Cashmere Girl's Success In School Certificate

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28819, 13 February 1959, Page 7

Cashmere Girl's Success In School Certificate

Probably the highest marks for the Dominion in the school certificate examination last year were gained by Susan Mary Turtle, aged 16, a pupil of Cashmere High School, who achieved more than 90 per cent, in four subjects for an aggregate of 376, or 465 out of a possible of 500 if her fifth subject, in which she gained 69 per cent., is included.

Her marks were 98 in French, 96 in mathematics, 92 in Latin, 90 in English, and 89 in chemistry.

“I suppose you might say that chemistry was her ‘fail subject,’ ” said the headmaster (Mr T. H. McCombs), when he reported Susan’s success to the school’s board of governors last evening. Susan is the daughter of Mr and Mrs W. Turtle, of 61 Bowenvale avenue, Cashmere. Both her parents are schoolteachers. Mr Turtle is on the staff of Cashmere High School, although he is at present on leave and on his way to Europe, where he is to teach in Germany for a year to complete his qualifications as a teacher of languages. Mrs Turtle is on the staff of the Avonside Girls’ High School. Susan began her education at

Himmerton, and then attended primary school at Te Puke, where she was dux. She had two years at Te Puke High School before attending Cashmere High School as a fifth-form pupil last year. Susan is a member of the school’s basketbal Iteam. “She does not excel at sport, but realises that a well-balanced life requires sport as well as study,” said her mother yesterday. A St. Patrick’s College pupil in Wellington, Justin Taylor, aged 15, was thought last week to have gained the highest marks in the school certificate examination with a total of 353 marks out of 400, gaining 100 in French, 95 in Latin, 85 in English, and 73 in Greek, an average of 88.3 per cent. With her aggregate of 376, Susan Turtle’s average mark was 94 per cent.

Thirty per cent, of the first intake of pupils at the school in 1956 had gained their school cer-

MeSlmh*”. t V ree years ’ Said Mr M cC°mbs last evening. thief J slightl y more than th! h ? d ex P ected . although the staff s, forecast-of marks had not been accurate, Mr McCombs

In addition to Susan Turtle, Pu plls „P assed with marks of M° r »» t 5, an 9 m sin 81 e subjects,” Mr McCombs said. ( h“y e have some satisfaction in have ” n d’ lndeed * pupils must

is not the sole criterion of the success of a school, but it is a very important one,” said the chairman (Mr D. Mackay). The board passed a motion of congratulations to the successful pupils.

surprisingly high proportion of those who had gained the school certificate had returned to school this year, making up two sixth forms of 26 and 28 pupils, Mr McCombs reported. This had helped to swell the school roll this year to 801—400 girls and 401 boys.

“My estimate 18 months ago of the school roll this year was 730,“ Mr McCombs said.