ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1930, Page 10

ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL

PREPARATION FOR HOLIDAYS REPORT TO STRATFORD MEETING The fact that there were ten new enrolments at the Stratford School this month was mentioned, by the headmaster (Mr. L. J. Furrie) in' his report to the school committee last night. With the exception of one pupil from Tututawa, all these children had not previously attended school. The roll numbered 584 with an average last week of 549.0. The highest attendance during the month was 571. Mr. Furrie stated the school would close as usual for people’s day at the Stratford show on Thursday, but any pupils absent-without exemption on the first day of the show would be liable to the penalties of the Attendance Act. The school had responded well in supporting the A. and P. Association and the collection of work from the different classes reflected credit upon the school. 1 ' , Mr. Morrison was at present absent owing to the illness of his father at Christchurch. Miss Douglas would leave on transfer to New Plymouth at the end of the term. During the month the board’s attendance officer had visited the school to inquire into some cases of irregular attendance.

Owing to the inclement weather the •baths had not yet been opened for school swimming, and the report recorded that this' year would be the latest opening for some years, . The annual proficiency examinations would be held on December 2 at the school and all candidates not exempted on the result of their year’s work would be required to present themselves for the examination. Meanwhile, final term examinations were being conducted throughout the school, upon the result of which, together with previous examin .tiohs, and the standard work generally maintained throughout the year, promotions would be made. Every case was considered upon its merits and if any pupil was not advanced, the parents could rest assured that it was in the interests of the child. Weakness in one class, unless through illness, was generally more seriously reflected in fae next class. . The hnnual appeal for the infants break-up function when Father Christmas would pay his visit would shortly be made and it was hoped that ‘the response, would be as generous as it had been in past years. . . . The school would break up on Friday, December 19, and it was important that the pupils should attend regularly till the last day as the Education Board ■had under consideration the case of certain parents who took their children away for holidays, before the due date. Court proceedings followed owing to the grounds not being sufficient for exemption.

The visiting committee reported that a new fence had been erected part-way round the destructor yard but six sheets of iron were needed to complete the work. The north wall of the cocoa shed leaked in wet weather and needed attention. .

The necessary iron will be procured and the shed repairs will be referred to the Education Board.

The annual school picnic will be held on February 12,- a sub-committee consisting of Messrs A. E. Moss, A. Fergusson and the chairman, Mr. W. Hoskin, being appointed to arrange the details. It was suggested that the picnic might be held at the East End beach instead of Ngamotu.

KING’S THEATE PROGRAMME. "THE SKY HAWK.” . “The Sky Hawk,” Fox Movietone romance of a world flight, opens to-day at the King’s Theatre. Throughout its story is a love struggle between two men for the same girl, handled humanly, with adroit twists 'while the stirringly tempestuous life about them envelops all three in many hazardous situations. “The Sky Hawk” is totally unlike any previous aviation film, talking or silent —and is entertainingly distinctive. Spectacular scenes of London streets and cafes during the hectic gaiety of war time and in the panic of a Zeppelin raid —scenes never before produced on such a tremendous scale—carry the story on to the dramatic suspense of the young flyer’s unexpected departure for France. Compelled by circumstances, 1 the aviator 'breaks the rules for a final meeting with his sweetheart, crashes his plane on returning and finds he is paralysed. The poignant appeal of his renunciation when he com,pels the girl to break off the engagement, his painful efforts to rebuild an old condemned plane, the girl’s franctic race to intercept him on learning of his intentions, the heartrending scene between them as the boy takes off to battle the menacing Zeppelin, the thrilling duel above London, amid bursting shells and searchlight beams, the gripping climax and surprising ending—these made “The Sky Hawk” truly one of the most unusual pictures ever filmed. Brilliant. John Garrick, the young British flyer-actor, hailed as the talking screen’s newest find, and Helen Chandler, have the leading roles. THE CHINESE GIANT. Visitors to the Stratford show this year will have the opportunity of seeing Li Fens Shan, the Chinese giant. This mammoth Chinese was imported to ..Australia some months ago by he well-known Ausralan showman F. Q. Mane, who has him under contract for 12 months. He is 33 years of age, stands close on 9ft. high, and weighs 30 stone. When on exhibition he wears, magnificent hand-worked Oriental costumes which cost many pounds in his own country. Li Feng Shan is an attraction out of the ordinary and visitors to the show should not miss the opportunity .of seeing him.

The sum of 29b. was collected in pence at the Stratford school for the radio appeal for the Porirua mental hospital. This sum has been forward to Mr. L. 0. Hooker, Hawcra, who organised the appeal.