HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL

Hawera Star, Volume L, 18 December 1930, Page 9

HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. REVIEW OF THE YEAR. At file last meeting for the year of the Ilawera School Committee there \yere present: Dr. W. M. Thomson (chair), Messrs O. V. Church, C. W. Crutch, J. D. Tait, A. K. Fyson, E. Kirkby, E. Yearbury, N. Kenyon (secretary r, J. W. Thomas (headmaster). An apology for absence was received from Rev. E. S. Em mitt.

The headmaster gave an excellent and comprehensive report on the work of the school during the year. He said the work had been very satisfactory, with the teachers all working earnestly and conscientiously and the children making very good progress. The inspectors’ reports were very favourable, and in the final examination of Standard VI. 53 children passed with, proficiency and three with competency. Of these 49 were continuing at a secondary school. An active interest had been taken in all school sports, but with no outstanding su. ceess except ip swimming, 74 children obtaining swimming certificates —the highest for any school in the province. Thanks were due to those who had helped with transport, and future help would be appreciated. Children from the school were very successful in the calf-rearing competitions and 16 had entered for root growing and garden plots. Reference was made to the improvements in the environments of the school and to the help given to various associations, the committee raising £IOO towards the cost of the dental clinic, A type, which was now completed. It was hoped that a second dental nurse would lie appointed early in the new year so that the service could be extended to surrounding schools. The enthusiastic School Band Committee had also raised £IOO to-' wards the purchase of instruments and this, with a generous anonymous donation of £IOO, had enabled the purchase to be made. Thirty boys were now receiving instruction from Mr Fox, while the orchestra was also progressing well. At the competitions a school choir under Miss Burgess had scored first prize and another under Miss Petersen third place. Over £SO had been expended in buying hooks for the library and infant apparatus, while parents and friends had given hooks and pictures and Mr O’Callaghan had given a collection of Geographical Magazines. The concreting at the Infant School had been extended and a. fine trellis shelter erected, with excellent hedges on the boundary fences. In order to encourage thrift, Post Office Savings Bank accounts had been opened by several of the children so that they might bank their pennies. At the Bayly Memorial Sports, held at Hawera, there were large entries from all parts and the organising of the Hawera teachers was excellent. Thanks wo re due to many helpers and also to the teachers of the High School and the Amateur Athletic Association.

Among the new appointments, were those of Miss I. Tarrant and Mr M. Gray as substituted assistants and M iss B. Rawson anti Miss M. Murray as trainees. Miss D. Petersen had been promoted to Okato and her loss was felt very much, for she was popular and very efficient, her musical ability being very useful. The attendances during the year were as follow: Last term, 1929, roll 645, average attendance 594, percentage 92.1, admitted 60, withdrawn 33. For May 31, 1930, the corresponding figures were 612, 579, 93, 112 and 163 (including those who passed Standard VI.); and for August 31—624, 557, 89.3, 61 and 36. Chickenpox, whooping cough and influenza had affected the attendances for the third term, the corresponding figures being 636, 581.4, 91, 50 and 28. Referring to the very successful production of the operetta “Princess Ju Ju,” the headmaster said that the proceeds would he needed to help the capitation, which was quite inadequate, and part would be earmarked for a new piano, which was urgently required. He thanked sincerely the parents who had provided material for costumes, the ladies for assisting in the dressing and making up of the children and those helping in the orchestra, and also Mr Fox for his great assistance and the teachers who gave time and thought in training and costuming the children. In conclusion, Mr Thomas cordially thanked all teachers for earnest work and the committee for loyal help, and added that relations had at all times been most pleasant.

DENTAL CLINIC. Nurse Cato submitted the following figures showing the work done during the year: Hawera Alain, total roll 630, children treated 449, estimated total for treatment 504; Tawliiti. 206, 121, 164; Turuturu, 144. 99, 116; Nornianhy, 140. 80. 112; Tokaora, 27, 18, 20; Wliaioroa. 26, 20, 20; Wliakamara, under treatment, 2. The total on the rolls was 1173, the number under treatment 814, and the estimated ultimate number for treatment, 936. GENERAL. The visting committee’s report commented on the excellent cleanliness of the school, both inside and around the grounds. The report stated that the committee would soon be faced with

the renewing of the asphalt around the school as at present it was perished. Messrs Church and Crutch were appointed the visiting committee, to report at the next meeting after the school opens. The appreciation of the work done by the teachers with reference to the oneretta- was placed on record, and the chairman is to convey the thanks of the committee to them at their meeting; also, the thanks of the committee are to he. conveyed to Mr H. C. A. Fox for liis work in connection with the operetta and to the “Hawera Star” for the help given to assist the production.