ST. JOHN'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Evening Star, Issue 18503, 10 December 1923, Page 5

ST. JOHN'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL

AMALGAMATION WITH COLUMBA COLLEGE. LAST VACATION CEREMONY. Tho last vacation ceremony of St. John’s Preparatory School and Kindergarten was held on Saturday afternoon in the Maori Hill Coronation Hall. There was a largo audience. St. John’s School is amalgamating with Columba College, and from tho beginning of next year Miss Gillies (principal of St. John’s) will take her place on the staff of Columba as head mistress of the junior school. Dr J. R. Elder, professor of history in the University of Otago, presided. He alluded to the amalgamation of St. John’s School with Columba College, and said that when next they saw Miss Gillies’s pupils do themselves and their teacher credit, they would be pupils of the junior department of Columba. But only the name of the school would change. Miss Gillies and Mrs Macdonald—the commanding officer and heri aide-de-camp—would still be in command, the youthful soldiers would still obey their orders, only the name of the regiment would have changed. In speaking of the change which would take place, as Columba College and St. John’s School amalgamated, he wished to emphasise the point that Miss Gillies was not about to become merely a member of tho staff of Columba College. She would occupy the very important and honorable position of head mistress of thfc junior department of the college, under the principal (Miss Ross) and tho Board of Governors. It was hoped that those who knew her and valued her work for their children would support her in the future in her new position as they had rallied to her when she had conducted St. John’s School. As for tho governors of Columba College, they felt that the junior school would prosper under Miss Gillies, and they thought that it would be generally recognised by the public that it was much better for the children living on the hill that the amalgamation should take place. Miss Florrie M'Georgo then made a presentation of a gold wristlet watch and a dressing case to Miss Gillies on behalf of the past and present pupils of the school. She referred to the enthusiasm and spontaneity with which present and past pupils of St. John’s, not only in Dunedin, but all over tho dominion, had contributed to the presentation fund in order to show their love and respect.

The Rev. Professor R. E. Davies, a member of the Board of Governors of Columba College, referred briefly to the amalgamation step about to bo taken, and Mr F. S. Aldrdd addressed a few words to the children.

Earlier in the afternoon a. lengthy programme was gone through. The items, all of which were thoroughly enjoyed, as follow: —Hymn, ‘The School’; kindergarten (game, ‘Will You Dance With Mo?’; dialogue, ‘The Moon,’ Margaret Elder and Pamela, Winsbury-While; action song, ‘The Wind,’ intermediate rooni_; floor exercises and deportment, intermediate room ; pianoforte solo, ‘ Topsy, Turvy,’ Agnes Neill; dance, ‘ The Seasons,’ Joe Hudson, Dorothy Secular, Nell Barth, and Pamela Winshury-White; pianoforte duet, ‘ The Sleigh Ride,’ Penny Boyd and, Phyllis Ham; song, A Song of Spring,’ Penny Boyd, Sylvia Avent, and Phyllis Hnnxj song, ‘ Como away Into the Woodlands,’ Upper School; song, ‘The North Wind/ Jessie Neill, Ira Wendelkin, Eleanor Do Boer; rhythmic exorcises, kindergartners ; skipping rope dance, Constance Herbert; kindergarten game, ‘ Pretty Flowers ’; song, ‘Ti-trcc.’ Agnes Neill, Dorothy Secular, and Constance Howason; song, ‘Sleighing Song,’ Upper School; balancing and deportment exercises, Upper School; pianoforte solo, ‘ 'Spanish Dnnoo,’ Constance Howison; pianoforte solo, ‘Arpeggio Waltz,’ Elizabeth De Beer; pianoforte duet, ‘ Husarenritt,’ Marion Goyen and Marv Napier; pianoforte solo, ‘Romance’ (Sibelius). Gwen Haggitt. A one-act play entitled ‘ Elmpty Snares ’ was presented by a score of the children.

PRIZE LIST. The prizes were presented by Dr Stuart Moore. Following is the list: Standard IV.—Dorothy Secular (dtu), music, second fancy dancing, first-class attendance, first French ; Constance Howison, second class marks, winner of circles doubles, and special writing prize; Penny Royd, drill and general improvement; Agnes Neill, general good work, second class attendance, second music; Phyllis Ham, general improvement and good conduct. Standard lll.—lsabel Seelyc, first class sparks and examination marks, second class attendance, and first sowing; Nell Barth, second class marks, second class attendance, and homework prize; Elizabeth De Beer, general good work, second class attendance, sight reading of music, winner of circles doubles ami singles; Lindsay Corbett, second examination marks, first drawring: Sylvia Avcnt, good work in arithmetic, first class attendance, first theory of music; Constance Herbert, geography, second class attendance, good conduct, first fancy dancing; Nancy Lindlev, general good work and second class attendance; Marion Crow, good work in arithmetic and music.

Standard ll.—Lore a Chance, first class marks and examination marks and second drill; Veida. Tosh, general good _ work; Eleanor De Beer, sewing and writing. Standard I.—Zoc Hudson, first class examination marks, drill, and second class attendance; Bona Simpson, first _English and good work in arithmetic ; Jessie Noil], homework prize, first class attendance, and singing ; Walter Miller, drawing and writing ; Stella Fitchelt, good progress in arithmetic.

Preparatory Gass (Upper!.—Audrey Meek, class work and Nature study; Dorothy Anderson, writing and drawing, second class attendance; Ira Wendolken, recitation and general improvement. Preparatory Class (Lower). —Pamela Winshnry-Wbiie, spelling, knitting, and good conduct; Margaret Elder, reading, painting, and drill; Philip Cook, arithmetic ; Lawrence Reid, general improvement; Noel Gibson, improvement In homework.

Class Hl.—Yvonne Look, writing and painting: Ethel wvn M'George, arithmetic; Refty M'Farlnne, tables; Molly No a 1 e, spelling and drawing; Lloyd Jones, reading and second class attendance; Joyce Thrnp, spelling and good conduct; Reginald Hudson, Nature study and ballroom dancing; Bruce Henderson, reading; John Grey, improvement in arithmetic; Graham Neill, spelling and first class attendance.

Class 11. (Unpcr).—.lean Campbell, reading and spoiling; Humphrey Rowland, general improvement; Joyce Wethcy, reading and drill; David Moore, good work; Colin Williamson, good work; Douglas Reid, rending and second class attendance. Class IT. (Lower).---Lilv Fox, good work and hoWulnoss ; Joy Barnett, diligence; Daisy Tinier, figures and gentleness; Peggy Hall, naper-folding and drill; Mary Moore, painting. Kindergarten Gifts.—Calherina Sonntag, Betty Barling, Dougins Mfibean, Enid Hogg, Jimmie Secular, Christina Hudson, Ruth Cowey, Jessie Graham, Norma Fraser, Jocelyn Eastgatc, Geoffrey Dixon.