Playground
Courtyard
Gymnasium
n
the early 1920s, it was decided that the Academy needed a proper
gymnasium for the athletic activities of the girls. The two-storey
wooden building was designed by Sister Osithe, a teacher, artist
and architect who lived at the Convent. Although the gym was central
to the memories of many girls, its completion in 1922 was met with
little fanfare. The construction bill, listing a Statement of Cost
totalling $3299.05 and Morry and Chamberlain as the contractors,
is one of the few records from the project.
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The
gym was situated behind the auditorium, in the playground area in
back of the school. The upper floor was the gymnasium itself. Inside,
the girls exercised, did gymnastics, and played volleyball, basketball
and other games. The building's facilities suited the needs of the
girls, and former student Catherine Graves (Manthorpe) has many
memories of trying her best at the sports played in the gym. However,
she remembers, "I don't think anything was regulation size."
She adds, with a laugh, "The only time I can ever remember
making a basket in my life was when I was playing volleyball!"
C. Graves noted that "That building got a lot of use, one way
or another." That attitude of adaptability was important for
a school that was attempting to meet the needs of so many individual
pupils, of varying ages. The older girls were interested in having
dances, and these formal occasions were organized with St. Louis
College, the boy's school in the city, run by the Christian Brothers
of Ireland. Dancing was taught as part of the physical education
programme by some teachers. During the late 1960s and early 70s,
Terrasita Calica, a gym teacher from the Philippines, taught Filipino
and Spanish dances. A group of 10 girls performed these ethnic dances,
and competed in the city Folk Festival, winning First Prize.
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on the Courtyard
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