CHRISTMAS PARTIES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 945, 15 December 1933, Page 9

CHRISTMAS PARTIES.

Kindergarten Children Entertain Parents. CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL. ! Pupils of the Cathedral Grammar i Kindergarten entertained their parents | with a delightful programme of carols, ' recitations, songs and country dances at their annual Christinas party yesi terday afternoon. The guests were received by the Rev E. Edmonds (headmaster) and Mrs Edmonds. Mr Edj monds congratulated Miss Cooper, who is in charge of the kindergarten, on her work. She always maintained a 1 religious atmosphere in the school, as i well as giving the children a good grounding in their studies, i Gifts were distributed to the boys later in the afternoon by Mrs Stephen Parr. Vases of Iceland poppies, Canterbury bells and antirrhinums formed the chief decorations, while a crib at one end of the room imparted a Christmas atmosphere. The items, supervised by Miss D. Cooper, were as follows: Carols, “Hark, the Christmas Bells are Ringing,” “ The Bells of Christmas,” “ Away in a Manger”; country dances, “The Guitar,” “Merry Sailor”; recitation. “The Little White Gate”; songs, “ Greeting to the Sun,” “ The Motherless Soft Lambkin,” “Lady Bird”; recitation, Mr Shelley; country dances, “ The Steamboat.” “ Money in Both Pockets”; recitation. “Singing”; singing games, “ The Doves.” “ Froggies’ Swimming School,” “ Black Bov in the Ring”; recitation. “The Little Red Lamp”; rhythm march, representing birds, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, elephants and horses. Afternoon tea was served later. Selwyn Kindergarten. Last evening, yet another children’s party was held, this gathering being the annual break-up of Selwyn Free Kindergarten. Mothers and children attended the celebrations in large numbers, and the party, being in the evening, enabled many fathers to be pre-

Two huge Christmas cakes were made by Mrs N. Patterson from ingredients supplied by parents and teachers, and iced by Mrs F. Hamlin and Mrs D. Fulton. Stalls were erected outside the school, those in charge being Mesdames N. Patterson, W. Griffiths and T. Carey.

Mrs Hamlin, convener of the local committee, welcomed the parents, and Miss H. Hull, principal of the Christchurch Free Kindergarten Association, who was presented with a bouquet, thanked the local committee for its woi'iv. The past year had been a suc-

cessful one from every point of view, and the attendance and the health ofthe children had been good. Thanks were due to Miss E. Pearce, director of the kindergarten, and the staff for the interest they had taken in the children. Mrs Keith Hadfield also received a bouquet. Members of the local committee present were: Mesdames F. HamA. Williamson. T. Carey, N. PatterBirt and A. King supervised .a short son, W. Griffiths. A. E. Wildey, S. Wooton. J. Hayward, St G. Atkinson (treasurer) and I. Robinson (secretary).

Misses E. Pearce, O. Jacobson. N. programme by the children, and later Father Christmas arrived and distributed gifts to the children from a Christmas tree outside. Supper was arranged by members of the Parents’ Committee and the local committee. Richmond Kindergarten.

The annual Christmas Party and break-up of the Richmond Free Kindergarten was held yesterday morning. There was a large attendance of parents and a number of excited children. Miss 11. Hull, principal of the Christchurch Free Kindergarten Association, who was presented with a bouquet of Iceland poppies by one of the pupils, said she was pleased to see so many at the party, which showed what a great Interest was taken in kindergarten work. There were seventy children on the roll, which was a record number. She thanked the local committee, the parents’ committee and the parents themselves for their help during the year.

Mrs E. Hitchcock, convenor of the local committee, also expressed thanks for the work done, and Mrs H. T. J. Thacker, president of the association, added her appreciation. Other representatives of the association were Mesdames Keith Hadfield (treasurer), Elliston Orbell, E. V. Palmer and M’iss L. Tabart. Mrs A. Peverill, secretary of the local committee, and Mrs D. W. Bartram were also present. Miss Joy Bartram, director of the kindergarten, assisted by Misses Shirley Clark and Joan Martin, supervised a | short entertainment given by the children, including a blue bird song, in which a small performer wore an ingeniously-made costume of blue crepe paper, entirely composed of small pieces representing feathers. A daisy song, and a Christmas play were also given. At the conclusion of the programme, the children’s parents wended their way to the lawn, on which stood a Christmas tree. While morning tea was served to the older people, Father Christmas distributed gifts from the tree, and a Christmas cake, given by members of the local committee, was cut by Miss Hull. New Brighton Kindergarten. The Pier Hall, Sew Brighton, presented a festive appearance on Wednesday morning, when the local sub-branch of the Free Kindergarten entertained pupils and parents at a Christmas party. The walls had been decorated with specimens of the children’s work and elaborate decorations of vases of summer flowers set off the heavily-laden Christmas tree. The arrangements had been made by the convener, Mrs H. A. Bishop and the secretary, Mrs George Bundy, and members of the committee and the teachers. Mrs H. T. J. Thacker and Mrs K. Hadfield were present from the centre, and Mrs Rodda and Miss Rodda from Sydenham. Miss H. Hull, principal of the Christchurch Free Kindergarten Association, was also present. Father Christmas presented a posy to the convener and secretary and to the main members of the committee, also to Mrs Thacker, Mrs Hadfield and Miss Hull. Mrs Thacker congratulated the promoters on the splendid attendance, and said it would be most unfortunate if the sub-branch were compelled to cease to function. However, Mr J. H. Shaw who has for so long placed the premises in Sea View Road at the disposal of the committee free of charge has now found a tenant for them, and suitable premises cannot be acquired at less than the nominal rent of 5s per week. If the this sum it should be possible for the committee to carry on. An exhibition of the work done in class was given by the little pupils, and Father Christmas gave each child a toy, after which morning tea was served. Miss Page (teacher). Miss Hood (assistant) were in charge of the performances, the latter being at the piano. The school will reopen during the first week in February at the Pier. St James Kindergarten. The end-of-the-year party for the small pupils of St James Kindergarten was held under pleasant conditions. The children, under the supervision of Miss G. Montgomery, assisted by Misses Joan O’Neill and Joan Joyce, provided a very enjoyable programme of songs and dances. Miss Joan O’Neill was the pianist. Father Christmas arrived, and from a well-laden tree presented each child with a toy. The children then handed their mothers a present made by themselves from the tree. The Rev R. de Lambert addressed , the parents and friends present and oxj plained the work of the school. AfterI noon tea was then served.