WEST END SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 112, 11 April 1929, Page 8

WEST END SCHOOL

COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The report by the committee to be placed before the annual meeting of householders at the West End School is as follows: During the year the school had an average attendance of 370. The attendance for the year has been somewhat hindered by the prevailing sickness. The school roll as 28th February was 354 compared with 401 at the samo period of 1928. This shows a considerable drop in pupils attending this school for which the committee is unable to account. The work of the scholars during the year has been very satisfactory. There were 39 proficiency and five competency cerificates guined at the annual examinations. The school was successful in their show entries, . gaining many honours. In sport the school did fairly welj. In football wo reached the final of the junior competition, losing to Hokowhitu 3 to nil. In basoball we reached the final, losing to Central in the play-off. Zona Smith won the old pupils’ cup for the best all round sport (girls); George Shaw won the old pupils’ cup for the best all round sport (boys). Consequent on the amount of sickness prevailing at this school last winter, and the school surroundings being in such a deplorable condition through the water lying in pools, whereby the children could not possibly get into or out of the building without suffering wet feet, the committee deemed it their duty to alleviate the situation by the only means possible—concreting the whole of the drill area. With this object in view a house to house collection was made and a total of £lO6 17s 6d was obtained which carried a Government subsidy of a like amount. The work was put in hand before the canvass was completed ns we felt it to be our duty to improve matters as soon as possible. The committee wish to thank ail those who helped by donations and otherwise to carry through this most worthy project. In all about one thousand square yards of concreting were laid down, and we have a very fmo area where the children can gather and keep dry. . - The committee, in pursuing its policy of making the school as healthy as is possible, found that the building was showing great signs of dampness percolating through from the outside. This was brought to the notice of the board. The committee met the board’s architest and went thoroughly into the matter. Subsequent to this the Government’s and the board's architects again made an inspection. In consequence ot this a sum of £4OO has been granted for rough casting the whole of the exterior of the original building which should completely eradicate the trouble. When this projected work is done, which we hope will be during next month, there will have been spent on this school the sum of over £9OO for improvements. This includes the laying down of the quadrangle floor in wood, levelling and concreting the area at the back of the school, and the projected rough casting of the building. Of this sum the committee have provided £346 17s 6d on which amount a subsidy of £206 17s 6d has been obtained. The playing area is the next project requiring the attention of the incoming committee. Some hundreds of yards of spoil has been carted on to this site by the courtesy of the Borough Council. This has been spread, but a great deal more requires to be done so that the wholo of the area may be made level. The ladies’ committee have again to be thanked for the very arduous work done during the past year. As a result of the socials they have run throughout the year, and the garden party, the school funds have benefited to the amount of nearly £IOO. For a period of two years the funds have been handed to us and we have utilised them for augmenting the general account from which we have paid some large amounts for the quadrangle floor, levelling the back area, and supplementing our funds to meet general expenses. This has somewhat retarded the completion of the fund to provide swimming baths, but as the committee will not be ■ requiring so' much financial help in the immediate future, it is the intention of the ladies’ committee to proceed with completion of the bath fund. With this object in view they are running their socials during the winter. A very successful garden party was held which added to the bath fund a sum of £75, making the total of this fund nearly £SOO. A school concert was held in the 6chool which netted a sum of £2O. The children’s ball, which proved a fine social function, netted a sum of £24 18s lOd. The annual picnic was held at the Esplanade. This proved a very successful function. Nearly every child was able to attend and the site chosen was an admirable one. The day proved all that could be wished as far as the weather conditions were concerned. The sports, swings, and other firms of amusement proved a great source of amusement to the children, and we feel sure that the parents were satisfied with the locality chosen. A new piano has been purchased by the committee during the past year. From the time this school was opened until the present year we have been indebted to, the West End Anglican Sunday School for the use of their piano which has always been at our disposal. We wish to record our thanks to the West End Sunday School through the courtesy of Miss Owtram. The committee, whilst representing the householders of West End, would appreciate the trust put in them much more fully if the annual meetings were better attended by the householders. The average householder does not fully realise the duties that a committeeman has thrust upon him during his term of office. It is no light task, and one that entails the giving up of a deal of valuable time by all those serving on the committee. It would be very encouraging to see a good attendance of householders at the annual meeting to show that they themselves are interested in their own school. Our school museum, started some few years ago, is growing slowly. There are many exhibits which are both interesting and instructive to the children. These have all been dontated either direct, or through the children, and a great display comes from Niue Island as gifts from Mr H. Hamilton, who was some time first assistant at this school who still takes a great interest in his old school. The headmaster and the committee will at any time appreciate donations for the museum, or historical pictures for the class-rooms. The questions of a schools savings bank, which has been inaugurated and is m vogue in some of our town schools, is one that the committee has considered and held over for discussion at the general meeting. The committee express their thanks and appreciation to Mr E. W. Moore and his staff for the way they have worked in conjunction with the committee. The committee desire to thank Messrs Oram and Woodroffc, our local members on the Wanganui Education Board, for the support given by them to the cause of education. We thank the local Press for the fair way they publish reports of all meetings, and in every way facilitate the publicity of all functions in connection with the school. We tender our thanks to our caretaker, Mrs Phillips, for the excellent way she keeps the school, and we thank Mr W. Hunter for auditing the school accounts.