MOTUROA SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 9

MOTUROA SCHOOL

RETIREMENT OF HEADMASTER. FAREWELL AND PRESENTATION. On the occasion of his severence with the Moturoa School and retirement on superannuation, the headmaster, Mr. A. V. Sims, was last night tendered a farewell social at the school, when there was a large attendance of the residents of Moturoa. During the evening the opportunity was taken to present Mr. Sims with a handsome bowling bag. As chairman of the school committee, Mr. L. G. Parkinson said that the residents of Moturoa would no doubt all feel that they were about to sustain a great loss upon the departure of Mr. Sims. They had had a hard row to hoe at Moturoa, but the manner in which the school had been managed was a great credit to the staff. Two other teachers about to leave, Miss E. W. Smith, a probation, who is going to attend the Auckland Training College, and Mr. G. J. Hall, probationary assistant, were also the recipients of presentations, the former of a handbag and the latter of a pair of military hairbrushes. fa making the presentations Mr. Parkinson spoke of the valuable work of Miss Smith, who was very popular with the children, - and Mr. Hall, who was a firstclass athlete and had assisted the boys in their football and cricket. All the boys were sorry to lose him. Mr. Sims, in reply, said he wanted to thank them from the bottom of his heart for their handsome presentation which he was pleased to accept as a token of their goodwill towards him. The school committee at Moturoa would take a lot of beating and had done splendid work. A playing ground was being formed which would eventually become second to none in Taranaki. If there had been any success in the school work it had been largely due to the efforts of his assistants. They had been a very happy family, and he was sorry to leave them, but hoped to see them again before very long. Miss Smith had in every way earned the esteem of the children, while Mr. Hall had done fine work both in and out of school. Sport had been made an important factor of school work, and quite rightly, for many lessons were learned on the playingfields. Although the teams had not met with much success, they had learned to play the game for its own sake. Several musical items were given during the evening and supper was served by the ladies. The function was brought to a close by the singing of "For They are Jolly Good Fellows” and cheers for the departing teachers. PRESENTATION FROM PUPILS. During the afternoon Mr. Sims, Miss Smith and Mr. Hail received presentations from the pupils and teachers of the school. Mr. Sims received a Titian bowl, presented by a senior boy, Trevor Carr, Miss Smith, a silver serviette ring, and Mr. Hall, a pipe. Certificates were presented to the pupils as follows: Good attendance: Dawn Pulford, Rata Pulford, Lois Pulford, Claud Fulford, Robert Moore, 'Sydney Mackay and Henry McDowell. The number was smaller than usual owing to several minor epidemics. Proficiency certificates: Rata Pulford, Stanley Wellington, Trevor Carr, Ivan Parkinson, and Allan Holmes. Competency certificate: Eric Looney. A Christmas Tree was provided for the infants, decked with articles made by Standard 111. and IV. pupils.