Woodford House School.

Hastings Standard, Issue 199, 17 December 1896, Page 2

Woodford House School.

THE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. St. Matthew's Hall looked gay on Tuesday night on the occasion of the aunual distribution of prizes to the young ladies of Woodford House. A large number of the friends of the young ladies were present, and, if applause is any criterion of merit, then the lady students of Miss Hodge's school may rest assured that their efforts on that occasion were eminently successful. The examiners reports were all that could be desired, and reflect the highest credit upon both pupils and teachers. REPORTS. The following report from Mr W. F. Ward, M. A., was read: — " Wellington, Sept. 12, 1896. " The Principal, Woodford House School. " Madam, —I have the honor to present my report on the examination of your school in Latin, English, arithmetic Algabra, French, history, geography, and science. Considering the examination as a whole, the result, as shown by the schedules of marks must be regarded as very satisfactory and compare very favorably with those of last year, except perhaps in the Fifth Form, where I think the standard of the work is, generally speaking, not so high. The Fourth Form does the best work in the school, and should make a goon Fifth Form next year. The Third and Second Forms have done good work work throughout, and show evidence of careful and painstaking teaching. One noticeable feature of the examination, especially in English, history, and Latin, is the evenness of the forms, a good evidence that lhe forms are well graded, and also that all the pupils have received an equal share of attention. 13y considering the attached schedules of marks it will be seen that the work in almost every subject has been well and thoroughly, and in many cases excellently, done, the sole exception being the French, arithmetic, and algebra of the fifth, and the arithmetic of the fourth and third, a very small proportion of the whole work. I should like to make special mention of the excellence of the work of Dolly Wallis of the fourth ; Estelle Dodgshuu, Freda Patterson, and Linda Davies of the third ; and Freda Waterhou.se of the second. 1 consider that the school has passed its examination satisfactorily ; the pupils have been carefully taught, and must have themselves worked earnestly and well." GERMAN. The report of Mrs Lane, Christchurch High School, stated there was evident signs of conscientious work (especially in the second pivision) and of careful teaching. On the whole Mrs Lane was agreeably surprised at the way the work was done. READING AND RECITATION". The report by Mr W. ; Dinwiddle expressed great satisfaction with the result, and particularly with the very even excellence which obtains throughout the school. The reading generally was marked by a high degree, intelligence and by an almost total absence of any of those unpleasant peculiarities of manner which children often exhibit. In class V. lie specially mentioned the reading of Miss Cora Sunderland as being excellent. SEWING. The report by Mrs J. Morrison said the sewing generally did credit to teachers and pupils. The most points were given to D. Falkoner (including points for knitting). F. Patterson and H. Drummond were almost equal with the first. The infant department was remarkably good, particularly D. Rainbow; commended, E. Newbigen, and K. Brathwaite. PRIZE LIST. The following prizes were then handed to the successful pupils by Mrs Captain Ens.sell: — Class V.—English literature, Nelly Cotterill; history, Is elly Cotterill; Scripture, Violet Quart-ley. Class IV.—French and Latin, Cora Sunderland; German, Marjory Giblin ; English Grammer, history, geography, mark prize, composition, mathematics and science, Dolly Wallis. Class 111. Examination and mark prize, Latin and science, Freda Patterson; composition, Ethel Burke. Class ll.—Mark prize, Helen Drummond ; examination prize, Freda Waterhouse ; Scripture, Eva Wellwood. Class I.—Examination prize, Gertrude Tyerman ; composition prize, Elsio Xewbigiu ; music, Evie Wellwood 1, Elsie Newbigin 2. Recitation.—Upper school, Maud FitzRoy ; lower school, Olive Seale. Sewing.—Upper school, Daisy Faulkner; lower school, Dorothy Rainbow ; special, Helen Drummond. Order.—House girls, Nelly Cotterill; day girls, Gertrude Tyerman. Window prizes.—Dolly Wallis, Louie Fitzßoy. Gymnastic exercise.—Estelle Dogshun. Certificates for excellent work in special subjects awarded to Estelle Dogshun and Linda Davis in class 111., Lila Davis class 11., and Dorothy Rainbow class I. The dux of the school is Miss E. B. Wallis. After the distribution of prizes, Captain Russell, M.H.R., in a pleasant speech, congratulated Miss Hodge on the proficiency of her school. If there were good qualities in school work which he liked more than others thay were " thoroughness and evenness," and, as he found these qualities mentioned in the reports, it showed that the work of the pupils was exhaustive and minute, whilst "evenness " w T as a convincing proof of the impartial attention of the teaching staff to each individual pupil. He wished long and continued prosperity to the school. Some scenes from Sheriden's comedy "The Rivals" were staged and acted in a most creditable manner. The stage dresses being the work of the young ladies in their spare time. A minuet was danced by the Misses FitzRoy (2), Quartley, and E. Wallis, who afterwards rendered a selection from Gilbert and Sullivan's " Gondoliers." The result throughout was excellent and Jkliss Hodge and her assistants deserve the praise which was ungrudgingly accorded to them.