SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

ANNUAL REPORTS.

THE YEAR’S WORK. The annual meeting of householders will be held throughout tile Auckland Education Board’s District on Monday evening. The annual reports of some of the schools have been published and following are some more which will be submitted to householders on Monday evening. FAIRFIELD. The chairman of the committee, Mr J. Primrose, in his report states: — "Monthly committee meetings were held and attended regularly by members of the committee. A social committee was set up and conducted school socials during the venter months and a sum of £24 was raised, which has been expended on the school library. The thanks of the householders are due to the social committee for their valuable help to the school.

The playground has been resurfaced with colfix and should not require any further attention for sometime and the grounds have been maintained in their usual neat condition. 'The old porton of the interior of the school has been repainted and varnished and book-cases provided in each room for class library and a duplicator has been purchased and is proving a great labour saving device to the staff. A vote of the parents was taken on the question of the introduction of the Nelson system of Bible instruction in the'School; parents voting strongly for the proposal which was put into operaton and is working quite smoothly. The annual fancy dress ball was held in the Alexandra Hall and proved a great success both financially and socially. Staff: During the year Mr Cliffe was transferred on promotion to the District High ‘School at Te Puke and a public farewell was tendered to him by the residents of the district. Mr Renwick was appointed relieving headmaster until- the appointment of Mr L. ilotson, who took over his duties at the beginning of the year-

During the winter months the children were provided with hot drnks at a small charge made for same. The estabishment of the stationery fund lias been a means of parents making a saving on the hooks required by their children. Mr Wickham has carried out his duties as a caretaker to the entire satisfaction of the committee. Finance: Your committee, by careful handling of the school funds, have paid all current expenditure and have ihe satisfactory credit balance of £55 9s 6d.

I very much regret the retirement of Mr Hubbard, who has acted. as chairman of the grounds committee for a number of years and his position on the committee will be hard to fill. Mr Mead, who was the chairman of the social committee has rendered valuable help to the school, also Mr Goodwin, who has done much for the good of the school. On behalf of tiie committee I wish to thank the staff for their co-opera-tion and for the good results obtained at the examinations. Headmaster's Report. The headmaster, Mr c. Hotson, in his report states that the school opened .with a roll number of 286. During the year 109 pupils were admitted and JOG were withdrawn- The average attendance for the year was 262, and the present roll number is 280. Early in the year Mr Cliffe was transferred and Mr J. Ren.wick acted as Jocum tenens until I took up my duties at the close of the second term. Miss 51 organ was appointed probationary assistant from February 1. Miss Thompson joined the staff in May as relieving additional assistant. The annual school picnic was held - at Ngaruawahia on February 8, and was a huge success. The children’s fancy dress ball, an annual fixture, was held at the end of the second term. This function was enthusiastically supported and resulted in £l4 14s being added to the committee’s fund. . The social committee held fortnightly dances in the school during the winter months. These socials were well patronised and the sum of £24 was raised by these means. On the last day of the school year a combined hrealdD-g up ceremony and exhibition of work was held. A large number of parents attended and the available accommodation was iaxed to the utmost- Every endeavour has been made to foster the athletic side of the school. Basketball and football teams were entered in the primary schools competitions and considering the grade of the school met with fair success. School sports were held for the first time and the meeting was thoroughly enjoyed. The Herbert Smith Trust kindly donated four cups to the school for competition. The senior girls’ 'championship cup was won by Norma Whitten and the junior girls by Eunice Bull. The senior boys championship was won by C. Goodwin and the junior boys by D. Patterson. Thirty-two candidates gained proficiency' and four competency certificates and two scholars gained a junior free place. The duxes of the school were: Girls, Grace Hubbard; hoys, Colin Clark. During the year a home garden competition was inaugurated. Some thirty pupils entered and the results were most encouraging. The judging was carried out by Mr Dixon, instructor in Agricultural Science- In his report he says: “The standard of attainment in these gardens is very high. The gardens of four of the pupils were exceptionally good and would compare favourably with those of experienced adult gardners.”

Eighteen of the competitors received certificates of merit.

I am pleased to place on record my sincere appreciation of the earnest efforts and loyal co-operation of the staff and also to thank the committee for the deep interest they have shown in all that pertains to the welfare of the school and for the careful consideration they have given to all matters brought forward by me. MATANGL The - following report will lie submitted by the chairman of the Matangi School Committee, Mr W. J. Trownson, at the annual meeting of householders, to be held in the school on Monday.

