Our History

Holy Family Catholic School has a rich tradition of academic excellence, serving the parish and the community at large since 1937. The school was founded by the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross on September 7, 1937, with 94 eager students in four classrooms. Initially, the school covered grades 1 through 8, but in 1939, it added a preschool. Two years later, kindergarten was added.

Teaching has always been a core strength of Holy Family. The first principal was Sister Constantine, and Reverend James Morris served as the school’s first pastor. Its first faculty consisted of 5 sisters, four full-time classroom teachers, and one music teacher. In 1938, Holy Family graduated eight students from the eighth grade. As Holy Family’s reputation and the parish grew, enrollment increased to a peak of 361 in 1958, a mere 20 years after its founding. In 1980, the school became entirely lay-staffed as the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross needed to meet other obligations in the religious community. The school continued its strong religious curriculum coupled with rigorous academic classes.

Over the next 40 years, the demands of a growing religious community, coupled with the educational needs of an evolving and challenging curriculum, required that the facilities be expanded and redesigned. A new Education Center was specifically built and opened in 1999 to provide for these needs. In addition to large, state-of-the-art classrooms, the school provides a fully equipped science laboratory, computer facilities, a library, and visual arts and music rooms. A redesign of our outdoor space to an Outdoor Learning Center led to a gathering area, outdoor science center, and play area was dedicated in 2016 by Bishop David G. O’Connell. In Fall 2020, our school community grew again as we welcomed our youngest Knights to a new Transitional Kindergarten program!

In the Summer of 2021, we welcomed new leaders to our Holy Family Community: Principal Jennifer Garzia, Pastor Fr. Albert Bahhuth, and Associate Pastor Fr. Andrew Hedstrom. In the Summer of 2022, we welcomed Vice Principal Jeannie Eamnarangkool.

Our 2023 – 2024 school year was filled with incredible blessings. Fr. Albert was one of four Los Angeles Archdiocese priests called to the Office of Bishop; one of our in-residence Deacons, Joseph Cho, was ordained on June 1st. We welcomed a new Pastor, Fr. Ricky Viveros, and an Associate Pastor, Fr. Gerald Osuagwu. Our three-year Faith in the Future Campaign Phase 1 broke ground in the Education Center in June, and our graduating class of 2024 was all accepted to their top high school choices!

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, our Technology class will be replaced by the TK-8th grade Innovation Class, led by a dedicated Innovation Specialist Teacher.

This change represents our commitment to fostering innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in our students. The Innovation Specialist Teacher will guide students in the design process and collaborate with our faculty to integrate project-based learning into our curriculum.

Additionally, we are announcing the launch of our very own HFS Student News, spearheaded by our Innovation Specialist Teacher. This exciting initiative will provide students with a platform to express themselves, share stories, and positively engage with the world around them.