KAIATA SCHOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 December 1933, Page 5

KAIATA SCHOOL

XMAS TREE & VALEDICTORY. Happy laughter from a throng of excited children resounded in the Kaiata Schoolroom last evening, when the Committee held the annual Christmas tree tor the youngsters of the Kaiata-Omoto area. A large tree heavily laden with gifts to gladden the youthful hearts and a witty and sparkling Santa Claus held the children enthralled, each child being the recipient of a suitable present. Ice creams, freely distributed, also added to the general pleasure. Having disposed of the good cheer from the tree, the opportunity was taken to say farewell to the two teachers at the school, who are both to be transferred after the holidays. Mr F. Faulkner, chairman of the School Committee, said they now had a duty to perform that gave all the residents of Kaiata and Omoto extreme regret, in that they had to say farewell to Mr K. McNaughton and Miss M. Hopkinson. In their work at the school both teachers had earned the appreciation of all the parents in the area, and they all felt they were losing two of the most capable teachers in the Dominion—teachers who took a personal interest in the children under their care; an interest that was clearly exemplified in the scholastic and sporting morale of the school. Very determined efforts had been made to retain the services of both teachers, but without avail. In asking Mr McNaughton and Miss Hopkinson to accept small tokens of remem-1 brance and appreciation, the residents of the district did so in a spirit of sincere friendship and goodwill, and in the earnest hope that that good luck would follow them whithersoever

they went. If they had only had the good fortune to have retained the services of both teachers for at least two or three years Kaiata School would have been second to none in Westland; as it was, everyone hoped their successors would' approach very near to the standard that had been set. Mr McNaughton, in returning thanks on behalf of his colleague and himself, thanked the Committee and the parents for the interest they had shown in the work of the school, as this had had the effect of considerably lightening the work, and of improving the general standard of the school. The teachers were then accorded musical honours and cheers. Subsequent to this, Mr Faulkner presented the following certificates:— Proficiency: Maureen Anderson, Brian Johnston, and Roy Thomas. Navy League Essay: Maureen Anderson, Roy Thomas, Maurice Jacobs and 1 Graham Anderson. Attendance: Frances Faulkner, Olive Faulkner, Pearl Faulkner, May Fletcher, Queenie Barrow, Graham Anderson, Peter Barrow, Joyce Pring, Ngaire Dodd, Alan Dodd, Maureen Anderson, Enid Faulkner, and Marjerie Fletcher.