MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 2 March 1939, Page 8

MOTUEKA

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING ADDITION A h ACCOMMODATION I From Our Own C rriwnun-lrntl At the monthly meeting of the Motueka District High School, held ; last evening, there were present Messrs A. L. Vickcrman (chairman), E. A. Jackson, A. Weir, R. L. Freeman, G. M. Smith. IL R. Murray, YV. M. Thomas and Mrs G. James. MR THOMAS WELCOMED In extending a hearty welcome to Mr YV. M. Thomas, who has been elected to fill the vacancy on the committee* created by the resignation of Mr F. D. Oxley, the chairman, expressed the hope that he would find the meetings interesting. Mr Thomas said he had always taken great interest in school matters, and regarded it an honour to have been elected a member of the Motueka School Committee. He would give o£ his best to further the interests of the school and of the pupils. CORRESPONDENCE Miss M. J .Tcmpero in forwarding her resignation as infant mistress of the Motueka District High School stated ! that she had been appointed to a similar position at the Geraldine District High School, and that the resignation take effect as from 21st May. The chairman said that Miss Tempcro had proved a most efficient and capable teacher, and he was sorry she was leaving. It was resolved (Mr G. M. Smith and Mrs G. James), that Miss Tempero's resignation be accepted with regret, and that appreciation of her services be placed on record. The Secretary, Nelson Education Board, advised that the Board had authorised the erection of a partition in one of the classrooms in the brick building. The writer stated that the Board’s architect had been asked to confer with Mr D. Kelly, and to arrange for the work to be put in hand at an early date. In regard to the further accommodation required, the secretary asked the j committee to confer with the Masonic | Hall Trustees, and to ascertain whether I a suitable room could be rented from them. If this was possible the Committee was requested to furnish particulars regarding the dimensions o£ the room to be made available, and the rental to be charged per week. Accounts amounting to £2B 7s were presented and passed for payment. Three tenders for the supply of 12 cords firewood were considered, and it was decided, on the motion of Messrs W. M. Thomas and G. M. Smith that Mr W. Starnes’ tender of £2 5s per cord be accepted.

HEADMASTER’S REPORT The headmaster, Mr Vryn Evans, presented the following report on the work of the school during the period Ist February to Ist March: — The numbers at the present time stand at 385 made up as follows: Main school 272, Hau School 23, High School 90. It is to be regretted that the number at the High School is not one more as in that case we should be entitled to another assistant. Every effort was made to secure that one extra pupil but without success. It is with sincere regret that I have to report the resignation of Miss H. W. Valentine, part-time instructress in shorthand and type-writing. Her work in this department has .been most thorough and most successful and in the short time she has been in charge of these subjects the pupils have made great strides. Mrs W. M. Thomas had very kindly consented to take over Miss Valentine’s classes in the meantime. No permanent appointment has yet been made to Hau, and, to avoid undue staff changes, arrangements have been made to retain Miss Tempero till the end of the term. Miss Bradley has now returned. Partition in Room 3.—Thanks to the good offices of Messrs Hamilton and Carling, Room 3 has been sub-divided by a partition. This will enable a little more privacy for Standard? 1 and 2, and later, when the brick building is used as the High School the larger room can be used as the Form 5 room, while the smaller room will make an admirable library for private study or for taking a section of a class for some special lesson. YVindows have been so placed that a teacher working in one half of the room can supervise pupils studying in the future library. Accommodation. —The school is still short of accommodation, ami the proposal of the Board i.e., that the Masonic Hall should be rented as an additional classroom meets with my aproval as a temporary expedient. In this way one very serious case of double-banking can be avoided. February Programme.—During the past month particular attention has been paid to the physical side of our work. The school took in the “Fitness Week” demonstration on 25th February and attended at the beach on the 21st to receive instruction in swimming from the special swimming coaches who so kindly came from Nelson to assist us in this very important work. A class in life-saving is at present being conducted after school by Mr Lew Lewis. Many lessons have been taken out of doors and nature rambles to Brooklyn Reserve and Fearon’s Bush have been undertaken by different classes. Additional Piano.—l should be grateful if the committee can see its way clear to provide an additional piano for the standard classes. There is one piano in the school, but that is in the infant room and it is almost impossible to arrange for the room to be empty at the time when the standards are wanting the use of the piano. The school is quite prepared to do its share in the way of raising the necessary funds, but this will take time. Two propositions will be placed before you for your consideration. Visit of Mr Paul Schramm.—Arrangements have been made for a visit from Mr Paul Schramm, the celebrated pianist on Monday, 6th March. Mr Schramm will give a special recital for the children in the afternoon, and will explain his work. From reports of Mr Schramm’s recitals in other centres, the children will have a rare opportunity

of hearing not only a first rate artist, but one who has a special appeal to children. Mr Schramm has agreed to give a recital for adults in the evening.