DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4825, 4 May 1925, Page 3

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

MEETING DFPAEROA COMMITTEE, A meeting of the committee of the Paeroa District High School was held on Friday evening, the chairman (Mr E. E. Gillman) presiding over the following: Messns N. C. Busby, W. T. Power, yv. Purdie;, C. H, Pascoe, C. T. Mettam, R. J. Thorp, and the secretary. - GRANT FOR SAND. ing that an additional grant of £6 had in gthat an additional grant of £6 had been made towards the cost of sanding the lower portion of the boys’ playground. . ' THANKS. Miss W. E. Sutton, 8.A., and Messrs J. E. Bigelow, M.A., and T. H. -Wilks, 8.A., ; wrote acknowledging the committee’s appreciation of services rendered. SECONDARY ASSISTANT. The Board wrote confirming the appointment of Miss H. E. Taylor, secondary assistant, as from April 1. VISIT OF ARCHITECT. Following on representations made by the committee; Mr W. S. Putwain, architect to the board, visited the school on April 28, and after consultation with the headmaster be authorised the following work aud alterations : Installation of two lighting aiid two heating points in the niain school building; provision of suitable radiators ; installation .of a coal stove in the second higli school room; 12ft of wall board to replace the blackboards at present in use in each high school room, thereby giving more blackboard space and at the same time, taking up less room; the installation of suitable burners to replace the Bunsen burners, which were used when gas was available in the science room ; and the provision of a.new- cooking range for the headmaster's residence. ■ PROVISION OF COCOA, The report of the sub-committee set up to go into the question of way? and means of providing hot cocoa for pupils during the winter months was considered. After due discussion, and taking intd consideration the fact that the school medical officer had expressed tile .opinion that cocoa was not in the best interests of the children, it was resolved that the project be allowed to lapse. rhe question of providing hot milk was gone into, but the cost and diffi-< culty in obtaining a sufficient quantity of milk placed the suggestion beyond the power of the committee to give effect to. BICYCLE SHED SCREEN. The question of providing a. suitable screen for the ; open portion of bicycle shed was referred to the incoming committee. SERVICES APPRECIATED. The chairman referred to the homework correspondence lessons which had been successfully carried out during the later stages of .the infantile paralysis epidemic, and moved a vote of hearty thanks to the proprietor of the Hauraki Plains ‘‘Gazette’’ for publishing the home-work free of charge to „he committee and parents and assisting the -teaching staff in carrying out the' work. Seconded by Mr Pascoe and carried by acclamation. ILLNESS OF PRIME. MINISTER. A resolution of sincere sympathy with the wife and family of the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey in his lengthy and sei ions illness was carried, and. the hope was expressed that the Prime Minister .would rally- and be restored to health and strength., NOXIOUS WEEDS. Mr Thorp, on behalf of the visiting committee, reported that the, growth of noxious .weeds' at the western end of the infants’ playground required attention, and he also recommended that a crossing be made over the storm-water drain so as to give better access from the playground proper to that area of ground loaned by the Defence Department. Mr Pascoe’s offier to donate sufficient pipes to make the crossing was accepted with thanks, and the secretary was instructed to put a man on to cut the blackberries and clean out the drain. • ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £3l 2s lOd were passed for payment. VALEDICTORY. Un behalf of the out-going committee Mr Busby spoke in eulogistic tennis of the valuable services rendered and the .time given, both professionally and privately, by the retiring chairman (Mr. Gillman) to the interests and welfare of the pupils. Mr Busby said that during the years Mr Gillman had served on the committee, and especially during his term as chairman, he had’made a hobby of doing good work for the school, and by his professional knowledge and ready assistance had carried out improvements in the grounds that wbul.l stand as a monument to his credit and ability for all time. The speaker said that he felt sure the parents ah i teaching staff, as well as the committee, were genuinely sorry to lose Mr Gillman from their midst. He then moved a formal resolution recording the appreciation of the committee of the loyal services rendered by Mr Gillman and wishing him and his wife and family good health and prosperity in their new home at Hamilton. The motion was carried ny acclamation.

