PROVISION OF EXTRA ROOM AT RUNANGA SCHOOL IS APPROVED

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1949, Page 10

PROVISION OF EXTRA ROOM AT RUNANGA SCHOOL IS APPROVED

The' Canterbury Education Board has approved, in principle, to the provision .of an additional class room at the'Riinanga School, according to advice received by the Runanga School Comfnittee at its monthly meeting. The board advised that its architect could not accept the pro--posal that the present main block be. altered to provide additional class room space, but recommended the provision of a separate infant block located near the basketball courts. This could be commended as one room with provision to add two moie rooms-later. ' It was decided to accept the proposal for separate class rooms, but to object to the location, and to suggest the building be sited in line with the present building, fronting Duncan street.

Hot Drinks in Winter The board advised that it could not supply cocoa and sugar nor pay costs of .preparing a hot drink for the children during the winter months. The committe could, however, make use of its incidental grant for this purpose, provided that the expenditure did not restrict the provision of other facilities and expenses which are legitimate charges on the grant. The board also advised that the appointee, as infant mistress, had withdrawn her application and that fresh applications were being called. It was decided to advise the board that, following the spreading of soil on the playing area, the ground had consolidated, and ask that grading and sowing of the area be carried It was decided to send a letter of good wishes to Mr G. Bignell who recently retired. It was decided to send a letter of sympathy to Mrs W. Wright, a com-mittee-member, in hospital. Headmaster’s Report The headmaster, Mr E. M. Todd, reported as follows:— The roll still stands at two or three short of the number required to hold the grade of the school. I would again impress on parents the necessity for all five-year-olds to commence school at the beginning of next term, especially as failure to maintain grade will mean the loss of a teacher and the withdrawal of the application to the Department for two new rooms at the school. Attendance is now back to normal with average weekly percentages of attendances of 94%, 94%, 92% and 94%. After the poor average of the rest of the term, it is to be hoped that parents will see that this average is maintained for the remaindei’ of the year. The children’s ball was held on August 5. It was pleasing to see such an excellent display of fancy costumes.

The school will close at the end of this week for the second term holidays. As the staff will be required to attend a lecture in Greymouth on the afternoon of Friday the school will close at noon on that day. The third term will commence on September 5. School Grounds—These are now causing some concern. The new soil spread some time ago is becoming consolidated and will require much work to bring it into order for final grading and sowing if it is delayed much longer. It is possible that we may have a spell of good weather now before the usual spring rains.— The report was approved. Present at the meeting were Messrs R. J, Armstrong (chairman), G. Brown, F. Oakley, R. Thompson, J. Richmond (secretary), and Mrs R. Barker and Mrs A. Taylor.