WEST END SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1930, Page 11

WEST END SCHOOL

. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. SCOUT OFFICIALS CONFER.- : • The West End school committee met on Thursday evening, Mr. C. 0. Berg presiding. There were also present Messrs. F. Parker, C. McLeod, G. McIsaac, F. Brunton and H. J. Abram (hon. secretary). The headmaster’s report stated that' the number on the roll was 453, the average attendance 427.5 and the percentage 4)4.3. • The school'- was -visited by Miss Muir, a departmental--'-inspector - from Wellington, who spent two days in the special school. She expressed appreciation of the work done by this section of the school. Mr. MeKay, successor to Mr. Ridling, spent two days at the school. He expressed pleasure both with the work found in the schoolroom and the work done by the committee in the general laying out of the grounds. Miss Robertson, who has been absent owing to illness, hoped to resume-'work on''Monday. : The attention of the- parents should be drawn to the fact that irregularity of attendance, even in, the lower standards, was to be deprecated, especially in the third . term of the year, stated the headmaster. The percentage of attendance in the primers was 84.5; Miss Rail, the probationer, succeeded in completing the “D” examination. ' The sitting mats requisitioned for the primers had'come to hand and were in use.

The secretary read the balance-sheet of the recent -fancy-dress ball, and a satisfactory profit was added to the ground fund. / The chairman expressed the committee’s appreciation to the headmaster and teaching staff, also to the ladies’ committee, who all helped to make the annual ball such a success. .

The committee passed a vote of condolence with Mr. 0. H. Fox and family in their bereavement. Their loss would be felt by the committee, as the late Mrs. Fox ' had done great service .in social school activities, especially during the carnivals.

A vote of sympathy with Mr. T. Parsons was passed, and hopes for his quick recovery from his accident were expressed. The visiting committee reported on their visit, and a few repairs were authorised. The cricket pitch needed attention. The committee decided to go fully into details of this at a later date. It was agreed that some scheme would have to be brought forward to increase the growth 0? grass on the lower ground. The chairman said at the moment any scheme would be negatived by finance. The headmaster outlined a plan to divide the ground into four parts and treat one part at a'time. Discussion was left over.

Messrs. F. Parker and C. O. Berg were appointed a visiting committee for the ensuing month. Prior to the school committee meeting Miss Mynott, Mesdames Charters, Malcolm, Macdonald, Scoutmaster Black and Assistant-Scoutmaster Hedges sat in conjunction with them. Miss Fowles, cubmistress, reported: — Since taking over the Wolf Cub pack on September 15 regular meetings have been held on Mondays. The attendance has been very good and the boys are very keen. The following badges have been obtained by various cubs: Service stars 6, first aid 2, guide 3, collector 2, house orderly 1, tenderpad 9. Regular visits have been paid by members of the ladies’ committee. Scoutmaster Black, in a verbal report, said they were having regular attendances, averaging 20 to 24 out of 26. Two new boys had joined. He applied for six service stars, six second-class badges and six tenderfoot badges. He was authorised to procure them. There had been a surprise visit from Major Sandford, who’ put the Scouts through their field ambulance work. District Scoutmaster Hopkins also paid a visit and gave a series of instructions. The troop was parading well in uniform. Mesdames Macdonald and .Malcolm were appointed visiting committee for the cubs for the ensuing month, and Messrs. Parker, Mclsaac, Brunton and McLeod for the Scouts. Mr. C. McLeod donated a medal and it. was loft do Scoutmasters Black and Hodges to decide its allocation and report at next meeting.