SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORTS

Evening Star, Issue 17328, 16 April 1920, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORTS

MACANDREW ROAD. The school is still under the able control of Mr G. XV. C. Macdonald, and has again maintained its high standard of ejiiciency. At the December examinations 31 scholars gained their proficiency certificate*, while" the-inspectors' reports testify to the excellence of the work of both teachers and scholars. The number on the roll is 624.

The past year has been one of the mast successiul in the history of the school. The girls won the hoekev competition and the boys carried off the hockey banner. The boys also won the sjven-a-side hockey tournament; • they were second in „ihe cricket competitions and third in the Rugby competitions. At the Caledonian Society's sports meeting the school secured a high position, while they were also ranners-up at the {schools' championship meeting, which was held this year for the first time. At this meeimg four championships were won bv Macandrew Road School scholars. A tea urn and gas ring hare been installed in the gymnasium to provide scholars staying ; ,t the, school with a hot cup of tea with their lunch. A new table and cupboard have been procured for the use of children who have their lunch at the school. These improvements are filling a much-needed want.

During, the year two very successful were held for the" purpose of raising fands to provide footballs, jersevs, hockey sticks, and other equipment for the scholars The sum of £34 was realised, and a considerable portion of. this amount has been expended iu equipping the various teams. '

The committee have endeavored to keep beiore the Otago Education Board the need for additional ground and a newschool. Their efforts have been successful to this oxtent—the board have signified their intention of considering the claims 'put forward by the committee. CAVERSHAM. The attendance for the vear constitutes a record for the school, the average beiii"640 out of an average roll. miniber\>t' 674° 'this is very satisfactory indeed.and shows that- the health of the children Ims been remarkably good during the past year. The inliuenza epidemic made its reappearance early this year, but we are pleased to record that it was of a considerably milder type than the visitation 12 months ago, and owing largely to the precautions I taken m the matter of keening the schools closed during February, it' was prevented | from spreading to any extent. ! The work of the school has been carried out .in a thorough and painstaking manner by the head master and his staff. The repoit of the inspectois (Messrs Fleming and Lynskey) was of a very satisfactory nature, and' the thanks of the committee were conveyed to the staff on the excellent results of the year's work. We are pleased to notice that there is a spirit of self-help abroad in the school. Scholars have taken it upon themselves to collect' small saleable articles, such as match boxes, boot polish tins, bottles, etc., and convert same into cash, such monev being used to purchase framed picture's to hang on the walls of the class rooms. The added chi\m these pictures give amply repays the efforts put forth bv'the children, and we take this opportunity of congratulating them upon the energy displayed and the results achieved. °"

I The committee are phased to re- | port that the efforts that have been I put forth "from time to time in the direction of . procuring a new school for the district are about to bear fruit, and we , hope that within a year from now we will be in possession of the most up-to-date school in Otago, if not in the Dominion. The education authorities have been fortunate in securing a site of throe and a half acres on the South road, which should provide ample room for all requhements. The school choir continue to do very good work, and although they made no public appearance during th-2 year they gave a couple of very enjoyable eoncerts to the parenfe, which were greatly appreciated. The singing jjroved that the members are as keen and alert as ever, and we again congratulate Mr Robinson on the excellent results of his labor on behalf of the choir. The cricket and football teams have put in good work during the year, and the girls' hockey teams have done well, considering it was their first ye-ar at the game. MAORI HILL. The annual report states that the average roil number for the year 1919 was 377 ana the average attendance 551. The I annual inspection was carried out in June j by Inspectors Bossence and Hardy, and their report was an excellent one. reflect- I ing great credit on the staff, in Decern- ! ber at, _the examination 52 pupils were successful in gaining their profkiencv certificates. and four gained competency certificates. The school football team were successful in-'gaining the Association .football championship in the 1). grade for the year, playing 11 games and'winning 10 and drawing one. On account of the support received from the householders 'ot the district, the finances of the schoo"_ are in a very healthy stete. J he jumn-e sale held in .rune, resulted in I a. profit of £56, while the two lantern lectures given by .Mr H. Fawcett brought m the fiuiu of £sl. Mr Fawcett brought back with him from England a lantern ana a magniricent collection of lantern slides, historical and geographical, and these are used in connection with the school work on these subjects. 'Hie Education Bo.ird installed electric R'i't m the school, and this increased the efficiency of the lantern work. Dirri"the year the school savings bank was «swl by the pupils, and the sum ot Lio wa.s paid out to them before the Christmas holidays.

