SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Evening Star, Issue 18254, 19 April 1923, Page 10

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

MORNINGTON,

Tho Mornington Committee, in its annual report, states: As usual, onr school received an excellent report at the annual inspection and examination, and the head master and staff were heartily congratulated by tho committee. The result of the proficiency examination was again satisfactory. Tho eighteenth annual flower show was most successful; 1,194 entries were staged, ns against 1,390 in 1922, Ihe falling off being accountable by the backward season. The judges again complimented the children on tho magnificent display. Tha staff handed over to the committee the handsome sum of £22 16s 7d, after allowing for incidental expenses and £lO 2s fid for prize money. Tho school committee decided to place on record tho assistance so cheerfully given by the head master (Mr J. 11. Rutherford) and his staff, and thank tho general public for their continued support, and the judges (who gave their services freely). Through the generosity .of the residents of the district the sum of £32 7s 9d was collected for school prizes, and tho following very kindly donated special prizes:—Miss Nelson. Messrs C. F. Mitchell (dux medal and swimming cup), C. E. Statham, M.P., Renfcll, Short, Cook, and Bartlett. Wc have pleasure in reporting that tho soldiers memorial is now completed, and the work undertaken by tho Education Board in altering the school entrance makes a pleasing background. Under the supervision of Mr D. Tannock a rock garden was formed, and when planted out it should further enhance the beauty of our district memorial. The whole of the work is norv free of debt, and a total of £219 11s fid has been paid out. A short commemorative service was held at the arch on Anzac Bay, 1922, when the locvl clergy assisted, and wreaths from tho school children and tho committco_ were placed on the arch. It is the intention of the committee to hold a similar service on Wednesday, April 25 (Anzao Day), at 9 a.in., and the interest of the residents is requested. The. question of thrift is not, being neglected in the school, and the head master has organised a school bank. The pupils have taken advantage of its inception, amt already n considerable sum lias been collected. Messrs J. W. Patton and J. Hope have been appointed trustees, and tho committee can assure the parents of the children that the bank is conducted on proper lines. RAVEN SBOUR N E. The committee lias again much pleasure in presenting its annua! report; During the year it held twelve ordinary meetings and several special meetings, all of which were well attended, and the committee has taken a keen interest in the work of the school. It has to congratulate the head master (Mr Williamson) and his staff on the excellent report of tho inspector at the annual and proficiency examinations.

Miss Bates, pupil teacher, having entered the Training College, Miss Nicolson has taken her place. Owing to the increase in Ihe average attendance. Miss M'Leod wag appointed junior assistant, and commenced her duties at the beginning of the year. Mr Buchan (first assistant) has been appointed to the position of bend master of the Kakarmi School. The committee regrets the departure of Mr Buchan, who has hold this position for over seven years, and during this period, has at all times given his best services to his pupils, not only during their studies, but in their sports and. pleasures, thus endearing himself to parents and pupils. The committee congratulates him on his well-earned piomution. The attendance during 1922 wag as fol-lows.-.—March quarter —Roll No., 221; average attendance, 209; June quarter, 214, 202; September quarter, 225, 206: December quarter, 225, 205; average attendance for year, 205.

Sickness.—During the last, quarter of 1922 tho attendance was affected by a slight outbreak of measles The present roll number is 930, and the average attendance for the quarter ended March, 1923, was 212, despite a number of cases of diphtheria. During the year (ho gymnasium was fitted up as a classroom for the infants and Standard L, and a stove has been placed in the room for heating. The Cocoa Chib was again carried on during the winter months, and proved a groat convenience to the children. Tim penny savings bank, in charge of Mr Williamson, is still being carried on. and deposits for the year ended March, 1923, amounted to £63 3s 9d, withdrawals £67 7s 2d. 'lho amount to credit of depositors is £74 13s 7d. Prizes and Picnic.—'Fhe committee desires to express its thanks to parents and residents of the district for their very liberal response to this fund, and to those who kindly donated special prizes; also to those who’donated special goods—as fruit, and lollies—and coal for the ladies’ race at the picnic. The picnic was held at. Warrington, and proved to be very enjoyable. Mr Hutton, the janitor, has again faithfully carried out, his duties. Ihe committee deeply regrets to report the death of Mrs Hutton, who was well known to all in the district. It also has to chronicle the death of the Rev. Mr Gray, who conducted the Bible class in the school for about, twelve years. In both cases the committee expresses its condolence with the bereaved.

Fool ball and Cricket.--'The boys attending the school came third in the 15 grade out of sixteen teams entered lor the Rugby competition, after meeting the two_ top teams on three occasions. The cricket team played eight matches, winning six and losing two. Owing to the weight limit, it will be necessary this year to enter an A grade team, but the smaller boys will compete, for the banner. A start is also being made with basket ball for the girls. During the year the committee has taken every opportunity to have the school thoroughly disinfected', and has improved the school ground by putting a concrete channel at the bottom of the bank and topdressing the lower playground, with the assistance of the Education Board. . FORBURY. The annual report states: Throughout Ihe year the attendance was very satisfactory. there being on the whole very little sickness. There was an average for tho year of 707, against 698 the previous veai * Complaint has still to be made, about the infant room acommodation, though in this matter no blame can be attached to the Education Board. The department has recognised the matter as an urgent one, but still no progress seems to be" made. 'The school savings bank still receives fairly good support, and very many of tho parentis withdraw a fair sura at tlm end of the vear. Close on £SOO was withdrawn just’before the summer holidays, and a sum of £l4O was left in to start the new year. Inspectors Fleming and Bain examined the school in July, and, judging by the meagre reports that are now ’presented to the committee, the school is in very good condition. The inspectors speak highly of the working spirit of the pupils and the earnestness of the staff, while order, tone, and discipline are marked as very good. At the close of the year forty-seven pupils of -Standard VI. were presented for examination, and tho results obtained were very good indeed. As during last year, Bible classes were conducted every Tuesday morning by the clergymen of tho district. The attendance has been excellent, and tho thanks of the committee and- parents are due, to the gentlemen for tho work they have done. The head teacher reports that the work has been carried on very harmoniously, and that the children enjoy the lessons. The band, under Mr Simpson, is making solid progress, the members showing that keenness so necessary to successful work. Parents of band boys are respectfully requested to encourage regular attendance. Some forty beginners are receiving regular tuition in the flute and in tho elements of music. Thanks are due to Mr Borthwick for tho time he is devoting to tho band, both in school time and in the evenings. During tho year the school once again distinguished itself in tho field of sport. Ten teams entered in the A grade competition, and Forbury succeeded in winning the cup, the scoring of the season being 202 points for and 16 against. W. Flockton was chosen as cag-

