END OF HIGH SCHOOL YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1930, Page 5

END OF HIGH SCHOOL YEAR

GIRLS’ PRIZE-GIVING NIGHT OF WORK DURING YEAR. RREA KING-TIP ENTBR.TA INVENT. ; / : '?'■?' '/I . ? i. 1 -'■■ i . • The Assembly Hall of the New Ply- / mouth ßoys- High School was crowded for the breaking-up and c prize-giving ' /ceremony of the Girls’ High School last night. Bouquets were presented by the small/children -to' the Mayoress (Mrs. H, V.-S. Griffiths), Mrs. H. Billing, Mrs. , - C H. Burgess, Miss U. Douglas and Miss D. Allah (principal).- j . . j F After the girls had .’sung Gaudeamus, Mr. H.[ -R. : Billing, chairman of the Board. / of Governors, welcomed the parents. '’( • During the last year the board had had a quiet time in the work at the Girls’ High School, said Mr. Billing. Not- /' withstanding, the board’s shortage . of 2&;fußd great developinents had taken place at Scotlands and more were on the , eve of taking place. The board’s thanks ■. were due to Miss Allan, 1 ’ whose energy ‘‘i.’ had not slackened since site returned Hy" from Her trip to Europe. He had to acknowledge, too, the great assistance ■given the school last year and in previous years by Mrs. C. H. Burgess. Many others had assisted but Mrs. Burgess had

/ been outstanding. ’ . t The old girls had worked wonderfully ‘ well. They hoped soon to have more land at Scotlanda, mainly, through the - efforts of Miss'Allan, the old girls arid others .who had -helped. He. wished par? r ticularly to ‘refer to: the swimming baths, which would' be' under way next year and ■ bring Scotiands ■ and. the school to -the / forefront of schools in the Dominion. The ; girls' sang the school song and ; then Miss Allan read , her report on the work and aims of the school. After the school had sung “Golden Slumbers’’ and '.' the'“Viking Song,” Mrs. C. H. Burgess 3 • spoke briefly, to the girls. ■ '.. .... . . The giris could. not realise, said Mrs. J'?; Burgess, , the .wonderful opportunities they had in present-times at their school. Speaking from the long way back when '-><• she went to school, and after listening ft to Miss Allan’s report,, she realised how ri very different their outlooks would be c/’when they started life. There were some 'A of them who were leaving the kindly in-'s-fluence of their lady principal and her ,i excellent staff. But they were going out' ’to play the biggest ganyj—-of life. Strangely enough she had chosen as her first word about - life, the worth work, and Miss Allan had chosen it in her report too. Let. them’ worlc hards,whether ■’their work was public. or private, i whether it .was trivial or important, for the joy and satisfaction they would get ■ from it would-help very considerably 7 towards their happiness in life.: Let them pla.- the game in anything '.? they had* to. do. In. sport to-day it was 3;: difficult to play for the were /• so many .prizes.■ But • even if they lost ;; in they might win in 'the : next. ; More especially did she ask them to play, the game towards their mothers . ’ and fathers. Their parents, had perhaps /. a different? outlook but human nature ,/ was • the •sairie and the parents had their feelings.. Perhaps a little self-denial 'v.’+ 'might'ihelp their parents. She wished /. ’to thank the girls, on behalf of the Vic;i'. toria-League, for'the packings they had sent 5 for-the-gifts to the bapkblocks. / ' . The school prizes were distributed by - Mis. Griffit’s and Mrs. Billing and the /■ evening ended with an excellent'selection of items. With expression and fluency % the "school 'orchestra- played “Gavotte” ’£• from , Bach and Schubert’s “Moment cT Musical.” An amusing character study £ from Dickens was given by T. Slyfield. The school choir sang “Christmas Carol” j;.' and Peggy McLeod in a very true, sweet '■s voice sang “Londonderry Air.” Finally $ the' choir sang the amusing part song “The Goslings.” ' - AN’INTERESTING YEAR..’ ?. '■ . Because of the Hon. H. Atmore’s re-.

