THE GISBORNE SCHOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4847, 19 April 1918, Page 7

THE GISBORNE SCHOOL.

COMMITTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR,

Following is tile animal report of the Gisborne School Committee, to be submitted to the meeting of householders on' Monday evening next:—

Your Committe has mi\ch pleasure, on the completion-of its year of office, in laying the following report on its work before your annual meeting. Membership of Committee.—No change has been made this year in the personnel of the Committee. At the beginning of the year Mr. Geo: Wildish was re-elected chairman and Mrs. Walker secretary, and, Mr. G. C. Munns was elected treasurer.

Staff.—Several changes in the staff have been made during the year. Miss McCartney (now Mrs. Campbell) was appointed to fill Mr. Daly’s place for the remainder of the year, and the resulting vacancy was filled by Miss Holland, Miss Carter, and Miss Anderson in turn. Miss Anderson leaves at the end of this month, and Miss Osborne is to take her place. Mr. Lake has been appointed to fill Mr. Daly’s place. Miss Turnbull retired on superannuation at the end of the year. Miss L. F. Cameron filled the vacancy tenw porarily. but left, and! was succeeded by Miss Duncan. Miss E. H. Faram. who has been on the staff for 18 years and has done good and faithful work during that time, has been promoted to fill the vacancy." Miss T. McLeod resigned her pupil-teaeh-ership at the end of the year, and the vacancy was filled by Miss Doris Emmerson. Miss E. Allen, probationer, having conlpleted her term of service, was withdrawn, but as there were no applicants for appointment in her place, it could not be filled. Attendance.. —The attendance during the past year has been lower than for many years. For some reason the roll number has fallen, and is now 777. An epidemic of diphtheria in the early part of the year affected the attendance considerably, and the school was closed for three weeks in May. The average attendance for the year ending December 31st was 729, and the percentage 88.2, the lowest for over ten years. Thirtytwo children were present every time the school was opened. Lewis Higliam and Ernest vigis have completed their seventh year’s full attendance, and have won gold! bars to their gold medals. Marjory Roddick, has completed her sixth year; Christina Mead and, Ellen Roberts have completed their fifth year and won gold medals. Examinations.—At the annual examination in December, 40 children gained the proficiency certificate and 18 the competency certificate in S - One boy, Eric Wills, gained a junior national scholarship. Dux medals, presented by two old! beys of the school, Messrs. K. Nasmith ,amd A. Cox, were won by Leonard Thomson, dux of the school, and. Alexia Thomson. his sister, dux of the girls. Leonard Thomson’s name has been placed oil the Dux Honours Board presented by Mr. H. de Costa. Mrs. East donated prizes for the' second boy T and second girl. . These have been won by Eric Wills and Eva Matthews. Improvements.—Your Committed spent £240 in repairs to asphalt andi in concrete work in the playground. Unfortunately the funds available were not sufficient to do the whole of the work as the Committee would wish it done, and a portion remains which the Committee hope to see done, at least in part, during the incoming year. To carry out the work in concrete will cost from £2OO to £250. The'Committee hope that another concert will be given this year, the proceeds of which, together with the subsidy granted by the Education Department, should provide half the money required. Painting of a number of desks and seats for outdoor teaching was also done during the year. . Stationery.—<The total contributions to the stationery fund last year amounted to £65 Is sd. A subsidy or £77 12s 8d on contributions during 1916 was received from the Department of Education. These sums, together with sundry small receipts, brought the total income for stationery to £l3B 9s 2d. The total amount spent was £164 0s Id, so that there was a deficit in the account of £25 10s lid. The cost of stationery is rising rapidly, and parents must meet the extra cost by more liberal contributions, or the scheme must be dropped. The cost per head! of the stationery for last year was 4s 3d, and the average contribution per child was Is Bd, Roll of Honor.—The Board presented! by Mr. Ellery contains now the names of 62 old boys who have given their lives in their country’s cause, and six other names have to be written on it.

Three old boys have gained honor for themselves and their school by their bravery and good sendee in the war—William Birkett and Francis Rowley, who gained military medals, and J. A. Little, a meritorious service medial. ■ This is the second decoration won by William Birkett. Unfortunately he has been reported killed in battle.

Picnic.—A picnic was held this year on Friday, April sth, on the Park racecourse. Unfortunately the, day was very wet, and though the ! children enjoyed themselves, the pic- j nie was hardly a The; thanks of the Committee are due to ' parents,and others who subscribed to 1 the funds, to donors of prizes and . other material, to the Gisborne Rac- j mg Club, and to al] who gave per-!' sonal service. The teaching staff deserve special mention. i The Committee wish . to place on record) its hearty appreciation of Mr. Rowley’s able - and courteous services to the Committee through the year, i apart from his duties as headmaster. 1 The thanks of the Committee are due , to the staff for the conscientious | manner in which they have carried j out their duties. j The Voluntary Bible-reading Tea- ! chers’ Association gives a half-hour lesson one day in each week, at con- ( siderable sacrifice of their own time, and the thanks of the parents are. due to those ladies and gentlemen j who instruct the classes. j Accounts.—Your Committee’s (account at the bank on December 31st last was in credit by £172 8s 4d. The ( improvements to the asphalt and a largo part of this year’s stationery j have since been paid for, (and! your . Committee has now an overdiraft of | £llß 8s 2d. The Committee made application about seven months ago tor' a subsidy of about £l5O. and if this is granted the Committee’s funds will about balance.