Catholic kindergarten bows out Friday: Remuera

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

A cherished Auckland preschool is closing its doors after teaching Remuera children for 66 years.

St Joseph's of Cluny Kindergarten guides learners for the last time on Friday out of concern for the growing frailty of the Sisters who manage the institution.

Head teacher of 15 years Julie McClay said the Sisters of St Joseph Trust Board were aging and did not have any younger Sisters coming through to take the reigns.

"They're 80 plus so they can just relax and not have any financial worries down the track, " McClay said.

The Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, a religious order founded in France, opened the kindergarten in 1954 to better serve their local congregation with early childhood education.

Among the first day pupils were the Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Patrick Dunn.

The initiative was so successful it led to the launch in 1960 of Cluny School, for primary students, which ran until 1981.

McClay describes the Sisters as "the unsung heroes."

They welcomed students with special needs and never turned away families who could not afford to pay their fees, she said.

"Whatever the need was we said, 'yes' and I think that's what we were about."

McClay said that over the years, she often heard primary school teachers remarking they could recognise the kindergarten's former students.

"I think it's (because of) the value system."

The children were given high expectations- and rose to them, she said.

"It was always done in a nurturing, loving environment at the pace of the child."