Former Sisters" Convent School, Rustico (now Belcom't Centre)

These private schools became public in the Following years: Miscouche (1902); Souris (1906); St.Joseph’s in Charlottetown (1916); South Rustico (1916), Tignish (1922) and Summerside (1966).

After these private sisters’ schools became part ofthe public school system, great numbers of sisters continued to teach in these locations until recent times. In this way they have provided over the years the expertise and dedication for which they were well known.

St. Patrick ’5 School

In 1868, under the watchful eye of Bishop Maclntyre, construction ofSt. Patrick’s School for boys got underway on the corner of Richmond and Great George Streets.

This new school was an impressive brick building, three storeys high, the top storey having a nicely finished assembly area, called St. Patrick’s Hall, to be used by the cathedral parish.

In 1870 St. Patrick’s School opened under the administration ofthe Brothers of the Christian Schools, an order founded in France in 1682 by St. Jean Baptist de la Salle.

Four brothers formed their first religious community in Charlottetown, three as teachers. Enrollment that first year was over

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St. Patrick: '5 School

one hundred boys and the curriculum was essentially that used in Quebec schools. Living quarters for the brothers, as well as a chapel, were contained within the school.

In 1877 the brothers left Charlottetown and returned to postings in Quebec and elsewhere. That year a new School Act was passed that weighed heavily on Catholic schools in general and on St. Patrick’s School in particular. The Brothers’ superiors in Montreal had their fill ofgovernment opposition and other related obstacles in Charlottetown.

As educational professionals the brothers were excellent teachers and conducted a good school at which at least a dozen brothers had taught. Upon their departure the building was renamed Queen Square School and operated

as a public school.

Queen Square School Boys’ Retreat 1930;.

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