I have much pleasure in submitting to you a report covering, perhaps briefly, some of the work transacted on your behalf during the past twelve months, which we trust, will result, to the. benefit of the school and also merit approval. The outstanding event has been the erection and opening of the school swimming baths, the privileges of which many of you have been able to enjoy during the recent summer. The swimming pool has proved a boon, and many of the children have made great headway in the valuable art of swimming, duly mainly to the supervision and coaching given

by the headmaster, Mr 0. R. LarsenAt the discretion of the committee the baths were made available to the public during certain hours, and a committee representing the residents, with Mr J. Cameron, the chairman, and Mr V. Phillipps, secretary, undertook the oversight of the baths during public hours. Members of this committee collected revenue by the sale of season and occasional tickets, the money being used for upkeep puiposes and further improvements for the convenience of bathers. Two cups have been promised . by the trustees of the Herbert Smith fund, and will be competed for by the school children. * . , . , The grounds have been maintained in good order, and the headmaster is now laying out new flower, beds These, when completed, .will add very much to the beautifying of the school surroundings. An up-to-date incinerator has been erected by the Education Board. The incoming committee will have £4O at its disposal l’or laying down paths in some permanent material. A grant of £lO per year has been made by the Board over the next four years. The basketball playing area has been re-conditioned with sand bv the committee- A concert was held during the winter and the proceeds added £8 10s to the school contingency funds. A most successful gymkhana provided another £SO Portion of these funds was used in the purchase of a piano and also a roto roll for use in the infants’ class room. The annual picnic was an enjoyable outing for all concerned and we are indebted very much to Mr F. J. Better, who allowed us the use of the grounds. The committee’s quota of £3 towards the cost of erecting the Hamilton East Dental Clinic has been paid. Mr W. Phillipps is still our representative on the Primary School Committees’ Association in Auckland. During the year Mr A. R. Coltman resigned, Mr Dunn succeeding him. as relieving headmaster until the Christmas vacation. Mr C. R. Larsen was subsequently appointed headmaster. It is regretted that our £SO. grant from the Education Board is insufficient to carry on the school work during the year. .It costs us £49 for cleaning purposes alone. The school is just on the border-line of the higher grade, and with a few more pupils we would receive a higher grant, although it would cost no more to clean the school. In my opinion the Board should take over the cleaning, and provide fuelling for the school. Cocoa was provided for the children during the winter, and the commilt.ee has £2 in hand, as balance from the recent picnic which will help in providing cocoa next winter. In conclusion I desire to thank ihe teaching staff and residents of the district for assistance and co-operation during an eventful year.

FRANKTON SCHOOL. The chairman of the Frankton School Committee, Mr A. E. Fredric, in his report, states that the year commenced with one committeeman short. On Ist May, 1929, Mr Hughes. was nominated and accepted the position, but he ceased to be a member as he absented himself from meetings on no less than four consecutive occasionsTo fill the vacancy Mr Hoadley was eleted at the February meeting. The resolution in regard to a parents’ day passed by the last, general meeting was carried out during the past year. Many parents and rt sidents visited the school on November 22 last. All appeared pleased and interested with the management and conditions prevailing. The resolution of the last general meeting to the effect that the committee call upon the parents and re sidents to assist the former when required was availed of. This committee wishes to record its thanks for the assistance thus received during the past twelve months. , During the past twelve monins im-provement-s have been made to the school gardens (agricultural classes . the playing area, the paths and parade ground, shelter shed and the grounds generally. At the instigation of this committee many improvements have been carried out by the local bodies to streets, roads and culverts, and others aic under consideration by the bodies concerned. The object of this committee in interesting itself in these matters was solely for t.hc safety of the school children and the good of the school in general. , The Frankton School Old Pupils Association was granted a lease, of the baths and tennis courts. • This body has shown and taken a great interest in the school, its pupils, and old pupils and it. is recommended to the incoming committee to assist this Association wherever possible in the good work it has undertaken. The committee is pleased to record that it was possible to present prizes to the dux boy and dux girl of the school for 1929. iOn March 28 a picnic was arranged by this committee for the pupils of the school- This function was held at Tc Aroha and was a great success.