ST. MARY’S CONVENT SCHOOL, NELSON

New Zealand Tablet, 2 January 1913, Page 51

ST. MARY’S CONVENT SCHOOL, NELSON

Tliere was a large attendance of the public at St. Mary’s Hall, Nelson, when the distribution of prizes took place in connection with the Sacred Heart High School. The Rev. Father Goggan presided, and the Mayor, and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. T. A. H. Field), and Mr. H. Atmore, M.P., were among those present. The proceedings (says the Colonist) commenced with the pupils giving a most enjoyable concert. Every item of the subjoined programme was well received: —Trio (piano), ‘ Dodo,’ Misses N. Keeney, M. Beddingfield, M. McGrath, M. Virtue, M. Hickey, M. Roughton, Z. Barry, M. Virtue, and Eileen Sears. Song and chorus, ‘ If the waters could speak as they flow,’ senior pupils. Instrumental selection, ‘ Romance sans paroles,’ Misses T. Ormond (organ), P. Emms and N. Keeney (piano). Song and dance, ‘ Japanese umbrella,’ junior pupils. Dialogue, from Wiseman’s ‘ Fabiola’; Fabiola, Miss T. Ormond; Syra (her Christian slave), Miss M. Reddingfield. Vocal solo, ‘ Island of dreams,’ Miss Mercer. Quartet (instrumental), ‘ Ave Maria,’ Misses M. Roughton (first'violin), T. Virtue (second violin), N. Keeney (organ), M. Reddingfield. Vocal solo, ‘ ’Sense me today,’ Miss Zita Barry. Dialogue, ‘ A quarrel among the flowers,’ pupils. Quartet (instrumental), ‘The holy city,’ Misses M. Roughton (violin) N. Keeney (organ), P. Emms and D. Hayes, (piano). Duet (vocal), ‘ I heard a voice in the tranquil night,’ senior pupils. Duet, Gloria in excelsis ’ Misses P. Emms, M. Beddingfield, M. Mcßae, M. Hickey, J. Reilly, and V. Mercer (pianos), N. Keeney (organ). His Worship the Mayor expressed his appreciation of the honor done him by inviting him to take part in that pleasant function. He said the entertainment which had been given by the pupils that afternoon was of exceptional merit, and it reflected great credit on the patience of the teachers, as well as on the ability of the pupils. He said it was an excellent practice for persons, societies, and institutions to pause at a stated interval, and consider where they wore, what they were doing, and what (if any) progress had been made. As regards the High School, the examinations were over, and that afternoon they had come to the pleasant function of the prize-giving. Every pupil could not get a prize, and many successful in life never distinguished themselves at school because they developed slowly. The great point —had each pupil done her best. St. Mary’s schools had always had a high reputation, both for the ability of the staff and self-denying teachers, and the progress made by the pupils. The exhibition of the pupils’ work they had inspected that afternoon showed that the high reputation of the schools was being well sustained. The Mayor referred to the late Rev. Father Garin, whose name was remembered by the Nelson citizens of all denominations with affection and respect. His'Worship concluded by congratulating the Rev. Mother and her staff on the pronounced success of the school. He hoped that both teachers and pupils would enjoy very pleasant holidays, and he wished all of them a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. His Worship distributed the prizes to the following successful pupils: Good conduct—boarders, Ella Matthews day pupils, Ella Boundy (names to be entered on honors board). Christian doctrine, Bible history, Teresa Ormond 1, Tessie Virtue 2. Regular attendance, Amelia Duirs. Politeness and amiability, Amelia Duirs, Mabel Beddingfield. Instrumental —Piano—Senior grade, Pearle Emms, Nellie Keeney; intermediate, Maggie McGrath junior, Mary Mcßae, ■ Molley Hickey; preparatory) Mollie Virtue; first steps, Florrie Lulham. Violin— Marjorie Roughton 1, Tessie Virtue 2. Singing Nellie Keeney, Mabel Beddingfield. Painting—oils, Nellin Keeney, Ha Bird water colors, Mary Mcßae. Needlework—fancy, Ella Matthews; plain sewing, Ella Boundy, Zita Barry. Wood carving, Ella Matthews 1, Pearle Emms 2. Poker work, Nellie Keeney. Book-keeping, Pearle Emms.) Shorthand and typewriting, Amelia Duirs.j

