YEAR REVIEWED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 172, 4 May 1937, Page 6

YEAR REVIEWED

WORK AT BOROUGH SCHOOL.

REPORT TO THE HOUSEHOLDERS. MEETING TO-MORROW EVENING. “Tho school still maintains its high standard of efficiency under the present headmaster and staff,” says the annual report of the Ashburton Borough School Committee, to be presented at the annual meeting of householders to-mor-row evening. Continuing, the report expresses regret at the resignation of Mr W. C. J. Osman, who had been an enthusiastic member of the committee for many years. His work there and as chairman of tho West Dental Clinic Committee was worthy' of highest praise. Several changes had taken place in the "Staff during the year. Mrs Erikson, Miss Clark, Miss Lucas, and Mis 9 Mason gained promotion, and their places were filled by Miss Thomas, Miss Cruickshank, Miss Evans and Miss Jones. Mr Armstrong was transferred to Taranaki and Miss Macfarlane was appointed a probationary assistant. It was with regret that the committee accepted the resignation of Mr H. Colqulioun as headmaster, and it wished to place on record its appreciation of his services to the school. The present staff was: Messrs H. Colqulioun (headmaster), S. W. Gower, It. A. Young, Misses S. M. Cruickshank, T. M. Cowan, A. G. Thomas, R. E. Jones, M. H. Evans, E. Jj. Macfarlane and Mrs L. M. Hodgson!

The roll-number was 421, compared with 422 at the same time last year. In all probability! the grade of the school for next year would again reach a 6B grade. Health of Children. The children up to and! including Standard IV were receiving .regular dental treatment, and the school was fortunate in having such an efficient and painstaking nurse as Miss Box, whose work w r a.s of a very high standard. The Departmental Medical Officer examined the children and reported very favourably on tho health of the children. So far the school had escaped any serious epidemic. Up to tho end of 1936 tho children were receiving milk every day, hut owing to the uncertainty of the supply, tho local milkman could not see his way clear to supply for an uncertain period. During tho winter term the committee gave free of cost a hot drink of cocoa and milk to all children having their lunches at School. It was the intention of the committee to continue tho scheme this winter term.

Smith Scholarships were awarded to Natalie 11. Wilson and Harry J. Kennedy. Winifred E. Buchanan was dux girl' and George W. Waters was dux boy. Natalie Wilson and George Waters won certificates in the Navy League essays. During the year tho usual visits of the inspectors and instructors were made, and the reports were excellent. The result of the proficiency examination at the end of the y r eai ivas excellent. Among the outstanding events ol educational value that had occurred during the past year, pupils of tho school paid a number of visits to local factories, the Canterbury Museum, as well as inspecting places of historic and geographic interest in and aiound Christchurch and Lyttelton. Such visits assisted in making the geography and history lessons more human in treatment. By tho courtesy of the Mayor hnd councillors, the senior pupils of tho school attended a meeting of tho Ashburton Borough Council. A Garden was started! at the school and was finding a keen following among the children. An instructional visit was paid by r tho members of the club to Mr A. Clark’s nursery, and other visits of interest were planned for this y eai •

Greenstriiet Consolidation. At the beginning of the year Greenstreet School consolidated with Ashburton Borough and besides a goodly sum of money the Creenstreet School Committee, through the generosity oi Mr A. E. Gill, presented the school with 150 library books, material and school extras. “We express our thanks to Mr Gill and residents of Creenstreet With the books purchased, by your Committee we can safely say that we have an up-to-date library m each of the senior classes besides the reference books,” the report added. The annual flower show was held a little later this year and was a huge success financially and socially. Dming the year the children held two penny concerts and both u e 1 attended. The sum of £2 16s 5d was collected for library books. On Poppy Day, the children were assembled for a pre-Anzac service. The headmaster gave an address on the significance of the day and the importance of Anzac Day. The Committee had placed shelves in the remainder of the rooms to hold the library books. Several repairs in and around the school had been carried out. The Committee had been instrumental in having Park Street path asphalted. The annual coal bilM'or the school was approximately £25. Ihe school was again fortunate in winning the A.A.A. schools’ garden competition'. The gardens were a credit to the teachers and children. The committee had made frequent requests tor a new infant school and when this was erected the school should be well pleased with the buildings. Sports Contests. During the year football, cricket, baseball, basket-ball and rounders were played at the school. Borough School entered three football teams and were runners-up in two grades. One cricket team was entered, and was runner-up, while two baseball teams played friendly matches with other schools. Two teams of rounders were entered and the B team won. Five teams were entered in the basket-ball competition and the A team won the seven-a-side.

Owing to the epidemic the School Sports Association did not hold the annual swimming and athletic sports, but would in all probability hold them at tbe end of the year. The school swimming and athletic sports, which were generally held in March, were postponed owing to the epidemic. Concluding, the Committee complimented the headmaster and his staff on tlio excellent work, of the school, ami expressed appreciation of the cordial relations existing between tlio Committee and the staff. It thanked the Ministers who had undertaken Bible-reading lessons, the newspapers for their valuable reports, and the caretaker (Mr Harper) for his efficient work and his willing help at all times.