FOEBUKY. The. annual report of the Forburv Committee states : i Tho school and ?ui-roundin,-T S haw tern up to the usual standard of condition. Ihe Education Board have, carried 'out minor repairs during the year '''he hygienic part of the school has" been well rarned out by. the janitor. Mr M'Kav Ine attendance for the vear 1919 lv ,w tn<» highest since the school's establishment the average, for the vear being 683 out of an average roll number of" 72-5 'reworks out, at 94 per cent, for tho var" Last year, 1918, the average was 671 out oi an average roll number of 718. Bearing closely on the Question of nvri-a™ attendance is the question of accommodation Last year attention was directed to the crowded state of the rooms aTK [ representations were made to the board tor increased accommodation. The committee suggested, on the recommendation ot tne head teacher, that 'Standard 111 and standard V. rooms should be lengthened, and the two rooms bv this means be. convert] into four. The' board before the Education Department, which a -" rant for these cxtonMoiift. which the txxa<i promise to carry ouu as soon as possible. The extensions .-.Lould prove a considerable benefit both QiQ Up l i and At tho close of ISI9I photographic certificates were given to i9o pupils who had attended the whole year wdlumt ndssing _ouo half dav, arid to 112 .who had not 'missed more than ave half days. Special certificates were, issued to two pupils for nine vears' full attendance, two for ei_'ht, eight'for seven i 4 tor six, 17 for five. -The annual infcpertion visit was mado in June by Inspectors 1< homing and Lynskcv, and their report shows.that, in spite of the break at the end of 1918, the work of the school continues at a very high level. 1 he inspectors say the schemes of work are well r.nd intelligently drawn up, the class teachers carry out their work diligently, and the quality of instruction is very good. At the close of the vear 44 pupi s of Standard VT. were presented lor the- proficiency examination, and the result was exceedingly satisfactory. One pupil (Goroon Connor) gained a' junior national scholarship. The deposits dur- ""?-» th f. year amounted to £293 14s sd, winie the withdrawals totalled over £3OB leaving a balance of £9l in the bank! ltie withdrawals at Christmas time amounted to about £l6O. The Bible class has during the year been conducted by Mr U. Wright, as in forma* yeaia .

The attendance has been very good and the interest of the pupils keen. Th* band, under the skilful guidance of Bandmaster D. J. Simpson, still continue to do good work. The double quartet gained second place at the recent Dunediif Competitiorfe. A large recruit class has been formed and is making satisfactory progress, nnd we hope before the end 'of the year that good results will be achieved, the record put up bv the Eorburv School pupil* m the athletic field during the year -is one of which the school is naturally very proud. NORTH-EAST VALLEY. y^u o ™ uunl report of the North-east Valley School states : The attendance for 1919 is as follows ■— -March quarter. 659. average roll 637June quarter, 045. average roll 693; September quarter, 621. average roll 697; December quarter, 671, average roll 712. the average attendance for the March quarter of the current veav is 659, and the average roll 711. In the December examinations 34 pupils presented themselves for Standard VI. proficiency certificates. Thirtv-three gained proficiency certiorates and one gained a Stanuard VI. competency certificate. The pupil- teachers who sat for examination also did verv well.

• lhe Navy League membership has been well sustained, there being 131 members last year. The committee are verv grateful to the Otago branch of the league for the interest taken in arranging entertainments for the children, and maintaining interest in the work of our Navy by awarding six prizes for essays to* the children of Standards V. and VI. The band master (Mr James Colbert) reports that the band has made considerable progress dining the The. attendance has not been ail that could be desired, but those who did attend regularly have shown considerable improvement 'in their playing. (Juir>> a number of players have left school, but their places are being filled with the younger players, who are coming along splendidly, and give promise of being as good, if not better.' than those who have left. At the recent Competitions the ' band won the following prizes:— Second in B grade selection, third in bass flute solo, third in piccolo solo, third :u double quartet. The band also won the B grade quickstep competition at the I'aieri A. and P. Show. During the year Unhand turned out on ten occasions "to welcome returning soldiers, and also on several other occasions, and ahvavs save a good account of themselves. The Bible reading every Thursday has been continued throughout the year, and the committee desire, to express "their appreciation" of the services rendered by the ministers of the various denominations, also the officers of the Salvation Annv. who have so willingly given tlxdr services from time to time. Soldiers' Memorial .'rch,—Good pro gress Ins been made towards this object. A large number of meetings were held. Canvassers were appointed and called on .most of the residents of the Valley, with the result that £146 lis. 21 is now hi hand. Tenders were called for the erection of the arch, and.the lowest tenders were for the sums of £350 and £595, according to the sire of the arch. I'i-j work to be completed in 11 months. The committee have also to report having receive] lhe of £[-Q from Mr P. C. Neill, of Chingford. North-east Vallev, to be invested, and the interest used to provide history prizes for the pupils of Standard VI. as a memorial to those soldiers of the Valley who paid the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. The committee rv£rrt having to rerxirt that the head master's health has been very poor for some time past, and that his medical adviser has 'ordered him to take at least two months' holiday. During his absence his place will be filled by Mv .f. B. Chant, the first assistant. The membsrs of the committee all yvjfch to tender to Mr i Flamank their'deepest sympathy, ami trust | that he will speedily be restored to good i health again. " |