NELSON COLLEGE FOR GIRLS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 16 December 1937, Page 6

NELSON COLLEGE FOR GIRLS

Miss J. Stewart, Principal of the Nelson College for Girls, presented the following report: PRINCIPAL'S REPORT It is by honour and privilege to present the fifty-fifth annual report of the Nelson College for Girls. Staff.—ln what I consider a difficult year 1 feel specially grateful to my stall for their loyal co-operation: for their sympathy and understanding; and for many helpful suggestions. We have an exceptional number of changes to record this year. It was with the greatest regret tiial we parted from Miss Isaac at the end of the first term. She had given 24 years' devoted service to the College where she was a source of inspiration and strength to everyone, including hundreds of Old Girls who hold her in affectionate remembrance. We miss hei infinite patience, her unobtrusive helpfulness, her unfailing memory for detail. and her personal interest in each individual. We rejoice in her promotion and hope that her work as Principal of Wellington East Girls' College may bring her much happiness and success. Miss Karstcn has ably succeeded Miss Isaac as First Assistant and Miss Audrey Shallcrass. M.Sc.. waappointed to fill the vacancy on our staff.

Early in the first term Miss King, who had been with us for eight years, applied for a month's leave of absence in order lo visit her father, who was seriously ill in Australia. On his death, for family reasons, she cabled her resignation Miss King’s work in the school was marked by enthusiasm both for her own special subject, history, and by the intense interest she took in the Dramatic Club, which she founded so successfully. Many Old Girls will remember how untiring were her efforts in this connection and what thoroughness always characterised the training of her caste for every production. Wc were fortunate in securing the services, in a relieving capacity, of Miss Joan Stephens, who had a short time before been a member of our staff She remained with us until the end of the second term, when Miss C. M. Childs. 8.A.. was appointed to the permanent position. At the beginning of the third term Miss Christie applied for two months’ leave of absence. Miss M. D. Daniell. M.A.. who relieved for her. fitted very happily into our staff. On the day of our prize-giving Miss Sheat is due to sail from Wellington for England, where she is appointed to an exchange position in Parliament Hill School. North London. We look forward to having Miss Clara Williams, who comes in Miss Sheat’s place, on our staff for a year.

Miss Bremner lias been granted leave of absence for a year from the beginning of March. It is her intention to spgnd some months studying in America before proceeding to England. Wc hope that her experiences will prove to be both pleasant and profitable.

At the beginning of the year Miss Lois Levien was appointed to a stu-dent-tcachership in art. which has been extended for a second year. Roll.—This year again our numbers increased slightly, the upper school being :i95 as compared with 1189 last year The preparatory department decreased to 42 from 49 last year Throughout the year we have had a full list of boarders, 60 in all. We are making a few changes in the arrangement ot rooms in order to provide for at least 67 boarders next year, and our list is already full: we have enrolments from places as far distant as Whangarci and Oamaru.

The number of train and bus girls who travel considerable distances daily to school is still high, there being at the beginning of the year. 80 train girls and 26 bus girls. With very few exceptions, their attendance is excellent. in all weathers, and the keen and helpful interest they take in all our school activities is a pleasure to us and a credit to themselves. Scholarship.—Many of our girls brought honour to themselves and to their school by achieving successes in public examinations. Four were placed on the credit list of the Junior University Scholarship examination and qualified for University bursaries. Twentythree passed the University Entrance examination. Nine candidates passed the School Certificate examination and eleven obtained partial passes. Three candidates passed the senior division and eleven the junior division of the Public Service Commissioners’ Short-hand-Typist examination Ninety-four were awarded Senior Free Places and the thirteen girls in Standard VI. gained Proficiency certificates, eleven of these girls passing into the upper school at the beginning of the year. Ol the nine candidates for the Training College Entrance examination four passed and five obtained partial passes Eleven of our present girls arc applicants for admission to the Training Colleges next year. Natalie King was successful in winning a prize for embroidery in an open competition An Old Girl. Miss Molly Mullan, distinguished herself by gaining the Senior University Scholarship in Education To these and other Old Girls who have won success during the year, we offer our congratulations.

