ARBOR DAY CELEBRATED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 200, 23 August 1929, Page 11

ARBOR DAY CELEBRATED

CASTLECLIFF SIDE -SCHOOL OPENING OF NEW ROOM Despite the inclement weather on Saturday afternoon, over seventy people, including the scholars, assembled at the Side School, Castlecliff, for the opening of the new room, and also to celebrate Arbor Day. The two class rooms were delightfully gay with spring blooms for the occasion, Mr Collins, the Chairman of the Education Board, and Messrs Lloyd (Chairman. of the School Committee), Gibson, secretary, Lockett, Cuthbertson and Scott, and Mr Beadle (ex-chair-man) were present.

The ceremony opened with the National Anthem, followed by a wellgiven recitation, “Where Would the Birds Build Their Nests,” by Leone Cuthbertson. Then the children sang their “Arbor Day” song, waving their green branches as they sang. Miss Aisla Ross played the accompaniments. In a well-modulated voice, Maurice Gibson welcomed the Chairman of the Education Board and all the ladies and gentlemen to the Side School, and thanked all those who had brought about the improvements to the school and the grounds. He also specially thanked the School Committee who are having a road made across the Eatox paddock for the benefit of the school, as it will mean a much shorter route. The following pupils then made speeches in reference to Arbor Day: Harold Wagstaff, Grade Sopp, Doreen Totty, Grace Dinnington, Bruce Evetts, Gordon McLean, Hazel Phillips, Peggy Lockett, Joan Heath, Rolf Aronsen and John Hogg. Ngaire Goodman asked Mr Collins to declare the new room open, and to make a speech about Arbor Day. The Chairman of the Education Board, also Messrs Lloyd and Beadle gave interesting addresses to the children, and their parents and friends. Marie Bogle then thanked the speakers, and also the ladies and gentlemen for their kind attention. Cheers were called for the teachers, Mrs Ross and Miss Thomas, for Mr Collins, for the School Committee, and also for the ladies who were preparing the afternoon tea. Olaf Aronsen then dismissed the classes, the children going outside to do their planting which was kindlysupervised by Mr Lockett. During the afternoon, Mr Collins presented the following pupils with their prizes that they had won for writing at the Hawera Show: —Rolf Aronsen, John Hogg, Jack Dinnington, Doreen Totty, Bruce Evetts, and Harold Wagstaff. Quite a feature of the afternoon was the sumptuous afternoon tea which was tastefully set out on the luncheon tables in the infant room, and which was splendidly organised by Mesdames Gibson and Lockett. All the school children were served with hot cocoa.

Tl-e additions to the Side School have filled a long felt want. This school was built in 1921, and was until just recently one big room, in which all the infants and Standards I, 11. and 111. were taught. Now there are two large rooms, an entrance porch, an extended corridor and a teachers' room. The furnishings of the teachers’ room were carried out by Messrs Therkelson, and were much admired by the visitors on Saturday. Until last year, practically nothing had been done to the schoolground, Mr Beadle's committee set to work and had a drive and various paths made, and gravelling done round about the school. Then they had manuka shelter placed on two sides of the school ground. Shelter and ornamental trees and shrubs were then planted and most of these have done fairly well. It is gratifying to know that the present committee are carrying on the good work begun last year, with more tree planting and the further laying out of the school grounds.