Te Aroha School Committee.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4403, 27 April 1909, Page 3

Te Aroha School Committee.

ANNUAL REPORT. Thk annual report for the year ending 31sb March, 1909, was as follows : Ladies and Gentlemen, —In presenting to the householders the annuil report for the year ending 31st March, 1909, the Committee has great pleasure in being able to assure them that in spite of the many serious difficulties to be overcome substantial progress has been made. The balance shows that the School Fund is in a satisfactory condition, improvements have been made in the material appliances of the school, and the reports of the Inspectors to whom the house holders must look for expert opinions bear testimony to the efficiency of the teaching staff.

School Funds

The receipts for the year were : £BS 13s Id, and the expenditure £76 13s sd, leaving a credit balance of £8 19s Bd. After the audit of the balance was completed accounts amounting to £8 7s sd, which were tendered too late for inclusion among those submitted to the auditor, were paid. The actual balance then, at 31st March, was 12s 3d As usual the heaviest item of expenditure is that for school cleaning. The amount, in the present instance is £2B 15s. equal to about 14s 4d per week, of the time during which a cleaner has been employed. For two or three weeks the work was done by volunteers from among the pupils. In the present condition of the labour market it is by no means easy lo obtain the services of persons who will undertake this class' of work with the intention of doing it conscientiously. Another item that may be referred to is that of £l7 2s 9d, which was expended in the purchase of boobs for the school library. This sum was drawn from the School Improvement Fund, and was sub* sidised by the Board of Education to the amount of £lO. Thus books to the value of £27 2s 9d were added to the Library which now contains a really good collection.

—School Staff—

Several changes in the staff have occured during the year, Miss Eay, the teacher in charge of the preparatory department, resigned on account of ill health and her place was taken by Miss Fawcett who has been in charge of Standard I and JI. The vacancy caused by Miss Fawcett’s promotion w*s filled by the appointment of her sister Miss Elizabeth Fawcett. During the absence of Mr Scott, who was admitted for a year to the Teach' r’s Training College, Auckland, his duties were discharged by Mr Binsted. Miss McLean acted as relieving teacher for some weeks between the retirement of Miss Eay and the appoint' ment cf her successor.

—School Statistics

The Committee iB glad to be able to report an increase both in the roll number and the average attendance. The average roll number in the Primary Department for the year ending 31st March, 1908 was 215. and for the year ending 31st Msrch, 1909, was 226, an increase of 11. The av. rage attendance for the respective periods was 173 and 188, an increase of 15. In the case of the Secondary Department, the average roT for the year ending 31st Match, 1909 was 21 and the average attendance 19. The total average attendance of the two departments for the year ending 31st Msrch, 1909, was 207. The combined average is used in determining the grade of the school, which in consequence cf the number passing, 200, hits advanced a step. —Prizes— The amount expended on school priz.s was £6 6s. This item does not appear on the balance-sheet, as it was paid privately. For some years past it has been customary for Mr Gilchrist to defray half the cost of the prizes, the Committee and headteacher paying the other half. On this occasion Miss Robertson also contributed to the prize fund. —School Garden— During the year a good deal of energy has bten expended by the headteacher and a number of pupils in cultivatiug a school garden, and an exceedingly attractive display of flowers has rewarded them. The headteacher has privately expended several pounds in the purchase of flowering plants and in the donation of prizes lo the most deserving of the juvenile gardeners Mr Dalton kindly visited the school garden for the purpose of judging the children’s plots —Children’s Horticultural and Industrial

Society—

At a meeting recently held in the school a Society having this name was formed with the purpose of encouraging children to indulge in horticulture and other occupations in their spare time. It is the intention of the Society to hold an exhibition next December, and the committee heartily recommends the householders to give it their support.

—School Picnic—

The school picnic was held in Mr G. Lipsey’s paddock on the Bth of April. Tbe weather was perfect and. the young people spent a most enjoyable day. The sum of £l7 lls 3d was received in voluntary contributions, and the expenses amounted to £l2 6s, tbe balance £5 5s 3d was ÜBed as a prize fund for children’s sports-

School Grounds, Etc.—

The asphalting around the school has lately beep renovated. The Committee is now in treaty with the Education Board, with a view of having the old post and rail fence replaced by a more modern structure.

The reports leceived during the year show that the bchool is in a high state of efficiency. An examination was conducted by Inspector Grierson on the 16fch and 17th September 1908, and he reported as follows :—Compulsory subjects highly satisfactory, much of the work was of good quality. Additional subjects very satisfactory. Inspection of Class P, generally very satisfactory, order discipline and tone of the school, very good; efficiency of the school, highly satisfactory. The Chief Inspector, Mr Petrie, says of the Secondary Department, “ The teaching was intelligent and carefully impressed. Altogether the Department is doing very satisfactory school on the 17th February. 1909, says, “ The schemes of work are well drawn up, the quality and method of instruction are generally good. The order, discipline, ana tone of the school are very satisfactory.” For years past Inspector after. Inspector has reported that the order, discipline, and tone of the school are good, and the Committee has absolute confidence, derived not merely from these reports but also from personal observations, that the influence brought to bear on the pupils of the Te Aroha

District High School by the teaching staff is of a high moral quality. Bigued|on behalf c f the District High School Committee. Geofoe Sherlook, Hon. Secretary. —Balance-Sheet— The following is an abstract of the School fund account for the year ending March 31st, 1909: —

—Receipts— £ s. d To balance in bank and in hand on 31st March, 1908 7 16 10 Receipts from Education Board (1.) Grants for ordinary incidental purposes .. 47 6 0 Yearly average.. .. 5 12 6 (2.) Grants for special purposes, Fumigating School 1 4 0 Dividing Curtains High School and Damage by Gale .. 4 16 0 Voluntary Contributions— ft.) For general purposes (2.) For Special purposes 1 0 17 2 0 9 School Library Prize Books 15 0 Total 85 13 1 —Expenditure — £ 8. d Cleaning schools and outbuildings .. 28 15 0 Fuel for School Use Repairs to buildings, fences, 4 1 0 and furniture 3 15 0 Fixing Curtain, High School 17 0 Damage by Gal8 1 17 6 Curtain for High School 2 1 6 Fumigating School .. 1 4 0 Printing 1 17 6 Advertising 16 6 School Stationery 4 15 11 Stamps, Telegrams, Petty Cash Cheque Book and Bank 10 0 Charges .. 12 0 Electric Light Installation .. 5 15 0 Cartage and Freight . 7 1 Prize Books .. 15 0 Fixing Garden Water School Library 1 10 17 2 8 9 Balance.. 8 19 8 Total 85 13 1