Foxton State School.

Manawatu Herald, 19 December 1896, Page 3

Foxton State School.

The Foxton State School broke up for the mid-summer holidays yesterday afternoon with the uaual little ceremony. Messrs Stanaell, Rhodes, Hcnneisy, and Weitwood, members of Committee, oame to the school at half-past 2 o'olock and found the children of the itandardi assembled in the west class-room. The head master called upon Mr Stanaell, Mayor of Foxton, in the unavoidable absence of the Chairman of Committee, Mr Thynne, to address the assembled children and make the usial pleasing announcement. This Mr Stanaell did in bis wonted happy and oheerful style. At the close of his speech he intimated that through the liberality of some of the townspeople a number of " good attendance " prizes had been provided, and he then invited Mrs Stansell to present them to the fortunate and meritorious winners. Mrs Stansell smilingly consented, and with kindly courtesy addressed a few words of graoioos enoomragemtrit to eaoh of the prizttakeri as she handed them the books. The daily attendance register of the school showed that fits children — George Wakefield, Leonard Ingram, Ethel Birchley, and Bertha Dudson— had not been absent from school onot during the last six months ; and four— Josephine Dadson, Ella Sawyers, Claud Ingram, and James Cook—- had been absent only one half-day each. Hearty cheers, given with wonderful lung power, brought this part of the programme to a close. The usual prizes for the best ferns and pot plants, brightening the Head Master's classroom and cared for by the children, were then awarded, Mrs Stansell being tha judge. The winners were :— First, Roland Gil- j lespie ; second, Mabel Dudson ; third, James Fume ; fourth, Bird Sawyers, i The Standard children were then dismissed to the playground, and the oommitue and visitors proceeded tv the Infant room. Some sixty or seventy infant prodgieß were here, and eaoh of these was the delighted recipient of a " Christmas stocking " kindly presented by Mrs Btansell. After exhibiting some of their little accomplishments a pretty Christmas card was presented to eaoh by Miss Silby, their teacher, and Mr Stewart. Adjourning to the playground a farther treat was found to be in store for the already well-pleased scholars. Two large tins of lollies, provided by the generosity of Mr Rhodes, who is tlwayi to the front where children arc concerned, were broached by His Worship the Mayor himself and distributed lavishly and energetically as well as gracefully, of course, by ladiei present. The "scramble" was immense, and then the crowd of little ones dispersed, tired but happy. It is almost needless to say that the proceedings throughout were intersperced with the rhythmical ringing cheers that the Foxton schoolboys know io well how to give — for the Chairman and Committee, for Mr and~Mn Stansell, for Mr Stewart and the teachers, and for all and lundry. So the school- work of 1896 ended.