KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 22329, 4 May 1936, Page 11

KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF YEAR’S WORK

The annual report to be presented at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association tomorrow afternoon states that the past year had been one of conserving the work done in the five kindergartens— : Kelsey-Varalla, R. S. Reynolds, Richard Hudson Memorial, Kaikorai, and St. Hilda—rather than one of progress. Lack of finance made it impossible to reopen North-east Valiev Free Kindergarten or to consider extending its activities in other suburbs where the need was urgent. The roll numbers at all the kindergartens was still further increased, so that as many little children as possible might have the benefit of the training, but many parents were deploring the fact that their children had commenced their primary school course without first attending a kindergarten. The total roll number at the eiid of 1935 was 300.

At the beginning of the present school year a great number of the older children went on to the primary schools owing to the entrance age there being lowered again to live years. This meant that the majority of the children attending the kindergartens were of the “ nursery ” age—three years—and consequently the programmes of work and play had had l to be arranged to suit these years. The council was very grateful to the Archerfield School girls tor their continued interest in the St. Kilda Kindergarten. During the year they again gave £SO towards espenes, and showed their interest in the children by visits to the kindergarten and by making aprons for the play hour. The local committees of the various kindergartens had been indefatigable in their efforts to look after the interests of their kindergarten, and had raised the sum of £209 by means of garden parties, jumble sales, euchre parties, etc., for the incidental working expenses. For this financial help, as well as for their kindly interest in the welfare of' the children, the council was deeply grateful. The Mothers’ Clubs had also done very fine work for the kindergartens, as well as for the mothers. By a system of collection cards these clubs raised £36 12s lOd, and the council thanked them for their co-operation. During the year the teacning staff and the students, under the wise and sympathetic guidance of the principal, Miss Dutton, have given very competent service to the council and to the children, and appreciation of the highly efficient manner in which they had carried out their duties and of their devotion to the ideals of kindergarten was expressed. At the end of 1935 Miss Hancock’s resignation from the position of director at Kel-sey-Yaralla and Miss Saunders from the position of director at Kaikorai were accepted with regret. Miss Hancock had been a director of a kindergarten for nearly 14 years, and Miss Saunders for nine years, and both had given every valuable service to the kindergarten movement. Aliss&s Reilly and Desmoulins were appointed to the vacancies at the beginning of the school year, and Alisses Burnside, Seddon, Shiel, Stewart, and Fairbairn were appointed assistants for 1936. Last May the Free Kindergarten Union of New Zealand organised a refresher course for kindergarten teachers. This was hold in Auckland, and Aliss Dutton and the whole staff attended. Aluch useful information was gained from the lectures and from visits paid to the various kindergartens there. Air T. K. S. Sidey took a moving film of the children at work and play in several of the kindergartens here. This was shown in Auckland and caused a great deal of interest. The bookstall at the Winter 8!iow was again arranged by Airs Gilkison, £l7 Os 3c! being raised by this means. Later in the year a street day was organised. £l5O being added to the funds. Through the kindness of Sir Benjamin Fuller a special feature was made of

the reopening of His Majesty’s Theatre, and with the help of the Otago Lmversitv Dramatic Club, whicn produced a plav, £9O was raised for the funds. The thanks of the council were due to those members and friends who organised and worked to make these functions successful. Special donations were received from the Kindergarten Graduates’ Association, members of the Aus-tral-Girton Club, Aliss Kelsey, and several other friends and organisations, and the council desired to thank them for their expressions of interest in the work. The council thanked subscribers for their generosity, and nil others who had in any way benefited the association. It was with gratification that a grant of £595, based on the average attendance of last year, was received from the Government last February, lessening ' the financial anxiety "of the executive for the first few months of this year.