HOLIDAYS COMMENCE

Waipa Post, Volume 43, Issue 3390, 19 December 1931, Page 4

HOLIDAYS COMMENCE

TE AWAMUTU DISTRICT HIGH* SCHOOL. PRESENTATION OF PHOTOGRAPHS. The State schools throughout the province commenced their long vacation (until Ist February) yesterday, and at Te Awamutu District High School the occasion was the more interesting by the fact that opportunity was taken by His Worship the Mayor (Mr C. G. Downes) to further indicate his interest in the school and *?&i6lars by making a presentation *‘Of two framed enlargements of photographs taken on the occasion of the visit to the school, on 29th September, of His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bleaisloe), Lady Bledisloe, and party, ■who were paying their first official visit to the district.

The scholars were assembled in the - open an*, and Mr A. J. Shepherd (the f headmaster) introduced Mr Downes, who said that as His Excellency was the direct representative of His Majesty in the Dominion those present had, in saluting the flag and singing the National Anthem, paid a tribute to the representative of their beloved King. He (Mr Downes) asked the school to accept the two framed enlargements of the gathering at the school as a memento of a memorable occasion. They were very clear pictures, the work of artistic photographers, and he Jioped they would find an honoured place in the gallery of the school with other reminders of interesting events. He assumed that the ceremony of breaking up for the Christmas holidays was an occasion for a fair amount of sadness tinged with the gladness of a joyous occasion, but he hoped all would thoroughly enjoy a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. While on their holidays he hoped all would remember that they came from Te Awamutu school arid comport themselves in a manner creditable alike to themselves and their school, remembering the duties of citizenship to come. Upon the young people of to-day devolved*, the duty of making or marring the * town’s progress and welfare in future years. They had all, he was sure, had a good grounding by competent teachers, and he could see they were healthy, happy, and bonny young people well fitted to make their way in the world.

Mr Shepherd, in thanking Mr Downes for his very nice gifts to the school, assured him they would be treasured as mementoes of an auspicious occasion and as the gift of a gentleman who had the welfare of the school very *nuc&_aj; heart. Cheers were then given for Mr Downes, and Mr Shepherd wished all the assembly a very happy holiday and expressed jthe Jriope that they would make the most of it in a proper way, coming back on Ist February intent upon progressing in their studies. Cheers were then given for the teaching staff, and the assemblage dispersed. SUCCESSES GAINED. Among the certificates gained by pupils of the local school during the* year just closed may be mentioned 95 for good attendance, 87 for swimming, five higher leaving, twenty senior free place, 29 proficiency and 11 competncy certificates, besides ten home garden Educatinn Board certificates. The school gardens competition, for which there were 24 entries, created a great deal of interest, and the judge (Mr M. H. Dixon, instructor in agriculture for the Department of Education) awarded the honours as under: Robert Cunningham and Pontyn Aldridge, 85 per cent, 1; Douglas Bergemann and Philip Harvey, 82 per cent, 2; Albert Reynolds and Charles Teddy, 80 per cent, 3; Stephen Teddy and Allan Irwin, 75 per cent, 4; Hubert Allen and George Kidd tied with Bert Shepherd and Ward Allen, with 74 per cent for fifth place. The judge said the plots were in very good condition, each containing ten or more varieties of crops in good growth. The competition amongst the scholars has been very keen, and another good feature was the freedom of selection of crops allowed to the scholars.