INCREASED ROLL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 39, 16 February 1939, Page 5

INCREASED ROLL

Wanganui Intermediate School ENROLMENT OF PUPILS LARGE OUTFLOW BALANCED An unusually large outflow of pupils occurred from the Wanganui Intermediate School at the end of 1938, but this large outflow has been more than counterbalanced by a large enrolment of new pupils. The number enrolled up to the end of last week is 189, a greater number than has been enrolled by the corresponding date for the last two years. A report upon the roll numbers and enrolments at the school was presented to the school committee at its meeting on Tuesday night by the principal, Mr. H. Rochfort, M.A. At the end of 1938, stated the principal, the school roll in Forms 1,2, and 3 was 357. Considerably more than half of these were in Forms 2 and 3 and, consequently, most of them left us at the end of the year to enter post-primary schools or to commence work. In addition, eleven Form 1 pupils left to attend schools in other districts or to go to work. No pupils left the Intermediate School at the end of the year to attend primary schools in Wanganui. There was, consequently, an unusually large outflow of pupils from the school at the end of 1938. It is very gratifying for me to he able to report that this large outflow has been more than counterbalanced by a large enrolment of new pupils. The number enrolled to date for this year is 189, a greater number than has been enrolled by the corresponding date for the last two years.

Our two contributing schools, Queen’s Park and St. John’s Hill, had not nearly as many pupils to send forward as in previous years. It is highly pleasing to find, however, that the knowledge of the superior advantages offered by the Intermediate School is being spread throughout the district, so that the deficiency in the numbers from the contributing schools has been more than made up by enrolments from all the schools of the district. In all, our new pupils have been drawn from 31 different schools, striking evidence of the public recognition of the value of the work being done at the Intermediate School.

“The pupils who have come to us are of an excellent type,” stated Mr. Rochfort. “I am sure that we shall have a splendid year, and that the newcomers will worthily uphold the good name of the school. They are already showing the influence of the school spirit, and are most enthusiastic about the school. The hold that the school has upon its pupils was well illustrated upon the opening day. One of our last year’s pupils who had left the school was passing the gates as the bell rang. The pull of the bell was too strong to be resisted. She went home, put on her uniform, and returned to the school for another year. Quite a number of others are returning daily, although it had been their intention to leave. Our last year’s pupils left us with the greatest reluctance. Many of them would gladly have spent another year with us, but the requirements of the education system made it necessary for them to transfer to a post-primary school. Many of them as they came to say good-bye, said how sorry they were to be leaving; and one boy was but typical of the rest when he broke down completely in saying goodbye, and apologised for doing so, saying that the idea of having to leave the school had quite overcome him. I cannot help feeling that a school which in two years can produce an effect like this upon its pupils is making a mark upon their characters that time will never erase.”