town, and many pupils took advantage of her presence to take music lessons and to learn many beautiful choruses. Unfortunately, Sister was recalled just before Christmas as the need in Charlottetown was greater than ours. However, Sister very generously returned the following June to help with the program for the Closing Exercises. The following September (1951) one of the foundresses of Stella Maris Convent and a very precious member of the staff, Sister St . Mary Eugenia , was relieved of her teaching that she might continue further studies at St . EX. Univer¬ sity, Antigonish, Nova Scotia . The Sisters spent one whole week of this month of January, 1952, visiting pupils who were ill. Almost every home had a sick child either because of measles or pneumonia, and it was hoped that these encounters with the children would bring them and their good parents the assurance of the deep concern and love of the Sisters. In May of 1953, the Sisters welcomed Sister St . Mary Eugenia home from Antigonish, where she had graduated with distinction. Sister then resumed her duties as Principal of Stella Maris School. In July 1953, a very important meeting for Stella Maris School took place. The board of trustees, Father Eric Robin , the executives of the Home and School. Association, The Legion, the Catholic Women's League , and St . Thomas Aquinas societies, together with Sister St . Mary Eugenia and Sister St . Hildebert, assembled to take steps to petition the Government to have Grade XII established in the school. A brief was prepared which was to be presented to Premier Matheson and to the Minister of Education, Mr. Keir Clark . March 20, 1954, will be a day not easily forgotten in North Rustico . The destructive fire which consumed the first and well-loved Stella Maris School brought overwhelming sadness to all concerned. Even some of the pupils were in tears! This sad story was told in more detail elsewhere in this book. A few days later Sister St . Hildebert was busy making plans for a new Hall which was to be erected as soon as possible. In this hall there would be an auditorium, a kitchen, a bowling alley and a basement large enough to be used for suppers and bazaars. The hall was ready for the Graduation Exercises the following June, 1954, and it was at that special yearly event that Father Robin proudly made the announcement that Grade XII would be added to the school curriculum in September of that current year. In April, 1955, carpenters marked off the ground for a new wing to be added to the convent. It was to consist of a dining room for boarders and three bedrooms. At the end of July the wing was completed. 51