History of Mt. St. Joseph prep School

The history of our school is strongly linked to the history of Alpha Convent in Kingston, which was started by Jessie Ripoll, and to the religious Sisters of Mercy whose foundation began in Ireland in the year 1831.

In the first week of January 1934, three Sisters of Mercy left Alpha to open the new mission at Mandeville. The three pioneer Sisters were Sister M. Baptista, R.S.M., Sister M. Winifred, R.S.M., and Sister Madeline Sophie, R.S.M. The school was called Mt. St. Joseph Academy. Regular classes commenced in January 1934, the first day scholars being Rema Prendergast and Carmen Henriques. The first boarder was Pauline Royston, and at the close of the year, there was an enrollment of six pupils.

The then Venezuelan Consul, Dr. G. Navarro, became a great benefactor and encouraged many boarders from Venezuela to attend the Academy to learn English and Commerce. The number of resident students increased rapidly, giving rise to the Mt. St. Joseph Business College, as well as new buildings to facilitate the growth of the school.

The first building to be added was Baptista Hall in 1946, which currently houses the school cafeteria and the Book room. In 1948, the current administrative office was erected. Angel Hall which now houses our Kindergarten School, was added in 1953 while Theresa Hall which currently houses grades 1 to 4, was constructed in 1961. Mercy Hall was constructed in 1968, and is still being used for worship and special events such as the annual Christmas Concert.

Of the three schools here at Mt. St. Joseph which have been functioning separately from each other over many years, Mt. St. Joseph Prep is the only school now in business.We have a total enrollment of 525 students in the age group of 3 - 12 years old. The students include both boys and girls. In the last grade of their schooling here they appear for the GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test) which is administered by the Ministry of Education, Govt of Jamaica.

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Sster Maureen Ryan R.S.M

Sister Damian Reinbolt R.S.M