WAITAKI GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22755, 16 December 1935, Page 6

WAITAKI GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

Amid exceptionally beautiful surroundings, the Waitaki Girls’ High School occupies an extensive range of picturesque stone buildings at the north end ot Thames street, Oamaru, and this school, opened in 1887, holds a particularly fane record of educational service. The accommodation includes spacious, airy, and well-lighted classrooms, modern, up-tomate science laboratories, _ domestic science kitchen, and dressmaking and art departments. The arrangements for heating and ventilation are in accordance with the most modern requirements. The school grounds are extensive and very attractively laid out, being planned suitably for basketball, tennis, and organised games. There is a large, t wellequipped gymnasium for indoor drill and games, and the stage equipment allows dramatic and musical works to be faithfully presented. In close proximity to the school is a park of five acres, which can be used at any time by the school. A particularly fine asset is the swimming baths, which are 33 1-3 yards long and 25 yards wide. Much attention is paid to swimming, and every encouragement and assistance is given in teaching the girls to swim. The main object of the education provided is the preparation of girls for an intelligent and well-ordered home life or for a University course and the various professions open to women. The subjects which may be studied are English, French, Latin, arithmetic, mathematics, -.home science, chemistry, physiology, and hygiene, botany, history, geography, penmanship, commercial ' correspondence and shorthand, bookkeeping, typewriting, office routine, needlework, cookery, and other domestic subjects, art, singing,.and physical training. The Junior High School, as the name implies, is intermediate between the primary and the secondary school. It admits pupils who have passed Standard IV. The aim is to discover as early as possible each pupil’s aptitude,, so that she may enter upon the course of study most profitable for her. Well-organised courses in manual training subjects are provided. (Continued next column.)

Subjects such as Trench, geometry, and algebra, which are usually begun later, have a definite place in the curriculum, with the result that pupils who are preparing for an academic course make much better progress when they enter the Senior High School, to which pupils are admitted upon presentation of the proficiency or competency certificate.

The Waitaki High School Board of Governors has established a boarding department to accommodate about 40 boarders under its own control and the immediate personal supervision of the principal (Mies J. B. Wilson). The gardens are large and present a beautiful picture all the year round, while the adjoining school grounds provide ample spaces for recreational purposes. The open-air dormitories are an exceptionally fine asset, ensuring as they do the maximum amount of fresh air and sunshine. Facilities are provided for study and preparation of lessons and for music practice.