RUSSELL STREET SCHOOL OPENED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6863, 19 March 1929, Page 8

RUSSELL STREET SCHOOL OPENED

120 Pupils Attend GOOD ROLL FOR FIRST DAY IN NEW BUILDING Another milestone in the educational p regress of Palmerston Eorth was passed yesterday, when the doors of the new public school in Bussell street were opened to pupils. Mr. E. Irwin, who is acting as headmaster. stated yesterday afternoon that tho roll of 120 was quite satisfactory. The infant classes are particularly well filled; for many of the pupils it was their first day at school. The enrollments in standards 111 and IV were fair but very few pupils wero offering for standards V and VI. This latter was quite understandable, pupils within a year or two of ending their primary education no doubt preferring to pass a nearby school, rather than break associations which Have extended through their schooldays. It is expected however that the roll will improve daily. Mr. Irwin commented that the children had already settled down in their new environment and that the atmosphere of work was quite noticeable. The school at present is temporarily staffed as follows: Headmaster, Mr. E. Irwin, standards V and VI; Miss L M. Eeeve, standards 111 and IV; Miss I. W. Humphreys, standards I and II; Miss E. Wilson, infants and Mr. Rockell, probationer. 'Flic permanent staff will not bo appointed until May, by which time the school will have been graded. Mr. H. E. Ilarvy and members of the provisional committee were in attendance at the school yesterday morning and extended a welcome to Mr. Irwin and staff. Mr. W. H. Swanger, secretary of the Wanganui Education board, also spoke and congratulated the committee on its good fortune in having Mr. Irwin to set the new school in order. Subsequently, Messrs Swanger and E. E. Hodge, tho board’s architect, conferred with the committee on ground improvements and a scheme for concreting the paths and playing areas. The committee and board officials were later the guests of Miss Anderson, matron of the Willard Home, at morning tea, when opportunity was taken by committeemen to wish Miss Anderson farewell prior to her departure for the Old Country on a holiday trip.