PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 113, 9 April 1930, Page 2

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

RE VIEWS OF PAST YEAR. • HOKOWHITU SCHOOL. Householders’ meetings for the primary schools of Palmerston North wiU be held next week when the annual r ports will be presented. c^hool The report of the Jlokawhitu School states:—“ln view of the splendul wa> in which the residents of the district rose to the occasion in raising f per medium of the queen c«r“val, it was decided that , there would lw no major effort to raise funds during tho committee’s year of office. On 28 a very successful concert was hel in the school and the thanks , ■ ■ committee are duo to the Caching staff for the very energetic way they worked to make it a complete success. On September 20 , a fancy dress carnival was held in the Empire HallThis function was a huge success both socially and financially.. It "as ve y gratifying to the committee to see the whole-hearted way in which the hohseholders supported this entertainment. As in a similar carnival, held the previous year, we were again successful in getting a very large percentage of tn children attending the school to tu® carnival.- The committee are indebted to all who helped in making this event the success it certainly was. lno basket ball, courts have proved a real acquisition to the school; this was evidenced by the success of basket ball teams from the schools m the school competition. In September the Hokowhitu Tennis Club was formed and made .applications to the school committee for use of the courts. After considerable discussion terms suitable to both parties were agreed upon by the committee. The Tennis Club should serve well -in keeping exscholars interested in the school, lho terms agreed upon were as follow: - If the membership of the club was forty or under, a donation of £7 10s was to be made to the committee; if overforty the donation was to be £lO. This agreement is to hold good until October 11. 1930. “Due to the good efforts of Mbs Gills in selling sweets at our various functions we were enabled to procure a sewing machine for the school. Another valuable addition to the school is two roto-rolls of which very excellent, use is being made. Another school concert was held on December 17. This was very successful and the room proved far too small. The items by the children were exceptionally good and great credit for this is due to the teaching staff. The school library will benefit considerably by this concert. On February 14 the school picnic was held at the Esplanade. This location was decided upon at a meeting of householders and it proved a really ideal picnic ground. Again we are pleased to report that a high percentage of the cnildren attended the picnic and they had a most enjoyable outing. The committee have been engaged on a house to house canvass to raise funds for the baths. . The results have been satisfactory and a considerable sum has been added to the bath fund. “In November the committee wrote to the Education Board stressing the fact that extra accommodation was acquired, due to overcrowding. A low weeks ago we had a visit from the Minister of Education, Mi* Atmoro, and the opportunity was taken to show him the seriously overcrowded state of the room. This had the desired effect as next day word was received that Cabinet had authorised an additional room, the erection of which will take place in the immediate future. It is pleasing to relate that the work of the school lias gone on smoothly and satisfactorily ; wo are fortunate in having such a "capable and enthusiastic teaching staff ably led by Mr Plank. The grounds have been very -tidily, kept and the flower gardens are a distinct credit to the school. On every occasion there have been visitors to the school special mention lias been made to the splendid appearance of . the grounds and gardens. This is c* gratifying to the committee as it must be to Mr Plank and his 6taff. We cannot let this occasion pass without a word of reference to the splendid way in which the duties of the caretaker have been carried out. This work has been done carefully and well and has been much appreciated by the committee. Another necessary convenience to the school has just been erected. This is an incinerator and it will prove of great benefit. Anzac Day celebration was conducted in the school by Rev. Mr Parsons. His address was very impressive and was supplemented with vocal items by Miss M. Bennett. On Arbor Day we were fortunate in securing Mr Pitama, who gave an interesting address to ihe children on native flora.’

RUSSELL STREET. The report states: “The school was opened on March 18, 1929. Mr R. Irwin was appointed acting headmaster and the roll number for the first week was 120. In J uly Mr F. C. Campbell was. appointed headmaster and Alias Piercey infant mistress. Mr Mountfort,, who joined the school on the opening day, still remains.. At the beginning of this year Mr J. Campbell and Miss Mclsaac joined the staff. The roll number at February 28 was 187. The school is designed to accommodate 204 pupils and it is certain that it will be overcrowded before the end of this year. The school will be entitled to another .teacher in the third term. During last year five pupils, two of whom had commenced the year in the fifth standard, -were presented for the proficiency examination and all were successful. The headmaster, staff, and pupils are to be congratulated on having made a very satisfactory beginning in scholastic success. “At the opening of the school the grounds were untouched and during last winter the pupils, parents and staff had to put up'with very unsatisfactory conditions. The committee adopted the development scheme prepared by Mr E. H. Lange, the board’s agricultural instructor, and has done its best to successfully carry out this scheme. The assembly ground, covering 600 .square yards, was laid down, in concrete worth £125, the work being done by the parents. The shrubbery was prepared 1 by R.S;A. labour and planted by Mr Mountfort and Air Campbell. Mr Mountfort enthusiastically took over the management of tho shrubbery and the committee cannot 6peak too highly of hie work and his generosity in giving so many weeks of his own time. The. excellent growth of the shrubs and the condition of this part of the grounds give a better understanding of Air Mountfort’s work than can any written report. The football ground has been thoroughly tile drained and levelled and sown Uown in grass, and it is expected that it will give a dry playing area. A contract has been let for the levelling and laying out of two basketball grounds in the front of the school, and this will be completed in about six weeks, thus providing a proper playing area for the girls. The preparation of a satisfactory playing area for the primer children is the next necessary instalment of Mr Lange’s scheme. “Russell Street scholars who were on the roll of the dental clinic have continued‘to receive dental treatment, but infant children joining the school are not admitted to the clinic. The committee has joined with other committees in a movement for a town and country clinic end if sufficient funds con be raised dental treatment for all

primer children will bo available by April. 1931. .... , , '“The out-door -training department of school life has'received full attention from the teachers in spite*of tlxlack of facilities during the first year. Football, basket ball and cricket have been organised and matches played with other schools. Life saving land drill has been carried out. The Terrace End Committee generously made its baths available to our Roys and. girls and many of them gained proficiency ccr tificates in swimming this summer. Twenty-three children learned to swim. The school had some representatives at the health camp and parents of the district generously made donations to this very useful institution. . “The committee reports with pleasure that the regularity of attendance at the school has been excellent and urges parents to maintain the present high standard. The Parents’ Association was formed during last year and arranged two card evenings at the school. It gave valuable assistance at the school functions and in connection with the working bees. The accounts show that there is a deficit of approximately £lO on the year’s working. The capitation allowance is altogether inadequate for the recurring requirements of the school, and but for the very generous donations received little improvement work to the school grounds could have been made. I urther donations will be required during the coming year to enable the many needs of the school to be supplied. The Education Board made grants of £BO for drainage and £IOO for basket ball ground ' “In coriclusion, the committee desire to express their thanks to the many generous donors, too .many to be particularised, who nave given cash, materials, > extended credit, loan of plant, expert knowledge, and last, but not least, hard manual labour.”