HAWERA SCHOOL AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 July 1928, Page 4

HAWERA SCHOOL AFFAIRS.

COMMITTEE MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Hawera School Committee was held last evening, the following members being present: J. W. Harding, W. Zntwistle, G. H. Westwood, M. 11. Jones, and L. H. Carrel (acting secretary;. Apologies for absence were reeived i I'om 13r. Thomson and Messrs F. C. Foden, P. O. Veale, and T. J. Salmon . -

HEA DMASTEII’S REPORT. “I. have to report a roll number ol • 325, as compared with 626 last month,” stated the headmaster. ‘‘The attendance during the last fortnight lias sufered very much owing to the prevailing epidemic of influenza. During the first- two weeks the average attendance was 576, or 91 per cent, of the roll number, but for the second fortnight it was only 541, or 86 per cent, of the roll number. These, absences add to ithe difficulty of teaching, for those pupils who have been away need special he p afterwards; yet the effect is to reduce the number of teachers. Until schools are staffed on roll numbers this anomaly must continue to exist. Two teachers were absent during the month because of illness. . ‘•On two occasions- this month, the inspectors! viisiite.d the ,school. Tine remodelling of ihe main school is now bompfcte. 'The general resufit is> a great improvement, especially in those four rooms- with a northern ,aspect. Though the others, are. well ventilated, the heating i,s still primitive-. Two which face east a-ne especially cold, and even with, '’airge firasi burning are not’ nearly so warm as the new infant rooms, where fires are not required at all. We should be pleased if parents who are interested would visit the new building to see for themselves the conditions under which their children .arc working. A number of them have already noted the o.eneral improvement in hea|';th since tin? change into the new rooms. “Tore sepa,rate open-air room at the main school i,s now occupied by Standard I. There also the- conditions ’.are very pleasant indeed. ‘‘The library room i,si now ready for occupation, and as .soon as the necessary fittingjs- an?, complete, we shall lie able to arrange all the books from the class rooms, and to lay out- on the tables magazines and other interesting reading matter for the children. We should he pleased .to reoeivi? gifts of suitable books and papers for thin room. ‘‘Tt is now ever a year since we asked for help with, ora- sports fund. The amount, then contributed has been sufficient to keep all the .boys and gins in the wchool. including -infants, in games material. We are now Asking, -parents again to contribute towards- this fund, and thus encourage us in developing the physical strength and vigour necessary to their fufj intellectual growth.” The report was adopted.

GENERAL. It was decided to purchase a .quantity ■at' tree- lucerne plants for grounds improvement- at the inputs’ school. the chairman being appointed to go into the matter with power to act. Dr. Thomson and Mr Salmon were appointed as a visiting committee f<M the month of August. Accounts amounting to £32 Rs hd u i re passed for payment.