St Josephs

SCHOOL HISTORY 

The earliest signs of Catholic activity in Quarry Hill go back to the days of Dr. Henry Backhaus, the first priest on the Sandhurst goldfields.

Archbishop Carr laid the foundation stone of St Joseph's, Quarry Hill on August 29th, 1906.  The school opened for classes on April 30^th 1907.  The initial enrolment was 138.  The majority of them were registered by parents who were miners, railway employees or labourers.  The school was placed in the care of the Sisters of Mercy.  The first sister in charge was Sr. M. Gabrielle Halifax, supported by a dedicated lay staff.  Records of later years show that the enrolment steadied at 160 before reaching over 200 in the late 1980s.  Sisters of Mercy filled the role of School Principal until 1984.  Since 1985 a lay Principal has been appointed.

From 1961 to 1964 when St. Josephs was made a separate Parish and Fr. John Curtin was appointed pastor of the Parish and proprietor of the school, many significant innovations were made to the school: - lawns, new toilet block and cyclone fence.

Following the death of Fr. J. Curtin in 1973, Fr. Tim Scott was appointed in 1974 and he continued to assist the school in every possible way.  During this time, two portable classrooms were added in 1976 and a library constructed and furnished in 1981.  A playground was provided by the Mothers Club.  Fr. Scott retired early in 1999.  Fr. Bob Drake was appointed Parish Priest at this time and he later retired from parish duties early in 2006.

The original school building consisted of four classrooms, a staff room and two cloakrooms. In 1937 two more classrooms were built along Breen Street.  In 1957, St. Josephs Mothers Club came into existence.  The Mothers Club looked after the Tuck Shop and provided funds towards the running of the school up to 1980, when the Parents and Friends Association took over the work of the Mothers Club.

In 1981 the existing staffroom was enlarged and renovated and a cloakroom converted for office space.  In 1983 another cloakroom was converted to a workroom.  Constant maintenance of buildings and grounds has been attended to over the years particularly since 1985 when a grounds committee was established.

Since then, major playground development has been completed with two separate grass areas established, two new asphalted courts and the remaining yard areas re-asphalted.

Extensive line marking was completed on this surface to cater for a variety of bat and ball games.  Additional garden beds were established and all buildings painted internally and externally.  Older carpets were replaced and some air-conditioning, ceiling fans and extra heaters were installed. 

Further major developments included road works and upgrading of kerb, channelling and pavement along all three roads surrounding the school.

With 46 prep enquiries for 1991, fourteen had to be redirected.  This highlighted the need for the Breen Street acquisition in formal process since August 1987.  At the end of 1990 it became obvious that for the first time St. Josephs School could only meet all enrolment applications by acquiring and placing classroom facilities on Breen Street.  A major building program to upgrade facilities occurred in 1993.  Capital funding of $700,000 and another $70,000 from parish and school sources was spent.  A peak of 218 students was reached in 1994.  Land was acquired on Breen Street to enable building additions.  The playground area was expanded with more grass and trees planted in 1991.

In 1993 on the Breen & Russell Streets corner, four new classrooms and a new library were completed along with major renovations to the original building.  These renovations also provided new staff and administration facilities.  The acquisition and development of land and the 1993 building program and record enrolments made the 90s a major part of St. Josephs School history.

The toilets were rebuilt in 1998, providing the children with new conveniences. 

Early in 2000, a house block at 24 Breen Street was purchased to cater for increased enrolments and the future needs of the school.  The site houses 2 classrooms, a toilet block and an expansive environmental education area.  The environmental area includes a worm farm, compost bins and vegetable garden. 

The house next door to 24 Breen Street was purchased in 2005.  The two house blocks provide a significant land area for future school development.

During 2006 a large shelter was built over a basketball court.  This shelter, known as Fr Tim Scott Shelter provides shade and protection for the children.  Due to the effects of drought Astroturf was installed in one of the playgrounds to enhance the look and safety of St. Josephs.  Water tanks were also installed.

St. Josephs School celebrated its Centenary in September 2006.  The Centenary was held over a weekend and was attended by many past and present students and their families. 

2007 saw the recarpeting of all buildings and the installation of new computers and interactive whiteboards (SMART Boards) in each classroom.   

Our enrolment in 2010 was 271.  In 2012 this has increased to 314 students in 12 classroom groups, with our prep enrolment totalling 50. 

The Building the Education Revolution gave the school an additional $2,000,000 to develop quality learning and teaching facilities.  We have constructed an additional four classrooms and a multipurpose hall on land purchased across the road from the school which backs onto Little Breen Street.  By developing this area we have freed up several rooms to enable creative arts to be developed through the school.  These state of the art school buildings will enable St. Josephs to continue to provide an environment that promotes student learning.

Over the past two years, St Josephs has introduced new technology into the classrooms enabling student access to 21^st Century learning.  In 2010, two banks of Apple Macbook computers (Computers on Wheels - COWS) were purchased for use in the classrooms.  In 2011, one to one laptops for all students in Grades 3 to 6 have been introduced, allowing the students in Prep to Grade 2 increased access to the COWS in their classrooms. 

St. Josephs School story........to be continued......