RUNANGA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1947, Page 2

RUNANGA NOTES

School Committee VISIT OF BOARD MEMBERS According to advice received by the Runanga School Committee at its meeting, members of the Canterbury Education Board will be visiting the West Coast on a tour of inspection of schools including the Runanga School, on April 29. Present at the meeting were Messrs R. J. Armstrong (chairman), Mesdames R. Wright and R. Barker, Messrs R. Thompson, C. Kennedy, I. Cairney (secretary), and the headmaster, Mr E. M. Todd.

Replying to. a request for replacement of broken windows, the Education Board advised that such replacements were the responsibility of the committee, the board being responsible only where breakages were due to storms, etc. Owing to the state of the weather on the day set down for the interschool sports meeting held recently in Greymouth, it was reported the pupils of the school did not attend, but a programme of sports was held later and infants from the Convent and Rapahoe Schools had also taken part in the sports.

It was decided to seek information from the Education Board as to why the position of a first male assistant teacher had not been advertised, and the position filled to replace the present master who is under notice of transfer on promotion.

The need for proper playing facilities for the younger children was discussed and it was agreed that swings, see-saws and round-abouts would be suitable. The headmastei’ stated that there was no reason why the school ground, after school hours should not be the play centre of Runanga for the younger children, ns supervision and proper playing amenities would help to keep them from playing on the streets. It was decided, as opportunity offers, to authorise the provision fo such amenities.

Details of a scheme under which schools would collect money for sending food parcels to help school children of Britain, were forwarded by the Education Board. The Famine Emergency Committee and the Red Cross would co-operate in the scheme. Contact would be made between schools in Britain and New Zealand. The headmaster said that every effort would be made to raise funds for the purpose. Miss E. E. Innes, assistant mistress, tendered her resignation. It was decided that the resignation be accepted with regret, and that appreciation of Miss Innes’ work for the school, be placed on record.

A motion of condolence with the relatives of the late Mrs C. Pope, a former pupil of the school, was adopted. The headmaster reported for the period ended 11/4/47 as follows:— The roll stands at 21'3, being a slight drop since last meeting, due, in part to a number of temporary admissions with a smaller average number of new ones being admitted. The average percentage of attendance has been 94, 96, 91 and 85 respectively. Though the attendance this year has been good up to the present, it is rather disturbing to find that parents are still prone to consider the day or so missed of no importance. It. was not right that 65 children should have been absent the morning after the holidays, with 56 still missing in the afternoon. The issue of apples has been received and another due. Naturally they are appreciated by the children. The milk supply this year has been very satisfactory. The athletic sports were conducted on the Thursday before the Easter vacation. The Convent and Rapahoe Schools were good enuogh to send teams along to help out the entries. There was a fair attendance of parents and friends, and the sports were quite successful. The athletic shield was won by McLeod House. The agriculture instructors, Messrs La Roche and Pennycock, paid a routine visit to the school during the month and were satisfied with the progress being made. The school and the class aquarium collections were commended. There are some minor repairs that need attention before the winter. Coat pegs are still required in both porches, broken windows still exist, and a number of the windows require to be planed as they will not close. The furnace chimney in the standards classes has been repaired but both chimneys are in urgent need of sweeping. Miss Innes will complete her stay at the end of the term, and her position, having been advertised, it is possible that it will be filled by the new permanent teacher at the beginning- of next term. The Country Library Service issue of 148 were returned and replaced .by a new set during the month.' It is pleasing that there were no books lost during the year just ended. The basketball courts have been tidied up by your chairman, and are now in fair order. They will be in regular use from now on, both by school children and local club players. WOMEN'S GUILD Hostesses at Friday evening’s meeting of the Runanga Guild were Mesdarnes Williams, Anderson, Nicholson and Higson. During the evening Mi’s Jas Braithwaite gave an interesting and informative address on home nursing. Mesdarnes W. Griffiths (president) and J. Reynolds (secretary) welcomed Mrs F. Oakley, and expressed sentiments for her continued good health. Competition winner for the evening was Mrs Reynolds. R.S.A. SUB-BRANCH MEETING The annual meeting of the Runanga Sub-Branch of the R.S.A. was held" in the Miners’ Hall last evening,- Mr G. E. English presiding over a good attendance of members. The annual report and balance sheet were received as satisfactory and officers were elected as follows: President, G. E. English; vicepresidents, Messrs R. J. Sfith and S. Whitehead; secretary,, W.. O.Neill; Trustees, L. F. O’Loughlin and J. Rae; honourary auditor, J. Richmond; committee, Mrs E Tinlin, Messrs A O. Warrick, H. Johnston, J. Clelland, S. Pickering, A. Williamson, D. D. Hunter, R. Virtue, W. Henderson jnr., and J. Finlay.—The position of secretary to be reviewed in two months time as the present secretary wishes to relinquish this position owing to ill-health. Arrangemens for F’oppy Day were completed when it. is to be hoped that the usual number of popies

would be sold. It was decided to hold a reunion at a very early date and that this year’s function take the form of a mixed banquet.