TWENTY-FIRST YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1935, Page 8

TWENTY-FIRST YEAR

S. MARY’S SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY. CELEBRATIONS ARRANGED. The “coming-of-age” of an institution that has won a unique and important place in Stratford and Central Taranaki will be celebrated this week-end, when S. Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls will reach its twenty-first anniversary. The anniversary will actually be on Monday, since it was on October 28, 1914, that the school was really founded. Large numbers of ex-pupils are expected to visit the school during the celebrations, and a full programme has been arranged for their entertainment. S. Mary’s school came into existence when in 1914 a small day-scnool held at the parish hall under the care of Mrs. F. J. Morgan was taken over by a board of parents owing to Mrs. Morgan’s departure from. Stratford. That first boaid comprised Messrs. W. H. H. Young (chairman), A. W. Budge, A. C. Bell, S. M. Porritt, H. E. Abraham and the Rev. C. W. Howard. Miss E. A. Marchant was appointed the first headmistress of the new school, which was made a church school. On the advice of Archbishop Averill, in whose diocese the Stratford parish then was, the school was made a boarding school, and the present boarding home was taken over. Miss Marchant, who had a brilliant .scholastic career, later departed for England, and Miss Fleming, her first assistant, took her place as principal. She was succeeded by Miss Stanford, who had a private school at New Plymouth, and who on her appointment combined the two in S. Mary 3. Miss Stanford was followed by Miss Hussey (now Mrs. E. H. Young). Miss E. M. Wilson, the present headmistress, came to the school 10 years ago.

• S. Mary’s now has 30 boarders and about 15 day pupils, 30 being the maximum the accommodation will allow. The present block on the south of the boarding house was added in 1919, the school up to that time having been continued in the Sunday school building. The school is now well provided for in very attractive surroundings. The present staft, headed by Miss Wilson, comprises Miss M. Bartlett, Miss J. Beale and Miss E. Naish.

A fine record of service is held by two members of the board, Messrs. W. H. H. Young and S. M. Porritt, who were foundation members and are still actively associated with the school. Mr. Young has been for 21 years chairman of the. board. To-day there will be lunch at 12.30, and in the afternoon a “bring and buy” will be held at the chool. In the evening the old girls will be entertained by the p -esent girls, who will present the play “Milestones.” At 9.30 a.m. on Monday a short anniversary service will be conducted at the school by the chaplain, the Rev. K. J. McFarland, to which all old girls and friends of the school are invited, and later there will be a meeting of the Old Girls’ Association. During the day old girls will compete with present girls in basketball, tennis and cricket.