South School.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6871, 22 April 1897, Page 1

South School.

The following is the report of the Committee to be presented to the annual meeting of householders, to be held on Monday evening next : Your Committee have much pleasure in presenting the annual report and balancesheet. As in former years, no entertainments were given by the school children last year. Contributions amounting to Lll 19s Id were raised for the prize-fund, by the Committee and children. The Committee desire to express their hearty thanks to those who so willingly subscribed to the prize-fund. The Education Board supplied the school stationery for the past year, thus saving the necessity of asking the parents to contribute towards this object. Mr Creagh, the chairman, as usual, provided the dux medals. Seven of the quarterly medals were won right out last year. The prizes, as in former years, were chiefly given for good attendance, and the Committee are of opinion that this system is an excellent one, as each year shows an increase in the number of prize-winners ; prizes giren on this system evidently being an incentive to good, steady work. The roll number and average attendance for the quarter ending 31st March, compared with that of last year, are as follows 1896. 1897. Roll number 466 483 Average attendance,.. 423 445 It will be seen that there is an increase of 17 pupils on the school books, while there is an increase of 22 in attendance. Jane Turner, a pupil who passed the fifth standard last year, was one of the successful candidates at the Education Board's junior scholarship examination. Great credit is due to Mr MTonald for preparing this candidate for the examination. Class X was highly commended for its work at the Inspector's examination. Four, out of the five presented for the junior Civil Service examination, were successful in passing; one being eighth on the list for New Zealand, and second for Otago. The three pupil teachers passed their annual examination with great credit, two of them gaining partial D (teachers' certificates), and the other a partial E, all three only failing to gain full certificates by a point or two in the same subject, viz., " School Management." Tbe result of the annual examination of the school was highly satisfactory, showing that the standard of excellence which the school has held is still maintained. The only change in the teaching staff was Miss West's retirement, her term of pnpilteachership having expired. She is now attending the Dunedin Training College. The Committee wish to place ou record their appreciation of the able manner in which she discharged her duties. The Education Board appointed Mr G. W. Cockroft to fill the vacancy caused by Mias West's retirement. The Committee are glad to report that the school grounds are in very fair order, several improvements having been made during the year. The Education Board's quavterly subsidies have recently been augmented; consequently the Committee have extended powers to improve the general comfort of the children. Twelve regular meetings of the Committee were held during the year. The following list will show the attendance of members T. Williamson 12, D. Brown 12, O. H. Pinel 10, J. Reid 10, W. Gibb 10, M. J. Murray 10, W. Singleton 9, A. G. Creagh 8, R. Hamilton 4. Your Committee in retiring, wish to recommend to the incoming Committee the absolute necessity of providing a building which can be utilised as a gymnasium hall and as a hall for the general assembling of the.pupils. To obtain this object, both time and money must be liberally expended. It is to be hoped that the hall will be built before the presentation of next year's report. Your Committee again wish to place on record their appreciation of the exertions of the headmaster and teaching staff during the year. It is gratifying to note that there have been no complaints from parents during the year.