: <ort 1930 had-: been' a particularly .. in-; cerestinnr year educationally, said the principal v(Miss D. N. Allan) in her report; This was not the place to discuss the various. phases of: that report, but J whether, they agreed or disagreed with it they were united in the thought that it was good to knqw a searching inquiry was being made into the fundamentals of the education system, that those in authority were doing their best. • -til-give wise guidance, and*that, judging by the numbers of letters for and against the new : proposals the interest of* the public was aroused. “They are alive to what'is going on,” said Miss Allan. ■•‘And. where’ there is a ’living interest there will always be progress.” '■- 'dThis time last year, continued Miss / Allan, she was still in America, just ’ preparing to come back, to New Zealand after furlough. She thanked Miss. Maclean and Miss Jackson, who were in charge of the school and house during her absence. The examination results of last year proved how well Miss Maclean carried out her duties. Molly Allen and Shirley Roberts gained Taranaki scholarships, Irene Christoff el and Jean Tichbon passing with credit. Eleven girls were awarded higher leaving certificates; Thelma Slyfield gained •'.’\ 'a Senior National Scholarship, .and five < others qualified-for free places on the scholarship paper; 17 girls matriculatf edj’-li gained full or partial passes in . the D examination; 56 gained senior free places and .14 had their junior free place extended for a' third year. The improvement# in the grounds at Scotlands spoke eloquently of Miss Jack- . . son’s capacity for work and organising ' ability: ' 1 ■ ”, At the end of-the year the school lost the services of Mrs. Baker and Miss Finlayson. Just before school opened Miss Johnston was.appointed to the staff of the Wellington Girls’ College. The inspiration of her English teaching had been missed, but the school was fortunate in securing the services ..of Miss Duff, who had had wide experience in New Zealand and jn English schools, and of Miss Gillies, who came frbm Wellington Girls’ College. Miss Liken replaced Miss Finlayson as a teacher ■ ■ of home science; The preparatory department, formerly under the charge of Mrs. Stafford and Miss Brodie, was now under the control of Miss Sheat, a fully trained and well qualified teacher, under whom six of the eight standard six pupils - had obtained proficiency and two competency. It was asked sometimes why they had a preparatory department when there were excellent primary schools in the town. They felt that they had much to, give and much to i take from the preparatory. Those children who were with the school \ from babyhood absorbed the school-spirit and had its interests at heart more keenly than any other pupils, and. a# their number was small they obtained much more individual training than was possible in a huge class. They shared the specialised teachers in the upper school ~ for sport, drill and music. A . HELP OF OLD GIRLS. Miss Allan said the old girls were a source of pride to the school It was-., pleasing to hear of them doing weH'at the university colleges in New Zealand. Many this year, had kept terms and obtained a section of their degree, while Maisie Ewart completed

her M.Sc. Meg Thomson and Ellen Haycock hold the degree of M. 8., ch.B. ■■. ; .

Definite progress had been made in sport and the exercises leading to the physical development of the girls, said Miss Allan. Under the charge of Miss Taylor each girl received one period, .per .week of' formal physical training. Shields were awarded for form championships and a medal had been offered to the school drill champion. The competition for this was very keen. . Mr. Eggleton, who acted as judge, gave high praise to the standard of work -attained. In addition to the period of drill each girl in the-school had one period of organised games where attendance was compulsory and many others before and after school where attendance was. voluntary. The standard of play showed steady improvement. In basket ballneither the A team nor juniors suffered defea.t, so that the As won .the Taranaki • secondary schools’ championship, and the juniors held the Taranaki junior basketball cup. Thanks to the new courts at Scotlands it had been possible to organise tennis on sound lines. As the Herbeit Smith Trust had given four sports cups this year, two had been portioned tp tennis, one of which was awarded, for competition among players under 12 and one to players under 15. Form-matches in cricket had proved-very popular. In the past the weakest branch qf the sports had been swimming. ‘This year, owing very largely to the enthusiastic help of Miss Dowling, life-saving... instruction was given• the whole ; school. Mr. W. Brodie offered a cup for .competition in land drill, j lt was, however, a long way from the school to .the public baths, The school could use them on one afternoon a week only and .that afternoon might •be lost if- the. baths were being .white-washed or if the weather proved , unsatisfactory. /It spokq volumes for the keenness of b.oth staff and pupils that 40 gifls won bronze medallions or proficiency certificates and J- Charters, P. Lyall, D- Barnitt and ,M. Joyce, gajried.’ honorary instructors’ certificates. . ■' , Every o-.irl should, have the chance .to learn to swim, and that was why, even in these times .when they had to launch a campaign to provide baths;at the school,. Miss* Allan said she (varited to thank those who had made, it possible for the object )to be realised. ; • In this connection Miss- Allan mentioned the work of the Board of Governors,' the Hon f S. G. Smith and the staff./ 1

