GERALDINE SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10181, 17 December 1927, Page 3

GERALDINE SCHOOL.

ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SPEAKS.

The Town Hall, Geraldine, was well filled on Thursday afternoon, when the annual distribution of prizes took place. Opportunity was taken of the presence of Mr T. B. Strong, Director of Education, being in the town, to induce him to be present and to give an address, and in this the chairman of the committee (Mr A. M. Fyfe) was successful. Mr M. McLeod, Senior Inspector for the Canterbury Education Board, was also present, and gave a short address. In a few opening remarks, Mr Fyfe told the audience that they had with them some ’of the “big guns” of education in New Zealand, and introduced the two gentlemen named to them.

After the audience had signified its pleasure in welcoming the visitors by hearty applause, Mr Strong said they were having a double surprise sprung on them that afternoon; they had not expected him to be there, and lie had not expected to be at their prize-giving. He was pleased, lie said, to see such a, brave array of books, and he was sure that those who received them would go, home happy. That was alright, but it did not follow that those who had not earned prizes should go borne disheartened. He was head of the Education. Department of New Zealand, and had many a time felt disappointed, and bad waited expectantly for a prize which had not come off. Those who had not gained prizes should come back next term determined to be a credit to themselves and , their teachers. The happiesV time of their lives was while they were at

school. They might not think so, but it was true. He had two boys of bis own —one of them at school and the other working after having left school- —and he told his brother, “My word, you are having the best time!” The members of the Education Department ’Only i got three weeks’ holiday in the year. He was very glad to hear of the success of the Geraldine School, especially of that of the secondary department, and he heard a good deal about Geraldine. Their high school was one they might well he proud of, and he felt sure it would grow and become larger in the future. They must not only carry away with them when they left school, a good store of knowledge, hut a good reserve of strength of character they would gain at the school. When they went out into the world they would be of service in the world, and if their characters were of a high order this would tell in the world and would make for happiness and success. He wished* them very happy holidays and a joyous Christmas. The chairman asked Mr McLeod to speak, and the Senior Inspector said it gave him great pleasure to be with them that day, if only for a few minutes. He always used to enjoy the prize-giving at his own school, and he wished them all a very happy Christmas. He agreed with Mr Strong that those not getting prizes should not be discouraged, but that they should go right on and win, for many who got lots of prizes had not made a success in their after lives. One great lesson they could learn at school was not to be discouraged by failure. Sports were a good, thing, and they, taught boys to take a licking when they got one, in a good spirit. He con- 1 gratulated those boys and girls who had gained proficiency, and urged those who had done so to attend the high school,' for they could not afford not to do so, and not to be content with one or two years in the secondary department, but to go through the whole course. If they were going to be farmers, they wanted- to- be good farmers, and this, as in other walks of life, could he best done if they had a thorough education. Mr McLeod congratulated Miss Parnie and Mr Piper on the great success which had attended the school in the Raine ' Memorial essay competition open to South Canterbury, in which the whola of the prizes, both senior and junior, had been won by Geraldine pupils. This was something to he proud of. (Applause). Mr T. Hughes, member of the Canterbury Education Board, and an old headmaster of the Geraldine School, said both Mr Strong and Mr McLeod had given the children very good advice. Mr Strong had emphasised the value of character, and this 1 was very important, for the cleverest boy or girl could not be successful in the world without character. Mr Hughes thanked .Mr Strong and Mr McLeod for ‘ visiting them -that day, which they all appreciated. .They had had a good, year, and he hoped they would try and do even better next year than they had last. He. wished them good holidays and a prosperous and happy New Year. The chairman said that Mr T. D. , Burnett had done a lot for the school, and through his help they might anticipate that a consolidated school would be built at Geraldine. . The two officers of the Education Department who were present with them that . day were in Geraldine to spy out the land, the Government ■ having decided to purchase the, Raukapuka school site for £BSO. Probably in a few years, Geraldine was destined to become a big educational centre. A 1 vote of thanks to Mr Burnett was carried by acclamation. Mr Fyfe referred to the very fine drawing and woodwork done by the pupils of Mr Roberts,. He had.acted as judge of the woodwork, and could 1 say that the work done was equal to third or fourth! year ap prentice boys’ work. It was very fine indeed. Mr Roberts would be glad if parents of children would sometimes pay a visit to the technical school and see their boy at work. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. Mr Fyfe then distributed the prizes as follows: — STD. I.—Merit: Janet Gresham 1, Freda Hansen 2, June Cairns 3. Progress: James Walsh, Nita Morga'n, Nancy Twigg. Diligence: Patrick Gilmour, Jessie McWhinnie, Stewart Waters, Hugh Mitchelmore, Katie Davis. Drawing: Geraldine Stringer, Phyllis McDonald. Sewing; Jessie McWhinnie. STD. II. —Merit: Vera McPadgen 1, Dolce Keeble 2, Ella Doyle 3. Composition; Daisy Brown. Handwork: Jim. Stringer. General improvement: Douglas Bennett, Geo. Hill, Evelyn Pierce. Progress: Edith Waters. Diligence: Vera Allen, Harold Askin, Jack Eathorne, John McNamara, Millicent Palmer, Alma Lord. Sewing: Alma Lord. STD. lll.—Merit: Elliot Ragg, Betty Dean 2, Keith McPadgen 3. General efficiency: Margaret Wood, Kathleen Maister, Roma Barrett, Albert Wylie. Diligence: Joyce Wright. Progress: Herbert Scott, David Pierce, Patrick Callanan. Sewing: Margaret Wood

