Foxton State School.

Manawatu Herald, 18 June 1898, Page 3

Foxton State School.

BREAKING-UP. Yesterday afternoon should be a redletter day in the minds of the scholars of the Foxton State School, as not only was it " breaking-up " day for the mid-winter holidays, but it was also the day when one and all' of the children received a present from the Committee. According to the usual custom of past yearsr-the Committee had set apart a sum of money for the purchase of books as prizes for those passing best in the Inspector's examination, but an energetic member, in the person of Mr Simmonds, desired that all the children should have some memento, and he set about the task of collecting extra iunds so satisfactorily that he secured nearly £20, and this sum, added to the Committee's advance from the school account, enabled some 260 books to be obtained and which were duly distributed. Only two members of the Committee were able to attend, viz., Messrs Westwood and Hennessy, and the task of opening the proceedings was placed on Mr Westwood. He reminded the children, who, with the exception of the Infant division, were assembled in the Head Master's room, that the midwinter holidays would now commence, and he hoped that during the holidays the scholars would try not to forget what they had already learnt. He gave a little sketch of his past school days and recalled the pleasure he experienced at receiving prizes from his teacher. That day every child was going to receive a prize whether they were good or bad (here the Head Master interjected that there were no bad boys or girls in the school !) He was not prepared for a long speech, but he trusted they would all enjoy themselves and keep as good as they could. Mr Westwood further, apologised for the absence of the Chairman of the Committee (the Rev. R. Young), and the other members of the Committee, and then proceeded to hand to the scholars the prizes and gifts. Special Merit Frizes were awarded, on the Inspectors' marks, to the following for beat answering all round in their respective Standard VI. — George Archibald and Nellie Harris. Standard IV.-»-Bishop Langdon and Percy Jenks, equal, May Duackley and Lizzie White, equal. Standard Hl.— Llewellyn Jenks, Onyx Fraser and Ella Sawyers. Standard H.— Arthur O/erend and Fred. Bobinson, equal, Morea Alzdorf, Annie Scanlon, Esther Withers and Amy Harris, t equal. Standard I. — Gordon Bobinson and Con- j stance Overend. I Mr Hennessy, at the conclusion of j Mr AVestwood's address, went to the ; Infant Room and he called their att en- ' *tion that they all got prizes for the first time that day, and he hoped they would be pleased with them. He trusted they would enjoy the coming holidays and try and behave themselves p properly and to the credit of the town. He then gave to the smiling little ones the nice books obtained by the Committee. After the prizes had been distributed the Head Master referred to the excellent results of the last examination, and he generally praised the children for their behaviour during the examination, as well as during the year, and especially that day. Three cheers were given for the _^Head Master and teaching staff; for the Chairman of the Committee and Acting-chairman; and for Mr Simmonds. Atihe close of the proceedings Mesdames Walsh, Alzdorf and Overend

kindly acted as judges in the fern competition, and the prizes were awarded as follows : — 1, George Archibald ; 2, Ida Robinson; 3, James Fume; 4, Leslie Bradcock. Afterwards in the school ground lollies were scrambled for. The books were obtained from Mr Alf. Fraser's stationer's depot, and were excellent value for the prices charged.