■ MUSIC AND ELQCUTION. " *• ■ -ft /- - ' . ; The elocution class under Miss Haddon’ learnt to speak beautifully yancl to enlarge their knowledge of English classics. Miss Dowling gave her -services one afternoon .in the week, and held a class , for young violinists. Older pupils had been taught by Miss Ross and Miss Coleman. . Singing classes had been hrld i-egularly by Miss ■ pillics, while the percussion band, the orchestra and the choir had been stimulated to excellent work by Miss Fearn. Miss Sheat’s prize for singers under 10 and Mrs.. Davie’s to members of the lower school showed how -i any girls were fortunate in possessing sweet .and , true singinc* voices. At the demonstration parents were able to judge how these .voices were .being trained. Mr.; R. L. Cooper acted as judge of the Ringing competition. . Once again they had to thank? Sister Corkill for coming to the school and arranging classes in home nursing. The 20 candidates examined all passed. Ruth Hall and Merle McCorkindale gained, first place with 89 per cent. Then there were the Guides under Miss Downes, the under Miss. Clark, and the Rangiriri Club under Miss Maclean<-All three gave training" in leadership; co-o.p< eration, self -expression arid. taught things • that were: pleasant, and*.-useful to know. Scotlands and the schoolwere so closely interwoven that they could not Ke separated. Day girls learned cooking and singing there and played on the courts, while . the ’ boarders shared in every department of school life. Under Miss Clark’s care , the home life-at Scotlands had run smoothly and happily. I " ' ,• . r Addressing the girls particularly, Miss Allan said: “To many of. you girls, tonight is your’last night as a pupil. Good-bye will always have a -sad ring.' We don’t want to lose you. ■ Set many' of you have worked well for your ’school, have brought it honour in public examinations, have helped as prefects and form captains to maintain discipline, encourage sport, to beautify the grounds. We would thank you for all that you have done even thought we know that you want no thanks, ’that you have found, as one always does, much joy in giving; From the time you came to it your school has tried to do you good. It looks now down the years, and sees life lying ahead of you and knows something of the storms and difficulties that lie ahead of you. It would .arm you if it could against all evil, cannot shield you longer, it can only say to you, ‘Keep a brave . heart " for courage matters, keep a gay heart for cheeririess will help you and others, a good heart for simple goodness, is the basis of all happiness and all success.’ ” The prizes were presented as follow:— THE PRIZE LIST. , -SPECIAL. Drawing (Miss Rolfe’s prizes).—Junior, Audrey Beavan; senior, Merle McCorkipdale. ,’■ ;.k-

Original Prose. —Senior, Jeanne Tichbon; junior, Dulcie Pepper. Original verse. —Senior, Jean -Charters; junior, Meta Mawhinney.

SOLO SINGING COMPETITION. Preparatory, under -10 (Miss Sheat’s prize).—Mary Bush 1, Cassie Price 2. Special.—Jessie Riding. Junior (Mrs. Davie’s prize).—Peggy McLeod. FORM PRIZES. Hid.—Yvonne Richmond (first English subjects, home science), Thelma Goodacre (first home science subjects), Lois Wooldridge (second -.English subjects), H-zel York (third English subjects). lllc.—Merle Wells (first English, geography, arithmetic, home science, book-

keeping), Molly Broome (first typing), Mary Rides (first history), Irene Bond (general excellence). Illb.—Margaret Menzies (first languages, third mathematics and science), Margaret Bush (first mathematics and science, third languages), Nancy Waters (second languages, mathematics and science), ■ Una Francis (general excel-

lence). Illa.—Doris Armit (first mathematics rind science, second languages), Molly l Walbran (first languages, third mathematics and science),’Suzette Allan (third languages, fifth • : mathematics and

■science), Mavis McKay (second ma.the.matics, fifth languages), Cora Anderson (general excellence). - IVd.—Margaret Wood (first English subjects, second home science subjects), I Merle McCorkindale (first home science subjects), Mary Cooper (second English -subjects)., ■ , ■;? ■ IVe,—Ruby Stewart (first languages, first commercial subjects), Joyce Barnitt (second commercial subjects), Vida

Street (third combined subjects), Marjorie Urry' (general excellence). IVb.—Edith Eddleston _ (first languages, mathematics and science), Florence Ruiriball (second languages, mathematics and science), Mary Fea ver (third languages, mathematics and science), Edna Bremer--(fourth combined subjects). IVa.—Dulcie Pepper (first languages, mathematics and science), Ailsa Brown,'ing (second mathematics and science, third languages), Mavis Freathy (second ’languages), Josephine Richardson/ (general excellence). . ‘ . Vb.'—Ga'y Neilson (first languages,;, science and arithmetic), Rjta Dobsqn

(first arithmetic and English, Shorthand and typing), Laurie Fox (second langu-? ages)',' Ruth Joll (second science and; arithmetic). ! ’ Va.—Suzie Sanders (first languages), Olga Christoffel '(first mathematics and science), Winifred’Snell (second languages); Catherine Royse (second mathematics and science), Gwendoline Avery. ‘ (general excellence).' Chrirters (first training college, entrance class), Betty Keeling (first languages)’, Margaret Hudson (first matliematcis and, science). , Via.—Dorothy -Riding (second mathe- v matics and science), Rena Pepper (second languages), Dorothy Geddes (first languages), Jean Tiehbon (first mathematics a? I science; dux of the school—Mr. H. R. Billing’s prize). j

PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT. Primer I.—Beverley '.Harding, Enid Johnson. ... _ . • Primer 2. —Patti© vVarnock> Cassie Price. ' ' ; ■ I Primer 3.—Mary Short. ; Standard 2.—Gertie Horlor 1, Nancy Rennell 2, Dale Akers and. Mary Bush (diligence). / Standard 3.—Pamela Morrall 1 (and sewing),. Joan Standish 2, Margaret Bewley (neatness). Standard 4— Jessie Craig 1, Lynne Stainton- 2, Dawn Parkes 3. '' Standard 51—Betty. Taylor 1. Standard 6.—Margaret Brown I, Jeanne.Blackley 2> (and sewing). THE SPORTS PRIZES. ’ ' ‘ CUPS AND MEDALS. Senior drill championship medal, M. Matangi; preparatory, drill championship cup, J. Blackley;’ junior championship swimming (Mr. Greiner’s cup), D. Cock; intermediate championship ■ swimming. (Mr. Bennett’s crip), L. Foxq senior championship swimming (Mr. Brown’s cup), J. Charters; forms relay swimming (Mr. Brown’s rose bowl), Form . Va; junior championship athletics (Mr*. G. AVillis’ cup), F. Tiehbon; intermediate championship athletics, M. Wells; ners-up for senior championship ath-' letics (Dn Steven’s cup), P. Lyall and L. Fox; senior .championship athletics, M. Matangi and B. Bullock; best high jump, P. Lyall; athletics' relay picture arid inter-form basketball tournament, Form Vb. # . » Tennis Championships. — Beginners singles 'championship, D. Parkes; junior singles championship, A. Bea van;, senior, ..singles championship, O. Christoffel; ( doubles championship, O. Christoffel and R. Pepper. . ’-Brodie Cup for life-saving land.drill. —Form lIIc (instructor, Monica Joyce). Girl Guide shield.—Raleigh Patrol lader, Jean Charters). Excellence in sport. —M. - Matangi and B. Bullock. Excellence in school work.—R. Pepper. Excellence in school work and sports.— O. [Harkness, SENIOR EVENTS. B. Bullock (athletics, senior championship), K. Caughley (swimming, second open back race), J. Charters (swimming, senior championship), O. Christoffel (ath-

letics, first obstacle race, and swimming, first crocodile race), B. Collihge (swimming, first plunge race), L. Fox (athletics, runner-up senior . championship, and swimming, intermediate championship), O. Griffiths (athletics, first senior potato race), P. Lyall (athletics, runnerup senior championship), M. Matangi (athletics, senior championship), W. Mangham (swimming, runner-up ■ senior championship), T. Slyfield (athletics, second high- jump, and swimming, first blindfold race), A. White ('athletics, first senior sack race). INTERMEDIATE EVENTS. J. Carter (athletics, runner-up juniorchampionship), M. Clegg (swimming, first two lengths), E. Eddleston (swimming, second neat header), M. Freathy (swimming, first egg and spoon), R. George (athletics, runner-up intermediate championship), I. James (athletics, first intermediate goal-throwing), M. Lynch (athletics, second senior sack race), T. Lang (athletics, - second intermediate goal-throwing, and swimming, intermediate championship), L. Pulford (athletics; second potato race), J. Stenburg (athletics, first skipping race), M,- Urry (athletics, first potato’race,- and swimming, first breast stroke), M. Wells (athletics, intermediate championship).

JUNIOR EVENTS. Z. Abraham (swimming, first, width, 12 years and over), D. Akers (athletics, 33 l-3yds, under 10), S. Allen (athletics, first, high jump), M. Brown (athletics, first, 100yds), M. Burt (athletics, first, junior skipping race), M. Bush (athletics, first potato race), D. Cock swimining, junior championship), J. Craig (athletics, second preparatory sack race), J. Davidson (swimming, runner-up junior championship), P. Durdle (athletics, run-ner-up junior championship), G. Lightband (swimming, second plunge), J. McAllum (athletics, second 200yds), P. Morrall (athletics,-first 33 l-3yds, under 10), P. O’Reilly (swimming, first breaststroke), G. Horlor (athletics, second potato race, under 10), J. Ross (athletics, first junior 220yds), M. Short (athletics, first 25yds, under 7), L, Stainton (athletics, second 50yds, under 12), J. Standish (athletics, first preparatory sack race), B. Taylor (swimming, second width, 12 years and over), P. Warnock (athletics, second 25yds, under 7), F. Tiehbon (athletics, junior championship). Little visitors race.—Ray Logan Old girls’ prizes.—M. Brodie (athletics, second old girls’ race, and swimming, second old girls’ race), I. Christoffel (athletics, first old girls’ race), C. Weston (swimming, first ‘old girls’ race).