tain of tho Otago representative team; F. Bamber, A, Emslie, and A. Lnskie also being selected to represent the province against Southland and in the annual tournament with other provinces. The B team was less fortunate curing largely to sickness, while the 0 team came fifth in the bantam competition, there being nineteen teams in this grade. This year it is proposed to enter four teams —one in the A grade, one in the B grade, and two in the C grade. These teams will be supervised by Mr Bora.man and the male pupil teachers. Wo have two cricket teams m tho competitions, and hotly these stand about the middle of their respective grades. There were two hockey' teams ’.n the grade competitions, under the care of Mr Nelson and Mr Borthwick. _ Ihe A team came third in the competitions with other schools, and the committee wish to express regret at the demise of Mr Manning, who had given valuable assistance to iho teams. At the annual sports Forbury was well represented, the entrants being coached by Miss Bndd and Messrs Boraman and Clemens. At present some sixty boys from Standard IV. are receiving instruction in swimming at the Municipal Baths, and nearly the whole of these will bo able to swim at the end of the course. Mr Borthwick has charge of a class of Standard V. boys, who go to the, baths on Wednesday evenings. Miss Budd, as in former years, had charge ot tho basket ball teams, and has already commenced practice with this year’s teams. Mention should be made of the services rendered in the interests of the children’s sports by Mr Clemens and by Mr Eckhold and (Mr Brown, who freely gave their time in coaching Ole football teams. The amount to the credit of the roll of honor fund is approximately £B2 17s 3d.

N ORTH-EAST VALLEY,

Tho committee reports : The present roll number shows a decrease of thirty-three on tho roll number at this time last year, and it is almost certain that unless there is a largo inilux of new pupils during the present quarter the staff of the school will bo reduced at the end of the current year. The new building is now completed, and accommodates tho infant classes and Standard I. Another two classrooms arc urgently required, as one class has stiH to bo taught in tho gymnasium—a building quite unsuitable for the purpose. There is sufficient staff to enable Standard 11. to be divided, but owing to lack of rooms four teachers have to work their original class and a, small division from the class below. We commenced the. year with a new bandmaster, (Mr Baldock, and the personnel of our boys, of course, has changed also. We entered for the Dunedin Competitions and were placed fourth. We have during the year secured extra bass flutes and. a good deal of new music. Our boys increased in number until wc had over sixty juniors and seniors. A number have since dropped out. Mr Baldock resigned at the end of the year, and we. have now secured the services of Mr Eagar, of Kensington, and already the lads arc responding to Ids careful During the year ten new members have joined the library. One hundred and twenty-five new books have been addcd_ to the library and forty exchanged, making a, total of 160 new'books for the year. Number of books in library, 1,300. A concert was held in the North-cast Valley Town Hall, and after paying expenses the committee netted £l9 13s. A bazaar was also held, the net profits being £145 9s 5-id, and wc also carry forward stock to the value ot about £4O. Facilities are afforded to all bovs from Standard 111. upwards to piny both cricket and football. Of the three teams that competed in schools’ football the ‘'Bantams” was the most successful, being runners-up. During the winter months the committee arranged to supply a enp of hot cocoa, to scholars who had their lunch at school, the jarntrix supervising the making and handing out of the hot cocoa. MUSSELBURGH. The report states: The average attendance for the vear 1922 was 562; average roll, 609. The first quarter of the year 1925 began with 536 pupils belonging to the school; it ended with 616. Ihe attendance for tho March quarter, 1925, was 575, or fourteen more than hr the corresponding quarter of 1922. Jho inspcctois, after their annual examination, reported that tho school had been very carefully organised, that highly educative methocls were in use, and that a fine working spirit permeated the whole school. They further staled that several teachers were to bo commended for successfully adapting new ideas to the class work. At the proficiency examination fifty-five pupils gained proficiency certificates and six gained competency certificates. At tho_ scholarship examination two pupils gained junior scholarships, and four others gained junior free place passes. The two pupils who gained scholarships headed the list of scholarship winners for the South Island. Tho school band was conducted throughout the year by Mr Himburg with lus usual enthusiasm. A branch of the Young Citizens’ League was formed during the year. The Barnardo Young Helpers’ League, under the energetic secretaryship of Miss Chalmer, continues to bo a very live organisation, and is greatly helped by the interest which tho ladies of the community take in it. The savings bank year began’with a credit balance of £147 Os 2d. Deposits for the year amounted to £l7l Us lid, interest to £8 0s sd, and withdrawals to £156 5s 7d, leaving a credit balance of £169 16s. During the year sports activities in the school have been well maintained ; in fact, from the points of view both of success and of numbers participating, the year just concluded must be considered llio best in the history of the school.