PARENTS' DAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 72, 17 December 1937, Page 6

PARENTS' DAY

Havelock North School The Havelock Nortb Scbool is fortunate in possessing an open-air audit'orium, under sorne hne old asb and walnut trees, and everyone wbo assembled there on Wednesday for Patents' Day was grateful for tbe coolness and shade on sucb a sultry afternoon. The headmaster, Mr E. Riley^ welcomed Mr and Mrs G. A. Maddison, tbe Rev. and Mrs R. B. Waugh, Mr J. Heenan, and tbe big gatbering of parents and friends. Reviewing tbe past year, Mr Maddison said tbat tbe work tlone by tbe staff and scholars was very creditable indeed. He congratulated tbe scbool on it.s bigber grading, and Mr Riley on his promotion. Regarding tbe advisability of closing the schools for February, be was strongly in favour of tbat month, in sucb a climate as tbis, being spent almost entirely in various forms of outdoor education, sucb as swimmingt nature-study, open-air classes and so on. In that way, tbe children would not suffer in health by attending school. Mr Heenan and tbe Rev. Waugb both spoke briefiy, and referred to the improvements in the school grounds, the line spirit existing between teachers and scholars, and tbe advantages gained wben they and the parents meet together as on this occasion. Tbe presentation of. leaving certifieates, medals and swimming oups was made by Mrs Maddison, as follows: — Dux, Muriel Smith; senior cliallenge cup (boys), E. McCracken; senior cliallenge cup (girls). Mary de Montalk; junior cballenge cup (open). J. Fergusson. A pleasant part of tbe programme was tbe singing of the children — action songs by tlie primers, unison songs by tbe juniors, part songs and rounds by tbe interiuediates. A display of folkdancing by the senioTs was also enjoyed. Afternoon tea was served under the trees by tlie teachers and senior girls. Then everyone adjourned to the classrooms to see and admire the exhibit's of work done during tbe year.