Page 50 - KBHA BULLETIN 2

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Classes were extended past Std. II and 12 boy boarders and some 24 girl boarders now occupied

the original sleeping apartments (cells), the dining room was converted into a dormitory and the
balcony, with the use of heavy sail cloth, was converted into a dining room which was used

between meals as a classroom.

Still the children arrived and as the facilities got more crowded so instruction were given to
Mother Hyacinth, the Supervisor, to send away boy boarders. They would be boarded in a house

nearby, Mrs. Armour’s, who would look after them and was to be paid a salary.

In 1914 the School was converted into a Secondary School, from kindergarten to matric; many

more nuns moved from Springfield and the Dominican Order were posted to Star of the sea. An
article of June 1914 in the S.A. Lady’s Pictorial Magazine featured an interview with Mother

Hyacinth, the Principal. The number of pupils was given as 86 day pupils and 18 boarders: a total

of 104 pupils. It was noted in the article that music was given special attention, as well as
shorthand and typing for those choosing a commercial career. Art, dancing under the instruction

of Miss. Watt, and cookery classes for boarders only, were also offered. Tennis and basketball
were the main sports, while the Annual Play placed the emphasis on the importance of Literature.

Mother Hyacinth notes in the interview that she was continually receiving requests for taking

further pupils, especially up country boarders, who were unwell and would thrive healthwise at
the St. James seaside under the loving care of the sisters.

Many parents, both local and up-country, were unhappy to move their children to Springfield and

wished them to stay at Star until matric. Thus the numbers grew all the time. There were also

many “birds of the passage,” as described by Sister Benigus, whose attendance was seasonal
depending on their parents’ movements, or whether their parents had two homes, one at St.

James for the summer months and another “ up the line” during winter. Dormitories were used as

classrooms as well as the dining rooms. In the dormitories the children sat on beds and the dining
room or the balcony was divided by sail cloths so that two classes could attend. This area was

allocated to the Std. Vs.

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