SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17353, 1 May 1928, Page 5

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS. ELECTION FOR THE YEAR. MR. J. H. HODGE CHAIRMAN. There was a very satisfactory attendance at the meeting of householders last evening at the Central Sc-lioo, considering the very inclement weather. There were 16 householders present, including one lady. It was unanimously voted that Mr. J. H. Hodge occupy the chair. Annual Report. The total number of pupils on the rolls for the three schools at the commencement of the year was 825 and at the close of the year 796, a decrease of 29. The attendances however, have been fairly well maintained whilst the standard of instruction imparted has been of a very high order; most gratifying reports having been received from the inspectors. North School.—The school buildings have been kept in fairly good order; during the year repairs were effected to the spouting and considerable improvement made to the grounds. Central School.—The .work of repainting the outside of this school and outbuildings yms carried out during the Christmas vacation. Prior to the building being painted the western wing was levelled up and new brick piers laid. The spouting was also renewed where required. A small outbreak of fire occurred at this school, caused through an accumulation of straw and other rubbish, carried by the birds and deposited around the stove pipe in the roof, catching fire when the stove was lighted. The outbreak was quickly suppressed by the Fire Brigade and wire netting has since been fitted around the patent ventilators to prevent a recurrence of the danger. , South School.—The buildings and grounds at this school are all in good order. A new water service has been laid as the previous system was found to lie inadequate. Application has been made for a special grant for retarring and sanding the assembly ground at this school. Entertainment. During the year Mr. Garland kindly arranged an entertainment to provide funds for the improvement of the North and South School playing areas. \ s a result of this entertainment a sum of £44/3/- was raised; this amount was forwarded to the Education Board for subsidy and resulted m £25/13/- being made available for the North School and £62/13/.- for the South School grounds. Of these sums £7/10/-> is still available for expenditure at the North School and £7/13/at the South School. gfworage, The necessary work of connecting the school sewerage systems with the Thames Borough Council’s mains has been carried out at the Central and South Schools at a cost of £135; the Board providing the requisite funds for this work. The head teachers’ residences have also been linked up. Dental Clinic. The committee is pleased to report that its efforts in connection with the establishment of a Dental Clinic at Thames have at last been successful. The Thames Borough Council having kindly granted the use of the small reserve at the intersection of Mary, Baillie and Rolleston Streets for the purpose application was made to the Department for a subsidy. A contract for the erection of the clinic has nowbeen let and it is expected that the building will be completed within six weeks. A dental nurse has been appointed for the district and the necessary equipment for the clinic has been forwarded by the Department. The funds for the maintenance of this clinic will require to be furnished by the committee the Department providing the nurse, and it is expected that this object will receive the whole-heart-ed support of the householders and the public generally. Balance- Sheet. The balance-sheet submitted show's the total receipts, inclusive of a credit balance from last year of £12178/8 to have amounted to £619/19/10, and the expenditure to have been £471/ 18/6, leaving a credit balance of £l3B/1/4, which is made up as follows : £ s. d. Thames School Fund Account 122 7 3 South School Library Account 8 4 South School Kindergarten Account 7 9 9 Total 138 1 4 Against this balance is a liability on the Thames School Fund Account amounting to £25/15/9. Thanks. In conclusion • the committee desires to thank the chairman, members and officials of the Auckland Education Board for the assistance rendered and the courtesy and attention given to all matters submitted for consideration. To the head teachers and staffs of the schools for their untiring efforts, the Press, the guardians and parents of the children, and the public generally, the committee tenders its sincere thanks for the hearty support and co-operation accorded to it in all matters pertaining to the education and welfare of the children. Election of Committee. There were eleven nominations for the Committee for the ensuing twelve months, of whom the following were elected:—Messrs. J. H. Hodge, A. Bateman, P. Jenkin, J. H. Battson, R. Muir, J. A. McLeod, J. Morley, J. Pratt, and S. Willis. Mr. Jenkin addressed the meeting on the successful effort made in securing a Dental Clnic for Thames Schools. This was a most important matter to the children. They had been enabled to get a nurse and a start had been made on the building. The co-operation of householders was desirous in this. The money had been found for its erection hut it had to be maintained. Cleaning, etc., must he paid for. It was estimated that between 10/- and 15/- weekly would he required. Later another nurse would he engaged and all children from Whfirepoa to Tapu would he catered for. The committee was satisfied that the heartiest sup(Continued on next column.;

• : «$ port would be ‘eceived from Thames * citizens. _ The chairman said cliey were deeply indebted to the Education Board nd : officials for their help during the year an he moved a hearty vote of thanks be accorded them. Mr. Bateman seconded and the J motion was carried unanurrusly.

A hearty vote of thanks was accord-', ed the head teachers and staff for their - [i work during the year, and also to the/gll outgoing committee, ano its able chairman Mr. J. H. Hodge. A vote of thanks was also passed to the Press / for its assistance. A Fine Record. At the subsequent meeting of the p committee Mr. J. H. Hodge was re- / elected chairman. He stated, when returning thanks, that he had been a . < member' of the school committee for 35 years, for 12 of which he had been A chairman. Mr. Reg. Muir was re-elected trea- . ■ surer and Mr. W. Clark as secretary.. yj Messrs. Bateman, Jenkin and Pratt y were appointed to the Technical School Committee. x Maintenance of Clinic. t: • .; !-i\ It was mentioned that" funds were ' 1 necessary to maintain the Dental -K Clinic. Tlie chairman suggested that' / parents be asked to contribute one J penny per child per week, the contribu- ..&■ tion to be purely voluntary. It was 1 decided to act on tlie suggestion. For the first year only children in flu? \ primers will be attended to, hut will be treated up to Standard IF, the y number thus increasing each year. It -y was felt by the committee that nearly all parents would gladly contribute to- •■§§ wards this goocl work, although per-:f| haps llieir own children would not ■' benefit. • ■ -li ■ ■■■hi mmm ■(ss