STD. IV.—Merit: Eleonora D. McLeod 1, Lvla Mackenzie 2, Keith Wallach 3, Ellen Keeble 4. Progress: John Davies, Joan Ragg, May Gaby, Sybil Twigg, Maggie Vin"cent, Mary Kelliher, Iris Evans, -Betty Weaver, Rene Grindell, Morna Barrett, Donald Simmons. Sewing; Maggie Vinqemt. General helpfulness: Ellen Keeble. STD. V.—Merit: Lorna McFadgen 1, Margaret! Madill 2, Joyce Lawson 3, Sylvia. Vincent, Jack Lockhart (first boy), Harry Knibb, Ethelwyn Hughes, Betty Mitchelmore. Progress: Simon Gallanah, "Gerald Hayes, Ethel McLeod, Agriculture: -Tom Thompson and Douglas Eatliorne (equal) 1, Colin Wilson and Valentine Stonyer (equal) 2 (prizes presented by Mr F. Piper). Sewing: Molly McShane 1, Margaret Madill 2.

STD. Vl.—Merit: Norton Wallach (dux) 1, Thomas Ragg 2, Roderick Madill 3. Progress: Ornie Smith, Archie Lapthorne. General excellence: Alick Rae, -Reid McGregor, Leslie Davidson, James Webb, Dora Maister, Jessie Weaver. General helpfulness: Andrew Gibson. Homework: Beryl Twigg (Mr Grieve’s special). Agriculture: Norman Davis (Mr N. McGregor’s special). Drill: Dora Maister (Miss Martin’s). Sewing: Ella Waters 1, Jean Vincent 2. Basketball captain: Cissy Davies (Miss Martin’s special). Pearson Memorial prize: Charles Thomas Grindle, dux of infant class. Secondary Department.

