A DIFFICULT YEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1924, Page 10

A DIFFICULT YEAR.

WESTOWN SIDE SCHOOL. BETTER CON’DITIOyS PROMISED. ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. The annual prize giving ceremony in connection with the Westown School, (side school of Frankley) took place in the Westown Hall yesterday afternoon, when there was a large attendance of parents. In the absence of Mr. F. A. Lee (chairman of the FrankLey committee), from whom an apol .gy was received, Air. T. Thomas, relieving master at Frankley, presided, and -there were also present Airs. F. A. Lee, Air. A. V. Sims (headmaster of the school), Aliss E. Warren, assistant in charge of the side school, and Aliss Papps.

In his opening remarks Air. Thomas expressed pleasure at seeing such a large attendance of parents at the breaking up ceremony, which, he said, was particularly pleasing to the children on account of the prospect of 'the holidays" and of the prize-giving. There was, moreover, the satisfaction of looking back on a year of work well done. He expressed pleasure at seeing present Air. A. V, Sims, who was now well on the road to recovery and .would be able to take up his work with vigour next year. The children then gave the following programme of items, Aliss Papps acting as accompanist;—-Opening song, “Sound and 'Colour,” chorus; Recitation, “Torch of Life,’’ Loris Kahui; dialogue, ■‘Neighbours.’’ Jean Ayson and Peter Gredig; recitation. “Fifty Alerry Little Birds,” Dorothy Morrison-, song, “Pelorus Jack,” Loris Kahui and chorus; recitation, “The | Discontented Apples,” Wilfred Anstis; recitation, “The Elf and the Dormouse,” Bertie Oliver; recitation, “A Little Dutchman,” Newton Cowling; song, “In a Conae,” Frank Jollie and chorus; recitation, “Little King Pippin,” Boyne Coutts; recitation, “Limitations of Youth,” Willie Geddes; song, “Dulcie and'the Aloa.” Nita Garcia; recitation, “The North Wind,” Vera Cowling; part song, "Water Lilies,” by the girls; and the National Anthem.

The three soloists were the recipients of presentations, the girls of bouquets and the boy of a box of chocolates.

The chairman said the entertainment reflected grejit credit on the ability of the children and the training they had received from the teachers, who had worked under great difficulties. Despite this, the standard of work at the school had been particularly good. Ho congratulated the district on the fact that very soon they would -possess a modern and most up-to-date school, in striking contrast with the present unsatisfactory conditions. REPORT ON YEAR’S WORK. Aliss Warren then read the annual report, as follows“We have once more co-me to the close of a successful year. The school year reopened on February 5, and MUs S. E. Papps, who was appointed to take the place of Aliss Alouat, commenced her duties on that date. At the beginning there was a roll number of 61. ■ The number of the roll has steadily increased and hav now reached

“Although successful, the work has been hampered throughout the year by the ever-increasing difficulties occasioned by the temporary conditions of this building. in the first place, we were confronted with new and greater handicaps, for in addition to the over-crowd-ing, and the unsuitability of using a public hall as a school, we had to contend with the very distracting noise pf the carpenters, who weie then waking additions to this part of the hall. It will be admitted that, even in ordmary ' times, the work with two sets of classes, being carried on in one room, both teacher and child have to work at cross purposes, is exceedingly difficult, and of course tire incessant hammering of the carpenters greatly aggravated matters. Then again the collapsing of the framework of the new pa-t of the building, due to the neavy gale of March 13 and 14, rendered the, school unsafe for occupation on those days. These ever-increasing <iiflieul:.i«?s went on till June 4. Six days after this, on .lune 10, the school was visited by the inspector (Air. Griffin), who, in a feeling manner, sympathised with us in the difficulties we had experienced.

“Through the efforts of the women teachers in this district, a series of rounder and basketball mafches was organised throughout the winter term. The partaking in matches played against competing schools not only fostered a greater interest in the games themselves, but also proved beneficial to the children both socially and morally. On September 15 Mr. Griffin paid the annual visit to the school, and .n his report expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the work of the school had been carried out.

“I would like to <pay a cr'bute to the medical and dental officer?, who have visited the school on several occasions during the year. That both these officers, are rendering valuable service can be easily seen by the comparative absence of what were formerly common defects among children, an 1 also of the splendid physique of the children today, as compared with wiiat it evas before the work of these officers began.

“Although the work of the school year has been strenuous for both pupils and teachers, it has not passed without the many happy relationships of school life. 1 desire to thank the .committee, parents and friends for their hearty co-operation throughout the year, and with the prospect of the new sehool being opened early next year 1 earnestly express the hope that happier times will be in store for us under tlie new, and very much improved conditions, and that still more activities will then be able to be fostered.” At the conclusion of the report three cheers were given for Aliss Warren. GRATITUDE OF PARENTS. In the a-bsence of any n.em'ber of the committee, Mr. J. Garcia, on behalf of the parents, congratulated Aliss Warren on the splendid work that had been achieved under such difficult conditions, remarking that the grounding they received at Westown was such that when they graduated to other schools -they more than held their own with the pupils of those schools. He considered the district was fortunate in possessing an infant mistress of the type of Aliss Warren, and expressed the hope that both Aliss Warren and Air. Sims, the headmaster at Frankley Road, would, be transferred to the new school, where they -could carry on their good work under more favourable conditions than had been possible during the past seven years. H© also referred to the con-

troversy on prize-giving that had taken place, urging parents to attend the annual meetings of householders, when the various asjrcts of the caae would be put before them for their decision. Mr. Sims also briefly addressed the gathering, thanking them for their good wishes. THE PRIZE LIST. The prizes were then distributed by Airs. F. A. Lee every child receiving a book. The awards were as follows: Standard lll.—Loris Kahui 1 and dux, Irene Aledway 2, Sybil Holder 3, Nita Garcia 4, Alaitland Morrison 5. (Standard II: —Eric Hooke 1, Bertie Oliver 2, Wilfred Anstis 3, Vera Cowling 4, Allen Ewart 5. Sta’ndard I (upper). —Kathleen Haylock 1, Brian Newing 2, Connie Eva 3. Standard I (lower). —Guy Heppell 1, Arthur Lander 2, Dolly Morrison and Alolly Gredig equal 3, Betty Garcia 5. Primer lll.—Doreen Belcher 1. lan Toms 2, Margery Putt 3, Alavia Kahui 4, Lennie Squire 5. Primer II. —Ena Epping 1, Boyne Coutts 2, Peter Gredig 3, Hazel Revel 4, Ethel Baker 5.

Primer I. —Reggie Green J. Jimmie Garcia 2, Ernie Squire 3, Bruce Robb 4, Gladys Jury 5.

Sewing prizes.—Standard 111. Muriel Duncan; standard 11. Vera Cowling; "standard I, Bettv Garcia.

Attendance prizes. Sybil Holder, Phyllis Revell. Alolly Gredig, Wilfred Anstis, Guy He'ppell and Peter Gredig. A number erf good attendance certificates were also given. Special prize for greatest progress.— Wilfred Anstis.

At the conclusion cheers were given for Airs. Lee, Mr. Thomas and Air. Sims.

Afternoon tea. provided .by the ladies of the district, was then dispensed, bringing to a close a most enjoyable afternoon.