From 1894 onwards, St Joseph’s School pupils were mainly  boys from the Orphanage

-some orphans, some from broken homes and some boys who had been picked up on the streets by the police.

There were also a few day boys who were sons of workers on nearby farms or who lived close by.

In 1930, Sr Mary Aquin became the Head Teacher; day pupils were admitted
and the roll rose from 41 to 79.

Refer to The Mercy Sisters and St Joseph’s Takapuna 1893-1993

What a  classroom may have looked like in the 1930’s. This photo includes girls which would not have been the case in the early days of St Joseph’s.