TERRACE END SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 117, 18 April 1931, Page 2

TERRACE END SCHOOL

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report to be presented to the meeting of Terrace End householders reacle as follows: “During the past year the progress of the school has been well maintained, and the headmaster and staff are to be congratulated on the success achieved. Ihe reports of inspectors and other departmental officers indicato that the standard of efficiency and the conduct of the scholars are most satisfactory. We are sure that parents will join with the committee m recording their appreciation to the staff for their conscientious service during the year. Ground improvements: Your committee decided to take advantage of the Government unemployment schemes, with the result that the whole of the playing area at the rear of tho school (about six acres) has been levelled, drained and sown in grass. The bicycle sheds have been enlarged, agricultural plots dug and trenched, plantations thoroughly dug and cleaned, all fences repaired, sumps for carrying surplus water dug and filled with boulders. The gardens surrounding the school have been dug and cleaned and grass plots in front of tho school levelled and planted. Your committee is conndent that this will give the school an excellent playing area and be a great benefit to the sports of the school in future years. Anzac Day commemoration : Anzac Day was observed at the school as in previous years, and tho committee are again indebted to Major R. D. Hardie, D. 5.0., for his interesting address, to Rev. J. C. Abbott who conducted tho service, and to those who provided floral tokens of remembrance. Annual ball: Following on the recommendation of the last annual meeting, tho ball programme comprised items for the enjoyment of the children only. It was also decided not to have competitions in respect of fancy dresses. Both these innovations met with tho approval of all concerned, and the function was most enjoyable and financially successful. The staff had again gone to considerable trouble in training pupils for the dances. School sports: A report as to the school’s sports activities will bo submitted by the staff, who are to be thanked for their continued interest in this important aspeot of the scliool’s training. The annual sports day passed off very pleasant ly. and a large number of parents attended. Children’s concert. —The decision to hold the annual concert in tho Opera House proved to be well justified, there being a largo attendance, and tho increased accommodation not only added to tho comfort of tho audience, but enabled the staff to stage to the best advantage an excellent programme, including a most enjoyable cantata which had entailed much preparatory work. Savings bank : Tho scholars continue to take full the facilities offered at the school for depositing money in the Post Office Savings Bank. Baths: The baths continued to be well patronised. An effective means has been introduced of treating the water, rendering it better for bathing purposes. During the past season your committee cooperated with the Terrace End Swimming Club in installing electric light at the baths. The committee desire to record their appreciation of the encouragement given by the club in the promotion of swimming and life saving. Library : Your committee are pleased to report that the school library is gradually being replenished with good literature, and they have decided to make still further additions to the library from time to time, and so encourage pupiis to have due regard for reading. Thanks : The committee desire to express their sincere thanks to the ladies’ committee, who again rendered valuable assistance at the ball and in making costumes for the concert. The ladies also conducted stalls on sports day, with the result that the library funds benefited materially. The committee regret exceedingly tho departure from this district of Mrs F. Kendall, who has worked so assiduously as secretary to the ladies’ committee. The committee also desire to express their appreciation of the assistance of parents in making costumes for the ball and concert, and for their continued interest in all matters connnected with the school. Messrs W. H. Swanger and E. H. . Hodge, secretary and architect respectively to the Wanganui Education Board, have at all times extended every courtesy and help to tho committee, as has also Mr E. H. Lange, agricultural instructor to the board. Thanks are also due to the Press and to Mr H. S. Porteous for his assistance as auditor. It would bo impossible to sufficiently express the committee’s satisfaction at the manner in which the caretaker (Mr J. M. Arthur) performs his duties. Tho condition of tho school and gardens is a testimonial to his efforts, and his control of the baths and interest in tho pupils are most commendable.