RONGOTEA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 15, 15 December 1932, Page 3

RONGOTEA

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

HONGOTKA, Dec. 14.

Ten pupils entered for the proficiency •xamination in the Rongotea School. The following were successlul in passing: Arthur Jessop, Ron Hill, Aialsa Buchanan, Joyce Caverhill, Juno liancox, Marjorie Johansen, Annie Martin, Mary Fraser. Competency: Violet Bottchcr. On Monday last Mr H. J. Fagan (Sanson) president of tho Te Kawau Rugby Sub-Union, made a presentation of tho trophies won by tho Ivopane-Kongotea combined team. In congratulating the team upon its unbeaten record in the sub-union’s primary schools competition, by which they annexed tho Fenny Banner, the McCarthy Trust Cup and the Te Kawau Rugby Sub-Union’s SevenAside Cup, the president exhorted the young pluyers to continue to play with the real team spirit which was a feature of the training they received in their schools. The lads had not only won tho competition in their own district, but had successfully competed with all the schools in the Manawatu Union’s competition, and wore tho present holders of the historic M.A.S. Seven-Aside Cup. Mr Walker (Rongotea) on behalf of the Ko-pane-Rongotea team, suitably responded, and handed over tho trophies to Miss Pennail (Kopane) who will have charge of them for the first term of 1933, when they will be returned to the Rongotea School. The Rongotea School Committee met on Monday." Present: Messrs W. Amies (chairman), F. C. Saxton (secretary), J. C. Glover, E. Tunnicliffe, A. Hill, W. Matheson and tho headmastor, Mr L. J. Walker. An apology for absence was received from Mr J. Duke. As promised at a previous meeting, the headmaster presented a statement of tho position (regarding cloaning of the school by tho children. He stated that tho system in operation when he took charge of tho school was to pay certain pupils who did the work out of the funds allowed. This, he found, was not working satisfactorily and so ho formulated a system of his own, which is at present in operation. The scholars in each room were divided into groups, so many in, each group. Each day one of these groups, in each room, attended to the cleaning. It was so arranged that each group was called upon, only onco a week to attend to this work. As all the scholars had a part to do, it did not take long. Tho duties not only covered aweeping the school (that was all a caretaker would be expected to do), but included all dusting and arranging various rooms for tho duties of the day, and, after school, for the day following, together with keeping up tho goneral appearance of tho school grounds. This work, boing done by scholars, entitled them to the amount allottod for school cleaning each week the school was open. Tho sum allowed was 10s 6d per woek. Trfo pupils then procuro with this money, through the headmaster, such requirements for use in school as aro not allowed

by the Education Board, thus saving parents considerable expense during the year. It would bo of much interest to any parent to interview the headmaster and learn from him how many things were procured and how the fund was spent, he added. Mr Walker was thanked by the committee for his report, and a record of it is to be placed on tho minute book. A reply was "received from Mr Knight on behalf of the football club, stating that tho matter of drain pipes would be attended to next seasoji at an opportune time. Mention was made that the school prizes would bo distributed to tho scholars on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. All parents wero invited to attend. Congratulations wore extended to the headmaster and tho staff, on the efficiency of tho school, tho graxling of the school having, in the last inspector’s report, being raised from good (last year) to very good. As there was only one grade higher, and as only one school in the board’s area had reached it, Hongotea was to be congratulated on havffig attained tho position it had. Tho sum of 35s was voted for keeping the school grounds in order, attending to shrubs, mowing lawns, etc., during the annual vacation. Accounts totalling £3 15s were passed for payment. Various duties wero assigned to the committee at the forthcoming concert. The headmaster reported a roll of 110 and tho attendance was most pleasing. Since the last meeting of the committee the annual central examination of proficiency candidates bad been bold. The ten candidates presented from tho school acquitted themselves very creditably. Tho school environment was in excellent order and outside visiting officials and others had expressed ' their appreciation of tho care bestowed to keep the school up to its reputation. The present staff and pupils wero endeavouring in every way to pay a tribute to the past teachers, committoes and settlers who did the pioneer work by maintaining the school and its surroundings at tho same high level of former years and to increase the general efficiency. On behalf of the staff, Mr Walker expressed appreciation for the ever ready assistance rendered by all members of the committee during the past year and wished them the compliments of tho season.