Health.—With the exception of a mild epidemic ot chicken-pox at the beginning of the third term, when we had seven cases among the boarders, the health of the whole school has been very satisfactory. We were fortunate that, after the late start of this year, we were able to continue our work uninterrupted throughout the year. Apart from these cases of chicken-pox the health of the boarders, and of the resident staff, has been exceptionally good To Mrs M.vljs, our new matron, is due ibo credit for this satisfactory state of

affairs. Her careful planning of our diet and her interest in all other mal-

I lei's cciiieiTllilig "in' wellsil'i' lin vi.' been 'muinl vri •-1 >< >i): iblr lor our good }i < ■ J l lll l , land haw added considerably lo our j | com fori and happiness. I should here like lo express iii.v apj precial ion of Ihe eapahle, laellul and I cllieienl manner in which Mrs Myles ! has carried out her new duties in an unusually dillicull year. School Activities. These continue 'lo , provide lor our girls opporluniliei ul I awakening new interests. consolidating old interests, and giving scope for mi dividual enterprise in matters which I make a special appeal to them. They I provide for our members ol stall opportunities ul reeugni.dng the varied yil'ts of pupils, and ol perceiving latent talent not necessarily revealed in the classroom. The out-of-school activities are a, vital part ol school tile, for they aim at ! I the training of the taste and discrim- ; i iiiation of the uirls in art, music, books, i drama and behaviour and lead them to i the realisation that the urea lest ulti- ! mate salislaction is to be lound in a. ; desire for the very best in everything. ; The outstanding activity ol this year was the annual Garden Party tor which i plans were made m the second term i i and preparations begun early in this' term. The Old Girls' Association decided that the contributions collected ; : by them towards a memorial to honour | : the memory ol our first Principal. Mrs , Evans, should form the nucleus ol a ; fund to provide swimming baths for; our school. The present girls, guided , and helped by the stall', decided to: make the Garden Party "a lunelion which would add a considerable sum j to this fund. Keen interest was taken . by the parents, who gave every cn- , courngemoiit to the girls. Everyone I worked splendidly and fell well re- ! 1 warded by the remarkable success ol the function, which was held under j , ideal weal her conditions with results 1 far beyond our highest expectations. We feel specially grateful to the two 1 committees of mothers, who worked so 1 hard and with such good dlccl that , : they handed over to us from the cake and produce stalls the tine sum ol £IOO j 1 towards the total sum realised -£3lO. The girls, directed by their form mis- t | tresses and Miss Molly Stewart, derived : i great pleasure, interest and education from the making of articles suitable lor | the Christmas stall. Under the guid- ! lance of Miss Molly Stewart, Miss j j Brcmner, and Miss Huddle they pro- ; ! pared an art and craft display, which | drew much favourable comment from ■ ! our visitors. The making of toys of I ; a very varied character showed skill ! and talent in very unsuspected quarters I I and provided a most attractive stall. , I In addition there were well-stocked | | sweets and ice-cream stalls which were ! sold out early in the afternoon: a well - j | patronised stall for plants and another j lor knitted articles. Two afternoon j ! tea-rooms were kept very busy; and j further attractions were ottered bv a | variety of games and a short pro- j : gramme of drill by the Honours Drill j j Class, and dancing by the Lower Preparatory children. That the Garden Party was such an j ; outstanding success proved to us that j the provision of swimming baths for the \ j Girls' College was recognised as a real | need by parents and friends of the | College. Further support in the lorm i j of donations in money from a few ; parents and friends is being gratefullv received from time to time. On my own behalf, and that of the school and 1 I the Old Girls' Association. I take this i opportunity ol thanking everyone who. 1 in any way. contributed to the success , | of the Garden Party. ; Our Student Christian Movement i i Club is an activity which is of prime | | I importance, in that it gives opportune ! : ties for service. The need it tills is i | shown in the great number of girls, j • who join its social service groups which ; i : are guided by Miss Karslen. Mrs Davis, '• t j Miss Cockburn, Miss Shout, and Miss ; | j Claughtou. These girls have during , > ; the year, found means of expressing ! i j their willingness to help others in pre- ‘ ; ! paring parcels to be sent to the adopted i | family of each group, in combining t [to entertain the country girls. who i visited Nelson in August under the : : auspices of the W.D.F.U.: and in pro- j ( viding a concert party to visit recently j | the Alexandra Home at Richmond. In 1 < ! addition, regular weekly Bible study I ! circles for seniors and juniors, led re- ; ! spec-lively by Miss Karslen and Miss , Lane, have been well attended through- : out the year j The School Dramatic Club, in foster- i 1 ! ing the development of dramatic ability. plays its part in helping to develop : : poise, and power to sec the other per-

