Heart there is an emphasis on the provision of a diversified set of educational opportunities for the students in our school. The inclusion of the English as Second Language population in our student body provides an increased international perspective enabling many students to develop an understanding of the importance of international communication and collaboration. We also provide a number of programs which require an international component. The International Baccalaureate Diploma program will provide many of our students and teachers with opportunities for exchanges, internships and other international/national experiences.
The successful implementation of each program is critically important to the academic success of each student. Students must be challenged with appropriate curriculum.
The academic programs at Holy Heart can be identified as follows:
The Special Services Department at Holy Heart provides a myriad of services to students with documented exceptionalities within the framework of the Pathways to Programming and Graduation developed by the Department of Education. In order to meet the needs of our students with exceptionalities, an ISSP (Individual Student Support Plan) is developed using a team approach and then appropriate services are put in place. These services may include accommodations and modifications to the prescribed curriculum, alternate courses, or an alternate curriculum.
At Holy Heart there is a Special Services Center where students with exceptionalities who need support, can access help. Most students will be supported by a special education teacher who will ease their transition to high school, monitor their progress, and advocate on their behalf to ensure they access all services available to them. Every effort is made to meet the individual needs of students so they can meet success in a supportive, caring, and challenging environment.
An on-going activity throughout the year, designed to raise school spirit, academic performance and student participation is competition between Houses within the school. In keeping with the highlander tradition of Holy Heart, the House system actively consists of a group of teams. Each student belongs to one of six Houses; Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Red and Yellow.
Membership is for a lifetime. We hope even our alumni will express an interest in how well their House is faring in any given year.
Each student and teacher is made a member of a House on arrival at the school. Both students and teachers participate in activities, such as those during spirit week to help earn points for their House.
Each year, the Team Championship Trophy is awarded to the House with the highest points total.
House points are awarded in various categories: academic, sports, music, drama, other extra curricular activities and Inter-House competitions.
Membership in clubs and organizations can be held as long a students attendance, academic standing, and behaviour are at an acceptable standard.
