WHO WE ARE
St Joseph’s Secondary School Alumnae Association California (SJSSAACA) are former students and graduates of St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa residing in Southern and Northern California.
Our chapter was formed in November 2018 and is the newest of the SJSSAA chapters. This non-profit organization is committed to raising funds and supporting a dream of transforming our great alma mater into a school of excellence where girls from diverse backgrounds are empowered to become change agents and implement positive transformation within their families, communities, and beyond.
We have partnered with the Mid-Atlantic, South-Eastern, Texas, UK, and Freetown chapters to enhance staff training, renovate science labs, and staff rooms, replace classroom and lab furniture, and engage in various rehabilitation projects and maintenance of the school infrastructure. Our latest project was the construction of a new building (estimated cost: $270,000) which was a proud moment for us all.
History of St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Saint Joseph's was established in 1866 by the Sisters of St. Joseph de Cluny. The venerable Mother Anne Marie Javouhey was born in France and was the founder of the Catholic Order of St. Joseph's de Cluny in Chamblanc, France. She travelled to French Guinea and Senegal to establish a mission presence, and she focused on improving the hospitals. She was asked by the Governor of British West Africa to come to Sierra Leone and establish the excellent social service systems for which she had become renowned in France and beyond. Due to a yellow fever epidemic in the area, she focused her efforts on tending to the sick and injured. She died in 1851 and was beatified on October 15, 1950.
Many years after the death of Ann-Marie Javouhey, the Sisters of the Order of St. Joseph's of Cluny arrived in Sierra Leone. They were Roman Catholic nuns from Italy, Ireland, and France. They opened a day and boarding school for primary school girls at Howe Street, in the central part of Freetown, on December 8, 1866, named St. Joseph's Convent. The school provided much-needed, quality education for girls in Sierra Leone. This institution developed into what is now known as SJSS. SJSS ranks among SL’s top five secondary schools in terms of academic and sports achievements.
By the early 1900s, the school gained secondary school status. In 1927, "Convent," as the school is affectionately known, gradually changed to a grammar school and sent its first candidate to the Senior Cambridge Score Certificate Exam.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny adopted Blue and Pink as the school uniform colors. Blue is deeply rooted in the catholic liturgy (Faith). The blue of our lady’s cloak represents the Virgin’s purity, whereas pink portrays a time of joy (jubilant new beginnings) amid a period of penance and prayer. Ms. Isabella Miller who taught geography for many years was the designer of the current school uniform.
The current school buildings at Brookfields in Freetown were officially opened in February 1965 by the then Prime Minister of Sierra Leone, Sir Albert Margai. The first Sierra Leonean principal, Miss Florence Dillsworth, affectionately known as "Dilly," was appointed in 1973. She succeeded Sister Teresa MeKeon, the last nun to serve as principal of the school.
