Alexandra School.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 346, 25 December 1902, Page 4

Alexandra School.

Last Thursday afternoon the annual break-up of the Alexandra School took place in the town hall before a fairly large attendance of parents and others interested in educational matters. His Worship the Mayor (Mr James Kelman), who is also chairman of the school committee, occupied the chair, and intimated that he would defer his remarks until the children had exhausted their part of the programme, which consisted of songs, recitations, and an exhibition of wand drill by the elder girls. The children of the Infant department, which is under Miss Paul, acquitted themselves very creditably, evidencing much care in their training. One noticable feature about the recitations of the little ones was that they spoke out clearly and with fairly correct enunciation. The children of the Infant room who gave recitations were Walter Williams, G. Symes, M. Smith and J. Edmonds.

The children of Standards zi, in and XV, which are under . Miss Alexander, sang very brightly to Miss Alexander's accompaniment, the action song " Snowfiakes," the actions being appropriate and well-timed. Another action song " Eight little Mothers," by eight little girls was effectively rendered. A dialogue," The Sick Dolly," Marjori Damsday, Ruby Kelman, and Lionel Grimstone was a pleasing item, Master Grimstone acting the part of the doctor with boyish dignity. A part song with chorus, by Daisy Millar and Grace Symes, was pleasant to listen to, their young voices sounding clear and sweet in correct tune and time. Dora Schaumsn recited the poem " Suppose " very creditably. At this stage Of the proc* edings the girls of Standards ?, vi and tn gave an exhibition of wand drill to the musical accompaniment played by Miss Alexander. The same children also sang very creditably the choruses M Over the Snow" and " The Sailor." The duet " Home, Home," with chorus, was rendered most pleasingly by Jean Gloss and Beryl Hansen. Mary Campbell and Catherine Beid recited the poems on which they won the recitation prizes, the one giving "The Blue and the Gray " and the otber " The Charge of the Light Brigade." The chairman in his remarks said that he was pleased to be present at the break-up function of the school. It hardly seemed a year ago since he had the pleasure of presiding at the annual break-up of the Alexandra School; but time stayed not rolling on its course—to him it seemed quickly, but doubtless, to the little ones all too slowly. Without question they had much to be thankful for in the steady progress of the school. There were now 200 children on the school register. Last year there were presented for examination 96 children and this year 115 children were present in Standards ito vn with satisfactory results. It was not only the mental side of the children's education tnat was attended to in the work of the school, but also their physical development, which was not neglected. The school was well provided with dumb-bells and wands, for use in their'respective exercises, and it was the committee's intention to provide the school with Indian clubs which he believed were of considerable benefit in physical'development. He felt convinced that the culture of the body should receive almost, if not as much, attention as the culture of the mind. In the past, the committee bad used, as far as funds would permit, their best efforts to advance the interests of the school and he felt assured they would continue to do so in the future. The chairman requested Mr Closs to say a few words. Mr Closs said that in regard to physical exercises he could but endorse the opinions expressed by the chairman. From the exhibition of wand drill, which was ably taught by Miss Alexander, the parents bad some slight Indication of the benefits that were likely to secure to the children from this exercise. Not only wand drill but all the other physical exercises tend to the cultivating, of the habits of obedience, order and grace of, movement. There are right and graceful «BWNte«iatj> m «**riag»

aa well as clumsy and awkward ways, hence a fair amount of gymnastic exercises leeds to freedom of movement and graceful carriage of the body, tend* iagto do away with the frigid stiffness, lacgonr and inaction which are toe often noticeable in young girls. He thought ovary school should have a covered-in gymnasium fairly equipped, I whore the exercises could be carried j on with some degree of comfort. In! Alexandra there was no occasion why the school should not be provided with a gymnasium. The school committee j had on hand, in the Post Office Saving's Bank, a fund amounting to £l5O for ! school purposes. There was no reason to prevent the committee approaching the Education Board with the request that the Board grant £ for £. The Board has made such grants repeatedly, and no doubt such a request from the Alexandra School Committee would meet with favourable consideration, if such a gymnasium were erected in connection with the school, it could be used to advantage by the young men and women of the district, and would tend to benefit them morally as well as physically. Mr Cloes ateo stated that he had to heartily thank the school committee for their efforts in assisting him all they possibly could. He had much pleasure in thanking his staff, Miss Paul and Miss Alexander, who had carried out their duties in a praiseworthy manner. ■- He practically gave them a free hand, as they knew their work and did it, and the most exactiag of headmasters could expect no more* The dux of the school this year was Janet Dewar, who has been awarded the silver medal presented by Mr Strong, who has generously promised a silver medal for the dux next year. There is one noticeable feature about the prize list, the bulk of the prises go to girls. He strongly urged the boys to be more diligent in their studies, for, if they were to win honors, then they must work for them. The standard prises have been awarded on the work of the year and not on the marks obtained at one examination, but on the marks obtained at the quarterly examinations. If a child was absent from one of these examinations his chanee for a prize was gone. The special prises were awarded on examination. Thus merit and merit only wins these prizes. The following votes of thanks were unanimously passed:—To the donors of special prises; judges of sewing; judges of mapping, writing, and English composition; end judges of drill and recitation.

