MARTON NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 301, 21 December 1945, Page 2

MARTON NOTES

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY. The prize-giving ceremony of the Marton District High School was held in the Civic Theatre yesterday afternoon, when the body of the hall was filled with pupils whilst there was a fine attendance of parents and visitors in the dress circle. The children sang “God Defend New Zealand.” Mr. H. Y. Cameron, chairman of the school committee, introduced Mr. E. F. Hemingway, chairman of Wanganui Education Board, Who made the presentation of prizes and trophies to the pupils. Mr. Hemingway stated that the present was supposed to be a lime of peace and goodwill. “Fortunately, they had peace, the long-hoped for peace, and the end of the war. but they were a long way from having the goodwill towards men that they should have. Why was it? Simply because it was a selfish world when people thought more of taking than of giving. Unfortunately, we, in this country concentrated to a very great extent in tilling the children’s minds with something they would fill their pockets some day in place of instilling into their minds the principles of Christianity. There was the inimitable law laid down in the time of Moses, that God’s will, as set out in His Commandments, must be obeyed, otherwise nations and the people of those nations would suffer. There could not be anything clearer than that. Therefore, it should be the paramount duty of parents and education authorities to instil into the minds of the children the need for keeping these Commandments before all else. HEADMASTER’S REPORT “We began the year with a primary roll of 394 and have now reached 421 in spite of having to exclude, on instructions, all the five-year-olds during the last half of the year,” stated the headmaster, Mr. W. A. Tucker, in his annual report. “As all these will be entering in February together with our usual crop, the problem of accommodation will become acute. Extra rooms will need to be used in the old Technical building. The inconvenience of this arrangement is obvious but unavoidable.

“At the aflnual examinations in the primary department, 321 were examined for promotion, of whom 295 or 92 per cent, were successful. There were two Young Scholarships being offered and both were won this year by pupils of this school. In the secondary department, we opened with a roil of 153 uipils and 116 now remain, many having left, to take up employment. The results of the last School Certificate and Public Service Entrance to come to hand show that of the seven candidates for School Certificate we had six full passes and one partial pass, while of the 13 Public Service candidates 12 were successful. This year there were fix and nine candidates respectively for School Certificate and Public Service Entrance and we have good reason to expect an equally satisfactory result. Two pupils have been accepted for Training College. In addition successes have been gained in external examinations in commercial work. This success of this side of our secondary work reflects great credit on the commercial instructor, Miss Campbell. “We hope when materials are again procurable in variety, to revive our annual handwork exhibition. Our concert had to be postponed in consequence of the outbreak of measles. * The sports of the children have been well entered for, and home and away matches have been frequent in both departments. Teams have visited Taihape, Hunterville, Feilding, Palmerston North and Wanganui and have been very successful. “During the war the school did its part in patriotic work. The Messenger Corps established in the school was of the gieatest asslsrance to the E.P.S. and boys and girls have done their full share in salvage work.

“When is was decided that School Savings should be credited to National Savings, our deposits showed an immediate increase. In 1943 and 1944 the deposits totalled £585 and £B5O, respectively, both being records for New Zealand school savings. This year the pupils again placed the Mai ton District High School first with the fihe totaf of £1022 6s lid, deposited since February last. To quote from a letter from the chairman, National Savings—“ The pupils will be the better equipped for the battle of life by having di-iplined themselves into acquiring those qualities of thrift so essential in the building of sound character.’’

