END OF SCHOOL YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 301, 21 December 1933, Page 8

END OF SCHOOL YEAR

BREAK-UPS YESTERDAY THE SUMMER VACATION SINGING, SPEECHES AND SMILES. Primary schools throughout New Zealand broke-up yesterday for the summer vacation. At appropriate functions all city, suburban and district schools fittingly celebrated the occasion. Some made celebration on Tuesday and others yesterday. Songs and speeches characterised nearly every gathering, and were happily associated with smiling facts. Work of the past year was reviewed and a welcome given to the long break from lessons. In every school a happier note was struck by speakers, who looked ahead with a groat deal more confidence than at this time last year. GONVILLE SCHOOL THE ANNUAL BREAK-UP Pupils of the Gonville. School attended the annual breaking up ceremony yesterday afternoon, when they were addressed by Mr. E. F. Hemingway, chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, and Mr. N. Tyler, chairman of the school committee. Successful pupils were presented with their competency and proficiency certificates by Mr. Hemingway. The dux of tho school was announced by the headmaster, Mr. D. d?. Thurston. Her name is Dorothy Groves. A welcome was extended to Mr. Hemingway, on the occasion of his first visit to the school, by Mr. Tyler. Ho referred to the school motto, “Knowledge is Power,” and urged the children who were leaving to go to secondary schools to attempt to get to the top of the ladder. He said that if children fitted themselves for a position in the world of learning, they would hold it. On behalf of the committee he thanked Mr. Thurston and the staff for the good work they had done uuring the year. “Money docs not bring us all we need in this world,” said Mr. Hemingway, addressing the children. He said that happiness was the most important thing- Over and over again it had been seen that largo numbers of the rich people were unhappy. The secret of happiness was in doing good turns for people. If the children did a good turn ouce a day they could rest assured that they would bo happy, but unless they played the game they would never be happy, remembering the motto of their future King, “I Serve.” WANGANUI EAST SCHOOL ' PRIZES FOR THE INFANTS On Tuesday morning prizes were presented to the infant classes at Wanganui East. The children sang a song of greeting to the visitors and then sang several Christmas carols. The chairman of the School Committee (Mr A. G, Mills) congratulated the children and the teachers on a successful year’s work and introduced Dr. Kendrick Christie, who in happy vein, addressed the children. Dr. Molly Christie presented the certificates after each child had received a prize, Jn the afternoon a large number of visitors was present when prizes and certificates were presented. Tho headmaster (Mr R. N. Wilson), iu welcoming the visitors, spoke of the very marked loyalty of the residents to their school. He appreciated tho very fine school spirit that prevailed and as far as co-operation with parents and school was concerned he felt sure that such existed almost to the utmost. Proud, indeed, should they be of the environment, of their school —a city school with a country atmosphere. In referring to the school attendance, Mr Wilson mentioned that this had been very good. Notwithstanding the fact that there had been a mild epidemic of influenze early in the year and that measles had just reached > Wanganui there were 200 children out I of a roll of 604 who had gained at- ) tendance certificates. Iu presenting the prizes, Rev. Dobbs, i in a bright speech, gave the children ; some very useful hints. 1 The few prizes awarded wore won » as follow: Dux of school, Joyce Atkinson; 2nd. ; prize, Henry Phillips. 5 Toswill Cup (Standard 3), Basil _• Breed. Headmaster's prizes: Girl. Cluuie > Annabell; boy, Max Elliot. 3 The chairman of the committee (Mr r Mills), in wishing all the compliments of the season, referred to the school’s high standard of efficiency, its examination successes, and congratulated the children on their efforts. Annual School Concert. The Duchess Theatre was filled to capacity on Monday evening when the •children of the Wanganui East School held their annual concert. A yery pretty operetta, entitled “Sunrise I Land,” took up the first part of tho s programme. About a hundred children took part in this and the bright r Japanese dresses, flags, fans, umbrellas, and Japanese blossom on the well--3 lighted stage made a most picturesque t scene. The whole performance, which c took over tin hour, went without a . hitch, the singing being very bright and tuneful, the dancing dainty and v beautiful and the dialogue exceedingly s clever. Joan Parnell, as “J.otus Blossom,” c had a very heavy part and gave a very fine performance. Her solo singing and that of Shirley Mills, was splendid. The whole presentation was highly meritorious. Principals in the cast were: Lotus Blossom, Joan Parnell; Lanj Toy, Shirley Mills; Cherry Blossom, Joyce Hammond; Sing Sing, Betty Hammond; Turn Turn, Mavis Mainwaring; Apple Blissom. Hazel Hansen; Ojo Bogo, Leu Lewis; His Wife, Dorothy Blythe; Musician, Fightee Fightee, Bert Cox; Soldier, Jack Clark. Solo dancers? Butterfly Dance, Shirley Mills; Fan Dance, i- Shirley Riley. Pianist, Miss Wanda s, Atkinson. ts The second part of the programme t- consisted of varied item sas follow: y Tin Can Fusilcors, Standard 2 bovs; ie golly wogs, Standard I A children; tho ie circus, Standard 1 B children; drill, Standard 2 children; play, “ Fairvrt fool,” Standard 4 children; in-trumen->g tai trio. Jean Mutton, Noel Grant. n , Barry Trussoll; Chiekelham I state ‘RjStandard 3 children; play “ Bloatcr<. ’ ’ id|Mi.'< Mdmron’s class. !l ’> Al. the Conclusion of the concert the ot ehairr an of the committee, in thankling the large audience for its attend-