son's point of view. We regret the loss of Miss King, but welcome Miss Battcrsby’s capable direction of this activity which attracts many senior girls. They have on several occasions entertained the school and recently prepared a delightful programme of two scenes from Shakespeare and two one-act plays which provided a substantial donation for the swimming baths fund.

The Magazine, eagerly looked for early in the year by both present and Old Girls, maintains its usual hign standard of literary contributions and attractive illustrations. Us editors, Miss Garland and Miss Karsten, are to be congratulated not only on these matters but on the fact that they seem to be able each year to introduce some innovation which adds to the interest. The high praise received from varied sources must in some measure reward them for the expenditure of time and labour they put into the planning and oversight of its production. Organised games, which now include hockey in addition to basketball, tennis cricket and swimming, continue to play their part well in physical training and character-training in unselfishness, cooperation. judgment, self-reliance and self-discipline. Our annual matches with the Marlborough College tennis and basketball teams, and with Mofucka District High School provided further friendly and pleasurable intercourse with these two schools.

As was to be expected the library has grown considerably this year as a result of a generous grant from the Council of Governors. Many valuable and extremely useful books of reference in literature, science, art and travel, etc.. have been added throughout the year and have been of special educative value to the whole school. We are indebted to Miss Cockburn. Miss Bremnor and Miss Ogg for the voluntary work they do in connection with the library. It is appropriate to mention here our great appreciation of the fact that we are able to make use of the Carnegie Art Set recently acquired by the Boys College. Every fortnight we have 18 to 24 photographs of art treasures on view on a prominent wall and the books descriptive of these are at the same time, placed in the library I hcv attract the attention of many girls, and from time to time, form interesting subjects of discussion in the classroom It is gratifying to note that the Bar nardo Helpers League continues to nourish, for it gives another instance of the readiness ot young people to seize opportunities of helping others Our branch of this League, under (lit direction of Miss Garland, has added to its u-elulness this year by collecting for headquarters large quantitie.uf tinfoil and silver paper, which can be turned to good account for the benefit of tin children in the Barnardo Homes.

In the capable hands ol Mis.-. Crawford our second-hand book department is an activity which is deserving of

