Group photo of students and teachers outdoors on green grass, with two purple banners in the foreground, large white building, palm trees, and partly cloudy blue sky in the background.

Who we are

Our Alma Mater

St Joseph’s Secondary School is a Catholic all-girls secondary school located in Suva, Fiji.

Founded in 1956, the school has established itself as one of the top-performing schools in the country, excelling in both academics and sports.

It is the counterpart school for boys to Marist Brothers High School.

With an enrollment of over 700 students, SJSS is located on Waimanu Road in the Toorak area of Suva.

The school colours are blue and white, and the uniform consists of a standard ladies’ white blouse paired with a blue skirt.

Our History

While the school was officially established in 1956, its story began much earlier.

In September 1888, four pioneer Sisters of St Joseph’s of Cluny arrived in Fiji at the invitation of Bishop Vidal to provide education for the people of Fiji.

The founding sisters were Mother Martin and Sister Tarcisius Mongin of France, Sister Mary of the Holy Name of Ireland, and Sister Frances Chambers of Newfoundland, Canada.

In 1938, the golden jubilee of the sisters’ arrival, a secondary department called St Philomena’s was opened on the third floor of St Anne’s Primary School in Pratt St, Suva.

A small secondary branch was also attached to St Joseph’s Primary School, located on the site where the Reserve Bank of Fiji now stands, next to Sacred Heart Cathedral.

It was in 1956 that both secondary departments - St Philomena’s and St Joseph’s Secondary - were transferred to the present site on Waimanu Road.

From the very graduates then to now, girls from every walk of life, ethnicity and faith have been accepted and educated at SJSS, with the values instilled in them serving them well in their lives as young women and adults.

The school celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in September 2016 and is now preparing for its Platinum Jubilee in 2026.

Our Motto and Spirit

Motto:“Pietas cum scientia” - piety with knowledge

This motto reflects the school’s commitment to nurturing young women who are not only academically accomplished but also grounded in faith, integrity, and service.

As Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said at the school’s 65th anniversary, St Joseph’s has produced “girls and women to become worthy Fiji citizens, making good contributions to the people of Fiji, leadership, economy, politics, education, private sector, and in the Catholic Church”.

The driving force behind the school’s growth was a little Irish sister known as Sister Louis Woodnut - small in stature but vast in her ability to supervise the growth of this special school for girls.

Her legacy, along with that of the Cluny Sisters, continues to inspire the school community today.

Our SJSS Today

Under the leadership of Principal Jacqueline Low, SJSS continues to honour its Catholic heritage while embracing innovation.

The school is a pioneer in digital learning in Fiji, being the first school in the country to fully utilise the Moodle platform.

SJSS remains steadfast in its Catholic ethos, with a strong Religious Education Department and a renewed focus on spiritual accompaniment.

Students are also engaged in contemporary issues such as environmental stewardship, with the school introducing teachings on integral ecology and Laudato Si’.

Focus on Excellence

SJSS is consistently ranked among Fiji’s top schools.

In 2015, the school placed third nationally with an 88.5 per cent pass rate.

The school is also a powerhouse in sports, regularly competing at the highest levels in athletics, netball, hockey, basketball, swimming, and archery.

Recent successes include strong performances at the Suva Zone 2 competitions and the Coca-Cola Games.

SJSS Global Alumnae

The bonds forged at St Joseph’s endure across continents. Alumnae from around the world - including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, the USA, and Hong Kong - regularly reunite to celebrate their shared heritage.

A landmark reunion held in Sydney in 2018 brought together more than 300 former students from across the world, while the regular 5-year reunions in Fiji have proved to be the enduring and strong glue that bonds all our local and overseas-based OGs.

The alumnae community remains deeply connected to the school, supporting it through donations, fundraising, and building projects.

As of 2026, overseas chapters for the SJSS Alumnae have been established in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the Unites States of America, while a local one has been set up in the Western division of Viti Levu.

As one former student put it: “We just have a love for the country of our birth, for the school we went to and the nuns who taught us and passed on the faith to us.”

Looking to the Future

As we approach our Platinum Jubilee in September 2026, we give thanks for the vision of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey, the courage of the Cluny Sisters, and the dedication of generations of teachers, students, and families who have made St Joseph’s Secondary School the beacon of excellence it is today.

We invite all former students - no matter where life has taken you - to stay connected, share your stories, and continue to be part of the SJSS family.

“We continue to pray that the spiritual and academic excellence of St Joseph’s Secondary School will continue to provide women of quality for our homes, our families, our communities, our country and the entire world.”
— SJSS Alumnae Executive Committee

SJSS Alumnae Executive Committee

  • Smiling woman with short curly hair, dark skin, wearing a pink flower behind her ear and a coral-colored shirt, outdoors in a lush green garden.

    Lavinia Gonerogo-Kaumaitotoya

    PRESIDENT

    Class of 1986

  • Close-up photo of an smiling woman with gray dreadlocks, wearing a black shirt, inside a room with gray walls and medical or technical equipment.

    Talei Tora

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Class of 1996

  • A smiling woman with curly hair wearing a white sleeveless top and dangling earrings, standing indoors.