“While proud of this achievement, it is recognised that this saving benefits the pupils themselves. More deserving of praise is the work they have done for others. The collection of used stamps sold for the benefit of homeless children by the “Help the Children League” in England, has resulted in the school beating its last year’s New Zealand record of 68,000 by reaching a total of 92,400 this year. In four years nearly a quarter of million stamps have been collected by our pupils and sent to England through the Education Board. Last year, the Barnardo Helpers’ League and the class boxes collected £S6 for Barnardo’s Homes, a record for any New Zealand school, while inis year the amount so far is £B4 17s 7id. The cadet corps acquitted itself well in coming 4th for the Fryer Memorial. We thank the R.S.A. for its gift, of a shield to the school for musketry among the cadets. At the presentation, Col. Barry compiimenl- * o the cadets on their smart, turnout. ■Jnaer Mr. Orgias and Mr. Grant, the unit will, I am rure, continue to go well.” In concluding, Mr. Tucker thanked the committee, teachers and parents for their co-operation during tne past years, and to the children he wished them an enjoyable holiday and tnen a return in the new year to maintain the records they have set up. HONOURS LIST, 1945 Primary P IV.—Patricia Harvey 1, Larry Knight and Charles Blackwell 2. Std 2.—Margaret Voss 1, Brian Darrow 2. Sto. 2. —Alan Hamer 1, John Williams 2. S.d. 3.—Jim Kan 1, Roger Cameron and Jennifer Laurenson 2. Std. 4.—Pamela Abel 1, Elva Petersen 2. Form I.—Boys, John Leonard 1; girls, Audrey Down 1. Form 2.—Boys, Royston Lea 1; girls, Joyce Hegglun 2. Secondary 111 B.—John Griffin 1, David Robertson 2. 111 A.-Owen Kidson 1, Elizabeth Hoi niblow 2. IV B.— Lois Bosselman 1. Special excellence in arts and crafts. - I; obel Major. IV A.—Les Roache 1, Rex Andrews V B.— Etna Armstrong 1. VA.Myra Brown and Dunean Bertram 1. V B. —Jean Christie—for industry and progress. V B. -Margaret Stevens—for progress and attainment in commercial work. VI. -Dallas Barr and Celine Quittenden 1. Higher leaving certificate.'-. IV B.—Leon Soler- for indu. try and

progress in practical course—boys. TROPHY WINNERS Primary Department, 1945.—Athletics Cup: girls, Jean Paterson; boys, Gordon Pull. McDonald Cup.—Royston Lea, also Ist in class and winner of Young Scholarship. Merit Certificate, runner-up in both McDonald and Athletics Cups.—Russell Lourie. Secondary Department. Gould Rose Bowl, for best girl all round spor.s.— Myra Brown. Klitscher Cun, for boys’ sports cup. -R. J. P. Dalias. Gregory Cup, for best rifle shot.—E. Diehi (Sgt.). Shell Case, for best n.c.o.—D. H. Bair (C.S.M.), Mr. H. Y. Cameron congratulated the headmaster and his staff on achieving another successful year. Ever since Mr. Tucker had been nead master our school had shown a decided improvement each year, he said. He could not help saying that it had been a difficult year for all concerned. The number ol teachers on active service have created staff shortages. “Then when we have had teachers appointed to fill vacancies, they have had their difficulties with house shortages,” he added. In addition to these problems the committee have for a long time been faced with shortages of class rooms, but. notwithstanding these difficulties the scholars have been well tuitioned. National Savings Certificate. A pleas.ng ceremony was the presentation of a framed certificate from the N.Z. National Savings Committee by M. F. J. Christensen, Marton Patriotic Society, to the headmaster for the wonderful record achieved by the Marlon School pupils in saving £lOOO during the past year in National Savings. They had done magnificent work during the past three years and he hoped that, would continue to maintain th<*r thrift during the coming year and wished them a happy holiday. The framed certificate is neatly designed in colours and reads: In appreciation of the record achieved by the pupils of Marton District High .School in investing the sum of £.lOOO in school savings during 1945. This certficate is presented by the N.Z. National Savings Committee. (Signed) T. N. Smallwood, chairman. A very entertaining afternoon concluded with the National Anthem. CYCLE ROAD RACE The fifth cycle road race on Wednesday evening resulted as follows: S. Robertson (55secs) 1, C. Stantiall (50secs) 2, and R. Dally (35sec) 3. The time was llmin., and the fastest time was lOmin. 40secs. by D. Wapp, scratch.