inorc recognition on the part ol flu ; girl:-, who use d. They are inclined to j take ton much for grunted and to for- ! that some small expression of gratitude. is due to those undertaking thisi : arduous service entirely for their j benefit Again the Inter House competition in impromptu speeches lor the cup pie- ; i senli'd by the Christchurch brand) ol'j our Old Girls' Association, proved a j ; valuable experience for the girls who represented their Houses, and also lor those who formed the audiences. The School Choir, trained and eon- ; dueled by Mrs Davis, won very high praise from the judge at the Nelson I Musical Competitions held in August. [ The Hoarders company of Girl Guides | ' are grateful lo two Old Girls, the j Misses Yulnndc Marsh and Mary Jcf- ■ freys, tor directing their activities tills, | year. Our Guides were greatly honoured to be among the last to hand on the Coronation message ori us nnai journey to the Governor-General alter it had travelled throughout New Zcn--1 land. They were delighted, too. that a recent Old Girl of the School, Jean 1 McLaren, was the Guide privileged to ! convey the message to Wellington by 1 air and lo deliver it at Government! 1 louse. General. Our return to school at the; | beginning of the year was marked by i uncertainty owing to the epidemic ol infantile paralysis We were fortunate that, when we did begin work on Ist , March, we continued on uninterrupted ; throughout the year. On the 12th May in addition to at- ; tending the civic function at the '■ Church Slops in connection with the ! Coronation celebrations we marked the j occasion by decorating the Gymnasium. | > our Assembly Room .and by the planting of two trees in the College grounds.; i At this ceremony Mr Richmond Fell. l ; chairman of our Council of Governors, j after addressing the school, planted a | scarlet oak in the King’s honour, and: Miss Isaac planted a silver birch in j j honour of the Queen. As these trees; flourish and grow in strength they will j , stand as symbols of the loyalty and pride we feel in our new King and : • Queen. At the end of the first term a party ' of 20 girls, accompanied by Miss Mitchell and Miss Christie, travelled to i The Hermitage, Ml. Cook, in order to I enjoy a ski-ing holiday. They had a , very happy time and returned fully determined to have a similar holiday i | next year ! When we returned lo College in the ■ second term we were delighted to learn 1 that a school prefect. Oluvn Haycock : a First Class Guide, had been chosen ; to represent New Zealand at an inter- 1 j national Guide Camp in New York to I commemorate the silver jubilee of 1 Guiding in U.S.A. She has brought j I distinction to herself, to the Richmond i company of Girl Guides and also to ! Nelson Girls’ College. In July several members of my staff and I were privileged to attend the,' conferences of the New Education Fel- 1 lowship in Christchurch and Welling- , ; ton. We returned from these confer- j cnccs delighted with our experiences' and filled with admiration for the | speakers. Their quiet sincerity, their; vigour and enthusiasm and their tolerant and spiritual outlook on all mat- , ters were most impressive and stimulating. Our celebration of Arbor Day took much the same form as last year. Mrs ' Atmorc spoke to the whole school and 1 gave a delightful talk on trees and our 1 responsibilities towards: them. After 1 her nddicss she and Mrs Childs, with the help of the preparatory children ' planted silver birch trees at the Sports Field. I' Other matters of interest during this i t year have been the daily distribution j of "Government” milk in the third j term: the greatly increased number of j foreign pen-friends acquired by the: girls, through a Swedish agency, thus i rousing their interest in international j j affairs: the combined weekly talks on current events and musical appreciation lessons; the acquisition of a fully ' equipped dressmaking room. 1 We have to thank our Council ol : * Governors for their gracious permission 1 to hold a College dance in the Boys ! College Assembly Hall, early in the third term This was a very happy and successful function. Recently, a number of our senior j girls, who are proficient in swimming.'' were invited to help with the classes ot learners in the Lcarn-to-Swim Week , 1 held throughout New Zealand. The i t small number among our juniors, who i were unable to swim, gladly seized the : <

We have to thank our Council of : Governors for their gracious permission to hold a College dance in the Boys ! College Assembly Hall, early in the! third term This was a very happy and successful function. Recently, a number of our senior girls, who are proficient in swimming.' were invited to help with the classes or learners in the Lcarn-to-Swim Week , held throughout New Zealand. The i small number among our juniors, who were unable to swim, gladly seized the I opportunity of joining these classes. ! Visitors.—During the year the school , lias welcomed visits from Mr H. Dixon, of the Australian National Tourist Association, who gave an interesting talknil Central Australia and the aborigines there: Miss Gray, wdio showed us the Guides’ Coronation message and told us about its journevings: Mr H. Ward. ; who gave an elocutionary recital that , was much appreciated: Mr Wilson, who spoke to our Student Christian Move-! menl Club about Melanesia: Miss Inman. who brought to us an exhibition : of the work of Marcus King, the Wei-; lington artist: Miss Duthie, who gave! us a fascinating description of an International Guide Camp she attended ■■ this year in Sweden; Miss Murray, on furlough from Egypt, who told us about her experiences there: Miss Herrick, travelling secretary of the Student - Christian Movement, who spoke to the j girls about its aims and its work; Miss Hester Vincy. an overseas visitor to Nelson, who gave a splendid address: on the place of women in the modern world.