Mr GiJJman thanked the committee for its eulogistic reference, and said that without the loyal help and cooperation of the members the various works could not ' have been undertaken. He also'paid tribute to the assistance rendered by the headmaster in ail matters pertaining to the ground improvements and genera! welfare of the pupils. The following is the. report to be submitted to the meeting of householders this evening:— ANNUAL REPORT. “Your Committee has pleasure, in placing before you the following report for the past year, a year >n which the school has made further progress in its history, and in which, with the help and co-operation of the

teachers, scholars, and parents, your Committee’s duties have been made very pleasant. The past year will be long remembered because; of the prevalence of the infantile paralysis epidemic, the seriousness of which, together with, the Christinas -holidays, was the means of keeping the schobls closed from December 19, 1924, to April 20, 1925. It. has also been the year when the pupiijs established u record by the excellent results attained in the examinations held towards the close of. the .year. - "Manual School.—ln June last your chairman (Mr E. E. Gillman) visited Wellington, and with Mr H. Poland, M.P., waited on the» Hon. Minister for Education, and again placed before him the desirability of, establishing a manual training school in Paeroa. The deputation was accorded a. very sympathetic hearing, and as a result of their efforts advice was received in August last that Cabinet had authorised a grant for a manual school building. Thus, after nearly 17 years of hard fighting, we now have a handsome building erected on the board’s property in Miller Avenue. The building comprises commodious woodwork aud Cookery rooms, together with conveniences. It is expected that classes will commence at an early date. The provision of such classes at Paeroa will now- obviate the necessity fo>- sending pupils to Thames, for the purpose of obtaining that important part of their education. "Attendance. —The average attendance for the year 1924 was : Primary, 343 ; Secondary, U, being a decrease of 7 pupils oh the'average roll in eaca department. Thcte are at present 386 primary fetid 54 secondary children attending the school. ' "Examinations.—The number of children presented Ibr the proficiency examination was 31, Of whom 27 gained proficiency- certlfltiiites, 3 competency certificates, aiid 4 fallbd. Two of the Standard Vt« pupils gained scholarships. In the secondary department seven pupils sat for Matriculation, with the result that two gained full passes, one a, completed pass, and 2 partial passes. For the public service entrance examination eleven pupils sat, and nine- passed. In addition, one-pupil obtained a partial puss in group 1 of D examination. After examination by .the board’s inspectors ten out of twelve of those eligible were granted senioi- free places without further examination. One boygained his lower leaving certificate, and another obtained the higher leaving certificate, the first gained at the Paeroa school since its inauguration. Such splendid result® must be very gratifying to parents aud pupils, us well .as to the teachers, especially when it is considered that a record in the number of passes has been established at the school. Your committee cannot speak too highly of the sound tuition given by the headmaster and his staff, especially in. the secondary department. ‘‘School Gardens. —Good work has, been done throughout the year in the school gardens, and the various flower plots have been carefully and regularly attended, and have been much admired by the public. "School Ground Improvements.— Since the last annual meeting your Committee has continued to work towards beautifying and improving the school grounds. A plot 135 ft long has been put down on the Wood Street boundary and grass and ornamental shrubs planted.

"The boys’ upper playground has been levelled and sanded, and by the removal of the old wooden classroom to its permanent site an additional playing area has been obtained. This area has also been levelled and sanded, and it is hoped in the near future to have the w’hole area asphalted. The excavation and stonework at the north-eastern corner of the main building has been completed. "Sanitary ■ Convenience^.—• During May last, following on representations made by your Committee, the Board carried out the work of connecting the conveniences to the borough, sewerage. Extra conveniences have been erected for the infants’ department. "School Buildings.’—-Iu July the Board authorised the removal of the old' wooden classrpom to a permanent site- in the playground, and that build - ing was painted and thoroughly renovated throughout. An additional 12Lt has been added to the science room ami extra appurtenances installed. “Bible in Schools.—After a full discussion on the subject your Committee by live votes to two decided not to, support the Bible-in-Schools scheme. ‘Visit to Fleet,—Your Committee, with the assistance of the .leadmaster, arranged for a number of pupils to travel io Auckland to see the Special Service Squadron, and a thoroughly enjoyable trip resulted. "Gramophpne for School, —As a result of a series of concerts organised by the teaching staff and pupils sufficient money was raised to enable your Committee to purchase a gramophone for use in .the school. Thanks ’tire due to those people who donated records for the machine.