The chairman then distributed the prises, handing the dux medal to Janet Dewar. We understand the silver medal presented to the dux of the school is the first dux medal in the.history of the school, and Mr Strong has gener ously determined that it shall not be the last. ' . * "*':" It s7A»as2> rxuss. Standard viz—lst, Janet Dewar, 2nd, William Appleton. Standard vt—lst, Catherine Raid: 2nd, Nellie Thomson-; 3rd, William Sohauraan. Standard v—lat, Olive Laidlaw, Arthur South, equal; 2nd, Mary Campbell. Standard sv—lst, Jeanie Steele; 2nd, May Thompson; 3rd, Thomas Anderson. Standard in—lst, Sarah' Millar; 2nd, Edward South; 3rd, Arthur Strode. Standard n—lst, , Marjori Dumsday, Ruby Thomson, equal; 2nd, Dora Schauraan. Standard i—lst, Lewis Spencer; 2nd, Herbert Williamson; 3rd, Ruby Relman. b'

Standard vu—English composition, William Appleton. A special prise was also awarded by the examiner, Mr J. D. Buchanan, for excellence in English composition to Jean Close, exStandard Tit. Mathematics, Janet B. Dewar; writing, Johanna Carroll; singing, Jean Close. Standard ti Arithmetic, John Kelman; English composition, Catherine Reid; geography, William Schauman; writingsNellfe Thomson; recitation, Catherine Reid; mapping, Catherine Reid; dictation, William Schauman; singing, Beral Hansen. Standards ▼, vi, TH--Wand drill, Jean Gloss and Janet Dewar; dumbbell exercises, Olive Laidlaw, May Thomson. Standard v—Arithmetic, John! Holden; English composition, Arthur South; mapping, Arthur Sputa ; tecitation, Mary Campbell; reading, Olive Laidlaw; writing, Jessie M*Kensie. Standard iv— Writing, J. Steele, May Thomson; tidiness of books, Ruby Thompson, Herbert South. Standard m Writing, Edward South; recitation, Ist, Sarah Millar; 2nd, Lily Davis; spelling (boys), John Davis; spelling (girls), Ist, Sarah Millar; 2nd, Lily Davis; singing (boys), Herbert South. Standard 11—Spelling: Ist, Marjori Dumsday; 2nd, Ruby Thomson; 3rd, Dora Schauman; recitation, Dora Schanman, Morton M'Lay; general excellence, 'Daniel Hunt; singing, Grace Symee. "]':■,■■/.:.: i ;.-WStandard I—Writing, Helena South; spelling, Ist, Lewis Spencer; 2nd, Violet Senders; recitation, Ruby Kelman." Infant Department Recitation, Ist, M. Smith; 2nd, W Williams and J. Edmonds (equal); spelling, Ist, G. Symes; 2nd, George Boulter; arithmetic, Ist, Vernon Burnside; 2nd, Myra Perkins; writing, A. M'Elwee and Ivan M'Kellar (equal); drill, Rnby Kelman and J Timwings (equal); diligence, Agnes Noble; general work, Bertie Simccsen and John Kennedy (equal). -- ~ Standards v and vx (Sewing)~-Patcb-ing, Maggie Noble; darning, let Catfa®ri»e- %jd» 2nd tfciiy meson;

button-holes, Ist Jessie M'Kenzie, 2nd Maggie Noble. Standard in—Sewing, Ist Annie Sander*, 2nd AUee Sawyer; knitting, May Chapman. Standard n Sewing, Ist Eva Trevetbick, 2nd Ruby Thomson. Standard x—Sewing, Helena South. The prize for regularity of attendance has been awarded to Maggie Noble who has not been absent a single half day during the year. This prize was omitted to be given at the distribution of prizes but will be handed to her on the re-opening of the the school. The following ig a list of donors of special prizes: School committee (7 prizes), Mr J. Kelman (3), Mr F. Young, Mr Grimstone (2), Mr J. D. Buchanan, Mr Appleton, Mr Gloss (2), Mr Win. Thomsoa, Mr Richards, | Mr Theyers (2), Mr A. Campbell, Mr John Rivers (2), Mrs Ross (3), Mrs Dewar (2), Mrs Nieper (2), Mr Crow, Mrs Steele, Miss Alexander (2), Mrs Miller (2), Mrs Timmings, Mrs Hansen (2), Mrs Laidlaw (2), Miss Paul (2), Mrs Edgecombe, Miss Brown, Mr Murphy (4), Mrs J. D. Thomson (2), Mrs Marslin, Mrs Joyce (2), Mine Loudon, Mrs Spencer, Mrs Schauman (2) s Mrs Noble, Mrs G. Rivers, Mrs Oloes, Mrs Strong t .MrB -Kilgottr, Miss Clothing Factory, The chairman intimated that, as usual, the holidays would extend to six weeks, the school re-opening on Monday, 3rd February, 1903. A vote of thanks to the chairman and the singing of "God Save the King " closed the proceedings,