ELTHAM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 14 February 1927, Page 4

ELTHAM.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETS. The monthly meeting of the E.tham School Committee was held on Friday evening in the uew school. There were present: Messes W. Bicketts (chairman), C. Horroeks, A. 11. Kemp, F. Vincent, W. H. Young, A. C. Sorensen, A. Ware and Ilev. W. W. Avery (secretary) . HEADMASTER’S REPORT.

The headmaster (Air E. Bary) reported the opening of the schoo , on Alonday last, with a roll of 408 (212 boys and 196 girls;. Following are the numbers for tiie various classes, those for the previous year appearing in parentheses: Standard 6, 43 (36); Standard 5,.41 (46;; Standard 4, 58 (42); Standard 3, 62 (55): Standard 2, 63 053); Standard 1, 43 (55): Primer 3, 51 (37); Infants, 42 (67): totals, 408 (388). From these figures it will be seen that the majority of standards are larger than last year. Average attendance for the wo-k was 375.8. The increase of numbers in the standards has created a problem in seating accommodation. There are in the school 137 dual desks and the remainder are single l desks of an unsuitable kind, which were condemned quite a long time ago. The following changes in the .school staff are report-d:—AH Richeno lias been appointed headmaster of the: Auroa School and has already resumed his duties there. . Mr A. O. Edwards is temporarily filling his position here. Miss Finnerty is at present am inmate of the Stratford Hospital. and Her services will probably not he available until the end' of Aiarch. Aliss Frost has tendered her as from the end of the present month. Mrs Rowland is relieving Alj&s Finnerty. Aliss Harkness and Mr C. O’Dea have been appointed probationers in. place of Misses AlcDonnld and O’Neill. Arrangements have been made to ensure half an hour’s swimming per day for each class in lieu of physical drill. This is appreciated, by the majority of the pupils. The fact that some parents do not avail themselves of the opportunity to have their children taught swimming is a mater for surprise. In addition to the ordinary swimming classes. Mr A. Gilliver is conducting a fife-saving class.

A large majority of the pupils in Standards 3,4, 5. and 6 have signified their willingness to visit Stratford on th - occasion of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York.

Apparatus for heating water in the old school would he much appreciated if installed.

GENERAL BUSINESS. The chairman and Messrs A. R. Tvcrnp and J. Phi.lips were appointed a visiting committee for the ensuing month. The secretary was instructed to convey to Mr W. C. Bicheno the committee’s appreciation of his services on the school .-faff during-the past ssven years, and n'so to write Mrs O’Neill (nee Miss Frost) extending felicitations on her .recent marriage, and Miss F:innerty, wishing her a speedy recovery to health. Messrs A. Ware and W. H. Young were deputed to make necessary arrangement for water heating appliances at the old school. Ten window panes in the selioo 1 buildings were reported as having been broken during the holidays. Replacern ots were left) in the hands of Mr F. Vincent. A communication was received from Hie secretary of the Taranaki Education Board, advising that the. sum of €7B 15s Id for subsidies l had been placed to the committee’s credit. SCHOOL PICNIC. Details connected with the school picnic, to he held at Ngamotu Beach, New Plymouth, on Thursday next, were discussed at length and final arrangements made. '