Student numbers climbed to nearly 1,000 in 1970, and portable classrooms were brought in to make space. Even then, it wasn’t enough; Grade 5 classes were moved offsite to the nearby Mark Street Hall. With the portables taking up much of the playground, students from Grades 3 to 6 crossed Alfred Crescent to play in Edinburgh Gardens, a tradition that continues today.

Overcrowding at inner suburban schools was a big social issue, and parents protested outside the school to bring attention to the learning conditions of their children.