HEADMASTER’S REPORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3715, 10 November 1927, Page 2

HEADMASTER’S REPORT.

The headmaster’s report was read and received and stated, inter alia that the work of the school has been seriously hampered by an epidemic form of influenza, which lias been very prevalent among both pupils and teachers for some weeks. The roll-numbers'of the various divisions of the school show very little variation, that of the secondary department, being 3(1, of the primary 415 and of the side school (15, hut the average attendances lmve been considerably below normal since the middle of October, except in the ease of the side school where the epidemic has not been so severely in evidence. At the main school the average attendances for the past three weeks have been 307.5, 281, 344.9 whereas for the previous two weeks the figures were 379.8 and 372.5. It will thus he seen that a considerable drop was experienced in the middle of the month.

Of the school staff consisting in all of I'd teachers no less than 9 have been off duty at different times this term for various reasons, chiefly by sickness, but Lam pleased to report that with both pupils and teachers normal conditions are now prevailing. On account of the epidemic the primary school- was closed from October 18th to October 25th, dur- . ing which period all buildings were thoroughly cleaned and washed out. It was not deemed necessary to close the secondary department or the side school. To-day in conjunction with the Instructor in Agriculture, I inspected the site offered by Mr. Perreau at your last meeting for school gardening purposes and attach and submit to you for your consideration Mr. Lange’s suggestions. Splendid progress is being made with the'erection of the secondary j building, which should he completed early in the New Year. With the consolidation of our up-to-date school building, ample playing areas; plus facilities for the teaching of swimming, I have no hesitation in saying that Foxton will fie seeind to no town of its size in the Dominion in the* matter of educational facilities. The period of annual examinations is at hand. Scholarships and Public Service Entrance examinations begin next week. Proficiency examinations will he held on November 30, and the matriculation examinations early in December. [

I wish to place on record the success attained by Olga Yorke, a pupil of the senior secondary classes in the recent Teachers’ Certificate examinations, she having obtained a partial pass for her “D” certificate.

It is probable that the three young probationers on the staff — Misses Spring and Hussey and Mr ,D. McMurray—will be admitted to the Wellington Training College next year, so that there are likely to be vacancies in the school in February next for suitably qualified probationary teachers. 'Schools break up for the sum-, mer vacation on December 16th, and it is proposed to follow again the custom of the past three years of holding the annual concert, the infants Christmas Tree and the annual prize-giving during the last week of the term.”