“Extra Playing Area.— Following on representations made to the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall), the Borough Council has granted a further portion of Lewis Street, which area your Committee has fenced, and it will be used for the school garden. The portion previously occupied by the garden is to be grassed and used, as an addition to the boys’ playground. “School Library.—By means of concerts the sum of £33 14$ 3s was raised, and this amount, together with the Board’s subsidy, has been expended in purchasing books for the school library. Seven cupboards—one for each classroom—have been built in which to house the books.

• Young Citizens’ League.—ln September last Messrs E. C. Cullen and H. Stubbing, president and organising ,secretary, respectively, of the Young Citizens’ League, visited Paerba and held an initiation service at which 100 pupils took the pledge. It is hoped that during the year, various activities in connection with the league will eventuate. Your Committee extends its thanks to His Wonship the Mayor for the considerable help and enthusiasm that he has given to the matter. "School Picnic.—Owing to the lateness in opening the school conse-

quent upon the epidemic, your Committee has abandoned the idea °f holding the annual picnic this year. “Schpol Staff.—-Early in June Miss E. M, Gibson resigned frforn the staff on ■superannuation, after a lengthyperiod of duty .well and truly carried out. In September Mr S. D. Barr, B.Se., was transferred to Tauriinga, aud Mr F. H. Wilks, 8.A., recovered from his illness sufficiently to resume duty as master hi the secondary depaitmeht. At the close, of school for tiie Christmas • Vacation two of the most valuable’ teachers wbre lost in and Mr F. H. .Wilks, B,A„ both of the persons of Miss W. E. Sutton, 8.A., whom were transferred to the Northcote J unior High School. It was, with feelings of genuine regret that the services of these teachers were lost to om school, as •by their sound and practical instruction and devotion to duty -end personal interest in . their pupils the secondary department was built up to its present high standard. To those teachers - the pupils, to ii large extent, owe their success in the examinations last year. The< good work done by Miss Sutton and Mr Wiiks has been, recognised by your Committee, and testimonials were forwarded to them. Miss 11. Taylor, B A., and Mr E. G. Preston, 8.A., have been' appointed in their stead. "Membership.—Early iu the year •Mr W. H. Taylor resigned from the committee ■■ after many years of loyal and faithful service in the interests of the school and the .welfare of its piipils. - Mr E; E. Gillman was elected to fill the position of chairman, and Mr R. E. Thorp was appointed oy the Board to take the place of Mr Taylor on the committee. ’ Committee meetings have been held regularly throughout the year, and have been well attended. “Obituary.—lt is with sincere regret that we record the death of Mr H. J. Hayward, whom you elected to the. committee last ye4r. The l<xs •of his services has Wen keenly felt, and a letter of condolence to nis widow and family was forwarded by your committee.

"Finance.—The total amount of receipts for the year wns £454' IDs sd, and the expenditure amounted to £334 19s 6d, leaving a credit balance as it -February 28, .1925, of £129 10s lid. O." thal amount £'Bl represents money subscribed by householders some three years ago in connection ivita the discounting of bonds &s a means .of .raising sufficient money to erect thCv manual school. The £Bl is a. present interest-earning, in the Post Oir.ee Savings-bank. Your Committee would welcome an indication from the meeting as to how this sum is to bo.expended. “In- conclusion, your Committee must refer to the amicable relations that have existed with the school staff, and wishes to emphasise the fact of the loyalty and devotion of tne teachers to the welfare of the: school, both educationally and socially. We wish to express our sincere appreciation of the valuable assistance of Mr G. H. Taylbr and his staff that has, been so readily extended, to the conimittee on all occasions.’’