This year again there are many friends of the College whom 1 wish ti take this opportunity of thanking for generous gills of prizes -- Mrs Cock. Sen.. for senior prepared speech: Mrs Childs for original work in English; Miss Hunter-Brown for reading: Miss Tomlinson for original verse, senior and junior: Mrs C. R Fell for special needlework prizes; Mrs McMillan for European history in Ihe Lower Sixth: Mrs A G. Belts. Sen., for excellence in botany: Mrs IVioynihan for elocution: Dr. Wash bourn for drawing: Mr F, V Knapp for original anthology work and for excellence in commercial work: Mr Frank Hamilton for a special anthology prize: the International Service Committee of the Nelson Rotary Club for an essay prize; an anonymous donor for our "Good Fellowship” prize, and others who wish to remain anonymous for prizes for progress, for junior prepared speech, for "Adventure in Geographic Research.” and for special award to the Head Prefect. For sport trophies we have to thank Messrs Hounsell and Co Lid... and both Mr and Mrs Milner, and an anonymous donor for miniature cups lor tennis. To Miss Irene Wilson. M.A.. Miss Rhodes. Miss Nevin. Mr Alan Mulgan. Mr F. G Gibbs, and to Mr C. R Fell we also owe our thanks for judging work for special prizes. In addition we have to thank Mrs Childs for the gift of a school flag: Miss Paisley, Mrs! Legge. and Mrs Aircy for generous contributions lo the wardrobe of the Dramatic Club: Mr H. S. Gipp.s lor his! poem written in aid of Ihe swimming baths fund: Miss Jocelyn Fielder for Ihe gift of a beautiful cup for the! itmior swimming championship; the 1 Misses Headier Ingram and Helen Rudd! for a splendid challenge cup for exeellencc in sport, and many friends. Old Girls and others for gifts of books for Ihe library. I should here like lo express on nun very sincere gratitude to the Council J ol Governors for their quiet, sympa-*

tlictic interest in all our work: to the secretary for the capable mannar in which lie helps us lo overcome our difficulties; again to the members of my stalf, whose cheerful helpfulness and loyal support in a difficult year has been appreciated more than I can say; and also to the prefects, house captains and senior girls, whose quiet help in every phase ol school life, has not passed unnoticed. In conclusion, I wish to say to the parents and guardians ol our girls that I can find no words to express adequately my appreciation of the splendid way in which they have so generously responded to our appeals for their co-operation and support throughout the year -for their helpfulness in our social services, for their hospitality to visiting teams, for their gifts of beautiful flowers lor special occasions, and again for their amazing generosity, which contributed largely to the success of our Garden Party I hope, in luture, that there may be opportunities for even closer ro-opcralion between the parents of our girls and the school. They will, I am sure, agree, as I do, with a leading English educationist who says that the business ol a school is to set its young people "in a good environment physical, intellectual, and spiritual, to help them within that environment to learn to think for themselves. to exercise choice, to work without advertisement and without fuss, to see and hear and feel and do and make things, using the abilities with which they are naturally equipped, and to help them to do these things with others in a community life, finding their own personality through contact \yilh other personalities.” It should be our mutual aim to train and develop in our girls the love of beauty goodness and truth, fur then only can they create around them "an atmosphere ot Peace and Serenity and an abiding Sense of the Eternal Values.” J. STEWART, Principal. December. 1937.