SPIRIT OF CARNIVAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 12, 29 September 1944, Page 5

SPIRIT OF CARNIVAL

ANNUAL SCHOOL GALA FANCY DRESS BALL BRILLIANT GRAND PARADE Children ranging from tThytots who could scarcely to the husky products of the High School took part in the annual School Fancy Dress Ball which was held in the Winter Show Hall last Friday afternoon and! evening. The earlier session was devoted to the primary pupils whilst the eve/ning saw the High School children attend' with a wealth of folk-dances and displays. On both occasions the sipacious hall was the children occupying the floor and! the adults lining the aides. The work of the ladies.' committee; was fairly staggering, for twice during the one day they performed prodigies of valour in serving the hungry young' dancers with good' things aplenty. The fact that they kept smiling throughout indicated' that they had adopted all the better known war slogans and rolled them into one in order to ensure that the kiddies at least should 1 have a good time.' Our reporter was charmed with the afternoon's programme where were to be seen all the mischievious young scally-wqgs known so well to tired parents of Whakatane transformed into every variety of princelings, fairies, Victorian ladies, Cowboys, InWitches, Brides and whatever. The floor seemed to pulsate with the glowing animated mass and it became impossible to fasten one's attention on any individual for more than a few fleeting moments. However with the usual hawk-eye of the press we were able to discern a particularly cheeky Pussy-cat, a very lively little Chinese lassie (if there are such things) a veryi dignified Headmaster a delapidated Tramp j a Rabbit which wept and above all a charming little Strawberry, which was so lifelike that we nearly sampled it. The dancing in the afternoon reflected the greatest; credit upon the teachers responsible. All were carried out in a manner which bespoke painstaking care and organisation. The action and song dances were most pleasing in that the little ones seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves in the process. The fuller programme of the evening revealed grace and rhythm in a variety of attractive dances by the. High School girls. It was certainly an, eye-open-er to many of the parents present who were, surprised at the very high standard which had been achieved. A very full evening's fun concluded with the adults taking the floor and a "general dance being staged to bright music from the orchestra. In welcoming the. parents the Headmaster, Mr I. Hubbard, said that he sincerely hoped the pleasure of the adults would equal that which the gathering had obviously afforded the children. The funds from the dance would be devoted to the Country School Libraries, the school baths and various other things which the school ! required. He thanked Miss Heaslip for training the younger children and Mr Seebeck for liis training and organise ing, in fact the whole staff was to be warmly complimented. With regard to the outside, helpers he could not thank them all but he would li'ke to mention the work of Mrs who had acted as convener of the catering committee and had worked late and early to ensure the success of this important department. The event can be safely regarded as an improvement on last year's particularly in connection with the evening's programme which was fuller and more varied. In all some five hundred children took part and gave one of the brightest displays seen in this town for many a day. The costuming of so many was a tribute in itself to the mothers. who must have made exceptional efforts to obtain the materials in - these days of shortages. We have no doubt however, that many of these self-same mothers have regarded the passing of the event with a sigh of fervant relief, in the reflection that they can now sit back until the same hectic time approaches in 1945.