The Brothers ' Quarters Built in 1938
year Science Course in St . Joseph ' s was ready to be introduced to students in January 1941 . A grant towards the building of the Science Laboratory was promised and to be put in the estimates for 1941 and 1942 . This was encouraging as far as St . Joseph ' s Institution was concerned , but political events , then unforseen , changed things tremendously as future events showed .
By 1940 , the School Library was organised in its present place . During the year , the entire court-yard was surfaced with laterite rock , broken granite , sand and macadam . Steam rollers were used to crush the rock and granite stones flat , up to a depth of one foot . This was done to prevent red dust on the walls , floors and desks during dry weather , or the smearing of " red paint " on the same places when the weather was wet . The driveway in front of the school was also surfaced in the the sameway as in the court yard .
In 1941 , the new practical four-year Science Course began in St . Joseph ' s under Brother Ignatius and Mr . Sng Yew Chong . Meanwhile , the war in Europe had created quite a stir locally . Japan was becoming more and more belligerent . Pre-war preparations had to be taken in Singapore . A Defence Corps was formed and volunteer units were brushed up as international events took on a more warlike aspect . Economic sanctions were enforced against Japanese trade . However , in spite of all the nervousness of an impending invasion , school work was carried on as usual in St . Joseph ' s . Annual functions such as Sports Day and Founder ' s Day were celebrated in the usual way , amid growing apprehension as Japan become more belligerent .
The final term examinations in St . Joseph ' s were in the offing and pupil s were being registered for 1942 when in the morning of 8th December 1941 at 4.00a . m ., the sleeping city of Singapore was awakened by the strange drones of aircrafts coming from the harbour . Singapore was invaded by Japanese forces and for the next 3 ' 12 years came under Japanese Occupation .
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