PARENTS’ DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20120, 14 December 1939, Page 15

PARENTS’ DAY

WAIROA SCHOOL SUCCESSFUL YEAR HEADMASTER’S REVIEW (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this clay. Tito growing interest which is being | displayed in the activities of the Wairoa District High School was amply demonstrated by the large attendance at the annual parents’ day gathering at the school yesterday. Despite the fact that heavy rain was experienced in the morning, there was a large gathering of parents at the school shortly before 2 o’clock, when the buildings were opened for their inspection. In various rooms were displays of work of a large variety executed by the pupils and these were the subject of much well-earned praise. Another attraction was a flower show in the High School building and this also attracted keen attention from the visitors. Before the speeches the visitors were entertained by displays by the infants, primary school children and the pupils from the secondary department, all of which were enthusiastically applauded. The children and visitors then assembled at the rear of the school, where the speeches were delivered. Excellent Display Mr. R. W. Goodley, chairman of tire school committee, extended a welcome to those present and made special reference to the presence of Mr. E. L. Cullen, M.P., who had come from Hastings for the occasion. On behalf of the school committee he thanked Mr, Cullen for the assistance he had given the school during the year. Mr. Goodley also congratulated the headmaster, Mr. E. E. C. Boyes, the staff, and the children on the excellence of the displays and thanked the staff for the assistance it had given the committee.

In his report of the year’s activities, the headmaster stated that the work of the school had gone on satisfactorily and he wished to thank Mr. A. S. Telfer, who had acted as headmaster during his absence abroad, and the school staff for what they had done. Taking the work of tire school as a whole he was very pleased with it. Mr. Boyes said he welcomed the formation of a Parents’ League which had made a wonderful start with its work. Although it had been in existence only four months it had purchased a piano for tile North Clyde side school and in addition had raised half the amount required to purchase a piano for the main school. On the Field of Sport

Dealing with other activities of the school, Mr. Boyes stated that over 80 awards in life saving had been gained by pupils of the school this year. On the field of sport good progress had been made and he was pleased to report that the High School basketball team had won the Wairoa A grade competition for the first time. The school sports also had proved to be Very successful. Thirteen new certificates for distance swimming during the year had been gained. Included in the life-saving awards were nine instructors’ certificates and the following had gained silver medallions: M. Packwood, L. Lambert, G. Long, K. Pilkington and J. McAlpine. A team of four boys from the secondary department had won the Vigor Brown Shield conducted by the Hawke’s Bay centre of the Royal Life Saving Society, and a team of two girls from the primary department had tied with Kopuawhara for first place in the Knapp Shield competition. In the girls’ drill excellence buttons were won by L. Lambert, M. Packwood, N. Marshall (all endorsed for the second time) and L. Harvey and S. Marshall. The champion was L. Lambert and L. Harvey and N. Marshall tied for the runner-up. The sports trophies were won as follows: —Primary Girls Champion.Eileen Martin. Primary Boys’ Champion: Peter Wong. Secondary Girls’ Champion: Noleen Marshall. Secondary Boys’ Champion: F. de Lautour. Mr. Boyes then called upon Mrs. C. R. Sainsbury to present the trophies and also the honours lists. Dux of the School This was followed by the presqntation of the gold dux medal to the winner, Janet Mcßae, by Mrs. G. Mac Kay, Te Maire. Mrs. Mac Kay also presented the primary school certificates and the higher leaving certificates. On behalf of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, Mr. C. R. Sainsbury thanked the parents for their attendance, and stated that it was no good spending money on education if they did not get the support of the parents.

He paid a tribute to the work of Mr. A. S. Telfer as acting headmaster during the absence of Mr. Boyes and concluded by wishing all a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. This was followed by the unveiling of a picture of the Coronation and a message to the people of the Empire from His Majesty the King, by the Mayor of Wairoa, Mr. 11. L. Earlier. The picture was a gift to the school from the Government. Mr. Marker advised those children leaving school to try and learn to stand on their own feet and help themselves; to learn to have pride in their school and to try and cultivate civic pride. He congratulated the school on its progress during the year and also on the formation of the Parents’ League. He paid a tribute to the work of the school committee.

Mi-. E. L. Cullen congratulated the school on its progress and also congratulated Wairoa on obtaining a new High School. He made reference to the work of the school committee which, he said, he would always assist and paid a tribute to the effort: of the Education Board. lie told the children that they did not come to .school to learn how te make money, but to learn how to live That was the principle of the educational system of New Zealand. At the conclusion of the function afternoon tea was provided by the Parents’ League.