CENTRAL SCHOOL GALA DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 9, 8 December 1932, Page 2

CENTRAL SCHOOL GALA DAY

DISPLAY OF WORK. A very enjoyable time was spent by all who attended the gala held at the Central School yesterday, and the gathering was in every way a success. There were 36 entries for the baby show, which was judged by Mrs L. A. Abraham, and Miss J. AlcGliie. Awards were made as follow:

Up to six months.—Gilds: Alice Crow. Boys: David Snell. Six to twelve months.—Girls: Merle Burgess. Boys: Baby Aeheson. Twin girls.—Mrs Peterson’s babies. Mrs Abraham’s special prize for girls under 12 months.—Lorna Davis.

The sponge sandwich competition, which was judged by Mr W. J. .Croucher, was won by Miss Lois Dunstan in the girls’ division and by Mrs Johansen in the ladies’ division.

Very favourable comment was passed upon the display of work, which not only revealed the talent, ability and aptitudes of the pupils, but reflected the greatest credit upon the headmaster (Mr E. Bary) and teaching staff. Paste! drawings from natural and fashioned objects,’ advancing in progressive degrees of ability until the 6th Standard was reached, disclosed very good work and indicated that an artistic taste is being instilled into the pupils. It was something to givo the pupils just cause for pride. The pencil drawings were exceptionally good in the adjoining division.

Examples of the encouragement of community work were to be seen in the striking results achieved with paper cutting and pasting by the infants,' a high standard for all work being set jn this department, which is under the control of Miss Baldwin. Samples of arithmetic, spelling, mapping and geogrpahy represented other efforts by the standards. Keen interest was taken in the writing, beginning with printing by the infants and ending with the preparation of commercial documents by Standard 6. It showed tho surprising amount of scope to bo found. The hobby section was a novel feature. Though this is not included in the school curriculum, every encouragement is given the pupils to employ their leisure hours usefully at home. Models machines, including aeroplanes, were strongly represented, also a wireless set and splendid examples of string and bead work. Needlework, applique work, and sewing as practised from Standard 1 to Standard 6 was exhibited, commencing with w'ork on rough big stitching and colour work. Crocheting and knitting were shown as Standard 3 efforts, and cooking aprons and caps for use iii manual work next year as those of Standard 4. Plastice.no and raffia w r ork represented further activities by the infants. Woolwork was shown and other examples of handcrafts by the standards, including ornamental articles made from the humble sack, pine cones and acorns. Rubber work, papier-mache and passe partout work were other revealing features of the extent of the school syllabus.

Girls of Standards 5 and 6 exhibited samples of a range of cooking and the preparation of a school lunch, as well as notes on the theoretical side of oven activities. The boys of Standards 5 and 6 showed well-finished woodwork exhibits.