SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 15, 15 December 1937, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

CENTRAL SCHOOL. The Central School Committee held its final meeting of the year last evening, Mr W. Garden being in the chair in the absence of Mr W. G. Blank, who is indisposed. Alro present; were Messrs W. H. Brown, H. Patterson, P. Henrsey, H. Palmer, W, JEitzgerald and G. Farrar. The Education Board advised t«e terms for next year as follows; —First term, February 1 to May 6; sto-mul term, May 23 to August 10; third term. September 5 to December 16; opening date for 1939, Wednesday, February 1. Accounts amounting to £6B 16s were passed for payment. The headmaster (Mr E. Bury; reported that the attendance for the term had berpi very good, the roll number being 783 and the averages over the past five weeks 754, 741, 754, 757 and 744.

“At the end of the year,’’ Mr Bary added, “we will be losing the services of Miss O’Donnell and xHiss Cairns, who have been acting as relieving teachers during the year, and ot Miss R. Walker and Mrs Taylor, who have held positions of probationary assistants. To these teachers I wish to express my appreciation of their co-op-eration and assistance during their term with the school. The Christmas tree held in connection with the infant department last week proved a social success and though the day was wet many parents attenover. I should like, through the committee, to thank Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame, Ltd., for their assistance with the function. Good attendance certificates have been gained by 247 pupils.” Mr Bary said tllao the distribution of milk was working smoothly, the daily supply amounting to 750 bottles. He concluded by thanking the committee. and parents for their co-oper-ation in the work of the school, and on behalf of the staff wished all the compliments of the season. , Mr Garden, on behalf of the committee, reciprocated the good wishes.

COLLEGE STREET SCHOOL

Colonel J. H. Wliyte was in the chair at the monthly meeting of- the College Street School Committee, held last evening. In reply to a request from the committee that shelves bo provided for a library, the Wanganui Education Board advised that up to the present the provision of a special library for primary schools had not been considered as essential, other more urgent building works having taken precedence. Quite a number of teachers preferred to have the books housed in the individual rooms. _ Tlio board was agreeable to providing suitable shelving in the staff common room.—lt was agreed that such shelves would be satisfactory. The board also advised that it would, at the earliest opportunity, remove the dangerous barbed wire fencing on the north-eastern boundary. Advice that for the first four weeks of the current term the school would be placed in Grade VIIB was also received. This entitled the school to a Grade 1 woman assistant. A letter received from the board stated that the work of laying down a tile drain between the new asphalt urea and the football ground was to be commenced. Tlie work of asphalting tlie assembly area would commence immediately after the school closed for the Christmas vacation. The headmaster (Mr L. J. Plank) reported as follows: “The average attendance during the month was 520, the present roll being 548. Miss E. Bland, of Hokowhitu, is being transferred to occupy the extra position occasioned by the rise in grade. The results of the examinations show that both children and teachers have done a splendid year’s work, and that, in spite of the short school year, the standard of work has been well maintained. A special word of congratulation is due to the active interest displayed by parents, who, at all times, have so generously assisted in all school functions. I have to acknowledge cash donations from Mr R. Butcher and also from the school boxing club. This club has been in operation since 1929 and, possibly owing to lack of suitable accommodation, will now cease to exist. During the year Mr G. Watqhorn. as instructor, and Mr A. E. R. Joblin, the supervisor, have done yeoman service and the boys have greatly benefited from Mr Watchorn’s expert knowledge and fine sportsmanship. Since 1933, one hundred and twenty boys have passed through his hands. At the end of tlie week Miss M. F. O’Reilly and Miss D. L. Hannsman, the probationary assistants, completed their period at the school. Both have done very creditable work, _ and we shall greatly miss them. Swimming classes commenced at the beginning of the month, classes from Standard 3 to Form 2 going to the Municipal Baths one day in each week. I take the opportunity of expressing the best wishes of myself and the staff to the committee for a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.” It was agreed to write thanking Messrs Watehorn and Joblin for the splendid, instruction they had given the boys in boxing, and it was also decided to incorporate in the letter a request that they communicate with the committee when the boxing season re-commences, when it may be possible to remedy the lack of accommodation. The meeting concluded with the exchange of greetings.