PAPANVI HIGH SCHOOL

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 13

PAPANVI HIGH SCHOOL

'frtrst Assembly hi New Hall "On Tuesday, November 19, we held our first full school assembly in our new hall, although we took it over officially on the previous Tuesday,” said Mr L. B. Newton, principal of Papanui' High School, in his monthly report to the board of governors yesterday. “We seated 732 pupils comfortably, which is two less than the standard forms can accommodate.”

"At a pinch we might be able to scat another 40 or 50 persons, using single chairs and reducing the width of the centre aisle.”

“Mr R. H. McDonald, chairman of the /board, was present at our second assembly and spoke briefly, I mean very briefly, to the school,” said Mr Newton. "Apart from a few minor adjustments to be made, we have a splendid hall.”

Mr Newton added that even if they had a large number of parents at the break-up ceremony on December 12, they could be ’ accommodated quite easily. Some 1 of the third form pupils would be moved either into the foyer. or on to the back of the stage. Next Year’s Roll

“We have taken an estimate ' of the roll for next year and it' will probably be in the vicinity i of 800, which is the maximum we can accommodate,” said Mr New-

ton. “We can get by reasonably well next year, following the patterns of this year and last year. If, however, the accommodation next year is not sufficient, it may be necessary in 1959 to reduce the numbers of pupils to suit it.” - Three grants, which had been approved by the Education Department, were received by the board of governors. They were a grant of £175 towards the cost of the school’s new piano and one of £llO to cover the cost of the installation of an additional 130 bicycle stands. The other grant was one of £298, which covers repairs to the caretaker’s house, the fence around .the swimming baths and the cookery room. “Some of these repairs have already been done,” said Mr P. J. Halligan, secretary.

"It has taken some months for any start to be made on it, but at last we have been rewarded for our persistence,” said Mr McDonald, after the board had been advised by the Education Department that the developmental plans for the school had been started.