FORM lll.—Norah Smith 1, Francis Shearer 2, Graham Fyfe 3. Proficiency: Barbara Bell, Mary Lysaght, Jessie Cowie. Diligence: ' Naomi Kelman. Progress in "essay writing: Deryck Rae. Gardening: Crawford Madill, Jack Allen. Diligence: Charles Bennington. Matriculation: Gwen Pugh 1, Grace Evans 2, Diligence: Kathleen Norman. Special excellence and diligence: Nancy Stonyer. Public Service: Molly Deßenzy 1, Mabel Ray 2, Edward Vincent and Mary Knibb, diligence. Post Matriculation: Kathleen Verrall, Fred Turner and Ron Wilks, general excellence, Special prize for , general excellence in school and helpfulness in social functions: Cora Flatman. ’ INTERMEDIATE—-Dorothy Wilks 1, Grace Hewson 2, Minnie Lyons 3. Proficiency in class work; M. Symington, E. Madill. Diligence: Norman Mclntosh, Bernard McShane. Diligence and progress: Clifford Burrows. Special for English: M, McFadgen. ESSAYS. —Raine Memorial essay competition (open to South Canterbury)': Senior division, Fred Turner 1, Dan Callanan 2, Ron Wilks 3, Kathleen Verrall 4, Junior division: Grace Hewson 1, Dorothy Wilks 2, Eddie Vincent 3, Mary Knibb 4. Competition in aid of Christchurch _ Returned Soldiers’ Carnival Queen; Senior division, Kathleen Verrall 1, Andrew Glover 2. Junior division, Grace Hewson 1, Minnie Lyons 2. South Taranaki .Winter Show essay competition: Kathleen Verrall 3. “Chevrolet” essay competition: Kathleen Verrall 1, Fred Turner 2. TENNIS. — J Form III: Girls’ doubles, Peggy Bennett and Doris Paterson; girls’ singles, Peggy Bennett. Senior girls: Girls’ doubles, Mabel Symington and Mary Knibb: girls’ singles, Mabel Ray. Form 111., boys doubles, Francis Shearer and Alec Vincent. Senior boys: Doubles, Fred Turner and Stanley Stonehouse; singles, Fred Turner. Captain basketball team, Cora Flatman. SPORTS. —A. Glover, four buttons, first 220yds, second 100 yds (dead heat),. SSOyds, 440yds, 440 yds championship, high jump, putting shot and throwing cricket ball, 3rd long jump and 100yds championship; C. Williams, one button, first hop, step and jump, third throwing cricket ball; N. Lack, one button, first SSOyds; M. Flatman, one button, first high jump. Morrison Cups for 100yds and 440yds championships, R. Wilks; Morrison Medal for most points in track events, R. Wilks; runner-up, A. Glover. Ron Willjs, five buttons, first 100yds,' 100yds championship, 440yds, and 440yds championship, second . 220 yds, long -jump and' hop, step and jump, third SSOyds; F. Turner, four buttons, first long jump, throwing cricket ball, and putting shot, second 100yds championship and 100yds (dead heat), third hop,, step and jump, high jump, 440yds championship, 440yds and 220yds. Speechly Trophy, for most points in field events, F. Turner; runner-up, A, Glover. Dorothy Parnie Cup, for high jump, M. Flatman; runner-up, A. Glover. Captain cricket eleven, F. Turner. Captain football fifteen, D. Callanan.

Special Prizes. —Std.. VI: Mr J. 11. Lack’s prize for handiness, Andrew Gibson. Std. IV; Teacher’s prize for helpfulness, Ellen Keeble. Mr Roberts’ classes, woodwork and drawing: Std. VI., drawing, Norman Davis; woodwork, J. Gilmour. Std. V.. drawing, C. Davidson; woodwork (best in centre), M. Flatman. Pearson Memorial Prize (infant class). __ The Pearson, Memorial prize was presented by Miss Alice Hughes, to Charlie Grindle (dux). Miss Hughes said that it was particularly appropriate Charlie winning this prize, as the late Miss Pearson had taught his father when in the infant class. HEADMASTER SPEAKS. Mr F. Piper gave a resume of the year's activities. He said that everything had not come quite up to expectations in regard to the roll number in the primary department but, this was due to the epidemic, and the wet. weather, which had affected the attendance in the lower standards. The roll in the primary department had opened at 251, and had closed at 270; in the secondary department the opening number had

been 82, and the year closed with 74, which latter was accounted for by boys being away, and did not indicate a falling off. They had had changes in the staff, Miss Ste.el, Infant mistress, having left after eight years of good work, and Miss Crawford had come in her place, and her work was up to expectations. Miss Miller was leaving them. In the secondary department, Miss Brunton had come to them; she was doing very well, and he hoped they would be able to keep her for a long time. Under the new scheme, they had lost two probationers and gained one. All the teachers had shown great interest in their work and he had the most loyal staff he had ever met. with. The fete- had realised £SO, a concert £42, and the late school concert about £4O. In sports, they had been as successful as in other years. He had to congratulate Mr Roberts and Mr Watt on their work. His thanks were also due to the School Committee. They had worked very harmoniously together. He thanked the parents for sending their children along to school regularly .and punctually; There had not been a failure in the proficiency examinations. Mr Pyfe urged the children to help the Horticultural Society by entering classes set aside for them. He asked parents to keep their children at school regularly, for if the classes were kept full work could go on continuously. He was confident that the school would increase in numbers. Mr Fyfe then proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the heap me. 1 ter and his staff for the good work they had done dJ'ing the year, and wishel them all a happy Christmas and good holidays. The vote was carried by acclamation, and the meeting terminated.