• Class Prizes. Dux, Agnes Bishop. English, freehand, and model drawing, Mary Scott. Junior Civil Service, highest marks, Teresa Ormond. English and composition, Zita Daly. Arithmetic and Latin, Ethel Ryder. Arithmetic, geography, and botany, Jennie Reilly. Physiology and freehand drawing, Amelia Duirs. Composition and blackboard drawing, Mabel Beddingfield. General improvement, Lily Taylor. _ Standard VI.-—Highest marks, Flossie McGrath. Writing and spelling, Daisy Biincoe. Standard V.—Reading and recitation, Tessie Virtue, Ena McLennan. Writing and drawing, Molly Hickey. Arithmetic and dictation, Fanny Brown. Geography, Eileen Sears, Kathleen Carroll. Drawing, Ha Bird. Composition, Marjorie Roughton. English, Lena Brown. 3 ’ Standard IV.—Arithmetic and drawing, Mabel Miller. Writing and dictation, Marjorie Hayes. Composition and letter-writing, Maud Heslop, Junior, Division. Good conductboarders, Dorothy Bennett; day pupils, Madeleine Laffin. Christian doctrine, May Bennett. Regular attendance, Eileen Mullany. ' Needlework, Dorothy Rennet, Madeleine Laffin. Class Prizes. Arithmetic and drawing, Molly Virtue. Reading and recitation, Zita Barry, Reenie Carroll. Dictation and spelling, Nancy Brown. Grammar and composition, Nancy Bennett. General improvement, Jeanne Joyce. Standard ll.—Reading and recitation, Madeleine Laffin. Arithmetic, Dolly Howard. Spelling, Eileen Mullany. Drawing, Ivy McGrath. Writing, Dorothy Bennett. General improvement, Topia Swainsori. Standard I.—Reading and recitation, Patricia Roughton, Phyllis Brown. Arithmetic, May Findlay, Nellie Bishop. Spelling and writing, May Bennett, May Findlay. Brush drawings Margaret Redmond. General improvement, Kara Condell, Miriam Ward. 3 Infant Class. Reading and spelling, Rona Laffin. Tables and counting, Fraser Roughton, General improvement, Nellie Stephens. During the year lessons in physical culture were given by the Misses Greenwood, who at the end of the term awarded the prize to Jennie Rielly. The senior pupils received instruction in dressmaking at the school, and attended the cookery classes at the Technical School. The Rev. Father Goggan addressed the parents, and afterwards the pupils. In speaking to the former, he referred to Germany as being in the front rank as a progressive country, and there there were three classes of schools. Germany was not a Catholic country, as five eighths of her population were non-Catholics. In that country there were schools for Catholics, schools for non-Catholics, and schools for Jews, The Catholics of New Zealand only asked for fair play. The Catholics were not against the Bible. He reminded them that the very existence of the Bible was due to translators who belonged to the Catholic Church, and that prior to Luther’s time seventy editions of the Bible were in existence. He pointed to the fact that the Catholics in the province of Quebec, when they were in the majority, recognised the claims of the non-Catholics. In the name of British justice, the Catholics of this country demanded equality of treatment. He hoped the Legislature would remember this, and that the legislators would not inflict unjust burdens on any of the people of this Dominion. In addressing the children, he urged upon them to strive to be good, to be truthful, to 6 be honest, and never to do anything that would bring a blush to their mothers’ cheeks, or cause their fathers to hang down their heads. He concluded by wishing them enjoyable holidays, a bright and happy Christmas, and a prosperous New Year. He felt sure they wished the same good things for yieir teachers. ... J . The proceedings closed with the pupils singing the ‘ Holiday duet.’ - b During the early part of the- afternoon- a large number of citizens inspected the pupils’ work. The specimens were numerous, and the excellence displayed in their execution was undeniable. There were paint-

ings, in oils and water colors, also specimens of freehand and model drawing. There were many exquisite samples of needlework, plain sewing, ribbon work, poker work, Bolton work, point lace, and poker work on leather. Including the plain sewing there were fully fourteen descriptions of needlework. Wood-carving was fully represented. In a large frame there were many hand-painted Christmas cards. Considering the musical and, other examinations for which pupils are entered, it is surprising so much work can be produced and that excellence predominates in the exhibition of the pupils’ skill and their teachers’ patience and ability. • Music Examinations, The following are the results of the music examinations conducted by Mr. Charles Schilsky in October last: —Senior grade —Pearle Emms, Nellie Keeney. Intermediate— McGrath. 'Junior'—honors, Mary Mcßae; pass, Molly Hickey. Preparatory—honors, Molly Virtue. First steps — Lulham.

By a recent mail the following shorthand certificaws were received from Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Bach, England: —Theory Certificate Agnes Bishop, Zita Daly, Amelia Duirs, Pearle Emms, Ella Mathews, Teresa Ormond, Jennie Reilly, Ethel Ryder, Mary Scott, Georgina Sullivan. Elementary Certificate— Mabel Bedding-field, Nellie Keeney, Lily Taylor. The following is an extract from the inspector’s report on the work at the annual examination held in November last: — ‘ Schemes of work embracing a suitable course of instruction have been followed, and the general result of the year’s work is quite satisfactory. The following is a summary of the results in the subjects of examination:English: Satisfactory to good. Reading: Good to excellent. Spelling; Excellent in Standards I. and II. ; good to excellent in Standards 111., IV., and V. Composition; Excellent in Standard II; good in Standards ill., IV., and V. Arithmetic: Fair to satisfactory; excellent in Standard VI., moderate in Standard V. Other compulsory subjects; satisfactory. Additional subjects: Good. General result: Satisfactory to good.