    Bole Digitaki

    TREASURER

    Class of 1981

  • Smiling woman with dark hair in a colorful blue and pink dress, pink flower in her hair, sitting on a black chair with a red curtain background.

    Laisa Matairakula

    SECRETARY

    Class of 2006

  • A smiling woman with short, curly hair wearing a light pink shirt over a black top, sitting indoors with wooden paneling and woven decor behind her.

    Milika Wata-Marshall

    Class of 1983

  • A woman with dark hair pulled back, smiling, wearing a colorful, patterned shirt with various bright colors and designs.

    Judy Compain

    Class of 1985

  • Close-up of a woman wearing a pink top, smiling outdoors with a parked car in the background.

    Janice Stewart

    Class of 1990

  • An older woman with short gray hair, wearing purple glasses, earrings, a beaded necklace, and a black and white patterned dress, standing outdoors with palm trees and a fence in the background.

    Josephine Tongia-Seruvatu

    Class of 1992

  • Close-up of a woman with pearl earrings, wearing a dress with white and yellow flower decorations on the shoulders, standing outdoors near a gray building with window shutters.

    Rachael Varea-Mani

    Class of 1997

  • Close-up of a smiling woman wearing a white T-shirt with a circular logo, and a small brown stone necklace. She is indoors with a blurred background of other people.

    Salome Waqailiti

    Class of 1998

  • A woman taking a selfie at an outdoor gathering, wearing a striped top, with a man and another person partially visible in the background.

    Katarina Manaseitava-Mawi

    Class of 1998

Governance & Member Support

At the heart of our alumnae community is a shared commitment to keeping the SJSS spirit alive across generations and oceans.

To ensure we do this with integrity and purpose, the Alumnae Association is guided by a formal constitution - our governing document that outlines our mission, leadership roles, election processes, and financial responsibilities.

It is the foundation upon which we build trust, foster connection, and honour the legacy of the Cluny Sisters.

We welcome you to explore it.

SJSS Alumnae Constitution

payment details

For any donation or payment to the SJSS Alumnae, please remit it to the following bank account:

Name: St Joseph’s Secondary School Alumni

Bank: ANZ

Acc #: 5887202

Swift: ANZBFJFX

BSB: 010890

For reconciliation purposes, please put your Maiden Last Name, Class Year and Item or Event Name on the Reference fields of your banking or payment app.

You can also email your payment receipt and purchase details to:

admin@sjssalumnae.com

Principals of SJSS

1956 - 1967 Sr. Louis Woodnutt ‍

1968 - 1972 Sr. Francis Kelly

1973 - 1981 Sr. Genevieve Loo

1981 - 1984 Sr. Francis Kelly

1985 Sr. Eileen McGrath

1986 - 1992 Sr. Teresa Momoyalewa

1993 - 2014 Sr. Genevieve Loo

2015 - 2026 Ms. Jacqueline Low

Head Girls of SJSS

1956 Ann Boulton ‍

1957 Margaret Eason

1958 Vivian Yee Fong

1959 Margaret Jansen

1960 Dawn Boulton

1961 Delores Storck

1962 Arlene Griffen

1963 -

1964 Ofa Stanlake - Makasiale

1965 Gloria Boyer

1966 Katalina Rakai

1967 Maureen Smith

1968 Sharon Campbell

1969 Barbara Fong

1970 Dawn Wakeham

1971 Lusiana Rafaele

1972 -

1973 Kim Yam

1974 Jenny Chan

1975 Miliana Vunibobo

1976 Mere Duilomaloma

1977 Shelley Slatter

1978 Student Council

1979 Emele Mara

1980 Robyn Lee Joe

1981 Sheryl Edwards

1982 Fane Niumataiwalu

1983 Roslyn Crocker

1984 Marica Tamani

1985 Lorraine Evening

1986 Luse Cakaunitabua

1987 Tanya Bull

1988 Ilisapeci Kubuabola

1989 Moera Kafoa

1990 Natasha Cavuilati

‍ ‍

1991 Cheryl Brown

1992 Nashtenka Cavuilati

1993 Tamarisi Digitaki

1994 Sherika Chandra

1995 Elizabeth Chong

1996 Margaret Chong

1997 Akeneta Seduadua

1998 Felicia Maharaj

1999 Salome Waqailiti

2000 Nirvana Karan

2001 Petrina Zinck

2002 Tieri Konrote

2003 Dipal Maneklal

2004 Lilian Nalawa

2005 Violetta Fatiaki

2006 Narisha Karan

2007 Adi Kystel Gavidi

2008 Frentina Andrea

2009 Sarah Varamasi

2010 Yvette Finau

2011 Viniana Kalara Rabouliku

2012 Seruia Vatunimarau

2013 Hilda Vukikomoala

2014 Kiti Seninawanawa

2015 Alanieta Atama

2016 Angeline Fui

2017 Elizabeth Takala

2018 Andreantha Sigrah

2019 Julie Tamani

2020 Shakira Keni

2021 Kaelyn Pickering

2022 Erika Fonmoa

2023 Faith Inia

2024 Frances Naiveli

2025 Kiana Toganivalu