eligible students in the five districts surrounding Kinkora, the trustees engaged in a creative way to attract more students: they recruited eligible students from as far away as Miscouche. They also overcame the other obstacles. The convent was renovated for the students who boarded in Kinkora, and the sisters opened up a large room in the convent

for classes.

In the end, 11 different rural communities sent their students to Kinkora for Grade 11. Sister Bernice Cullen taught all the Grade 11 subjects. The first class graduated in 1942. Kathleen’s brother Lorne was among the member of that first graduating class.

Kathleen with her graduatioh class at Kin/enrol school, I 945. She is thirdfiom the left in

the third row

Despite the advances made in the education system in Kinkora, not everyone was successful. Many students dropped out after grades seven or eight, and it was not customary for girls in particular to advance beyond the tenth grade. Although Kathleen was proficient in mathematics and sciences, she failed Grade 10. Undeterred, she repeated the year and after completing Grade 11 passed the Maritime standardized exam which was a prerequisite for entrance into university.

64 KATHLEEN MURPHY, MAITRIARC