SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 249, 18 September 1940, Page 2

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

PALMERSTON NORTH BOARD

BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS

The Palmerston North High Schools Board of Governors met last evening, those' present being Mr M. H- Oram (chairman), Mrs M. Aitchison, Messrs W. H. Brown, J. A. Nash, W. RBirnie and A. A. Langley. The chairman reported that advantage had been taken of the holidays to effect a number of renovations and repairs to buildings, especially at the Boys’ High School.. During the month advice of a grant of £22 lor expenditure on improvements to the water system leading to the showers in the boys’.gymnasium was received and the work completed during the holidays. The principal of the Girls’ High School (Miss E. E. Stephens) reported that tlie roll now stood at 242. There bad been four new enrolments this week (all transfers from other districts) and six girls had left to take up positions. The new building was progressing steadily. In connection with the grass area at the back, Miss Stephens suggested that its usefulness for winter games , was. so limited that it would be a wiser policy to leave it as it is. and concentrate their efforts on a new hard court at the side of the school. This would be more useful for allweather games, and would be a_ great help'to basketball and tennis. —It was. decided to refer the matter of the grass area to the city curator (Mr P. Black; for a report. The Education Department, Miss Stephens added, had circularised all schools asking them to take some steps towards commemorating the Centennial year by stimulating interest in native trees. “In this connection I have to record an extremely generous gift to the school by Mr B. H. Just of a collection of native trees and shrubs, most of them choice pot-grown specimens. The trees 'have been planted in the front and south beds of the school, and as they grow, some of the older shrubs there will be due for removal, and a very interesting and varied nat've shrubbery will be established. Both the species and tlie particular plants were chosen carefully, and the total collection numbers over 20 plants.”—Tt was decided to thank Mr Just for his generous gift. The rector of the Boys’ High School (Mr J. Mu’-rav) reported: “The school's first hockey eleven took part in thO’ New Zealand Hockey Association’s, secondary schools tournament and I wish to" place on record the success of the eleven in reaching the finals of their section, in which they were narrowly defeated by the Auckland Grammar eleven by one goal in the play-off of extra time at. the conclusion of a draw. The roll now is 327.”: —The board decided io congratulate the hockey team on the excellent results it bad achieved. It W'i decided that Mr E. R. Hodge, the Wanganui Education Board s architect, be asked to report as soon as possible on the oainting of outside woodwork at the Boys’ High School and any general maintenance work deemed necessary, so that application mav bo made to the Education Department for authority to have this done from the endowment income maintenance fund. The director of the Technical High School (Mr H. M. Scott) reported that a new record bad been achieved in the school’s Daffodil Daw effort. The net sum of just over £IOO was available, and the proceeds’ of the Old Students’Association Daffodil Day dance were still to be received. It was nroposod to divide the money between the minesweeners’ comforts._ soldiers’ narcels. aeroplane, and patriotic zone funds. Boys of the day trades classes were now soldering some 470 cake tins for the local soldiers’ parcels committee. A third parcel of knitted wear from dav school wear bad been sent forward to the Navy League. Dr. Durwa.rd had given to tlie sports funds bis fees for examining pupils in. preliminary first aid. Tlie Palmerston North City Council bad sent its annual donation of £2O. Mr Potter would start his leave of absence at the end of this week, and would take up duties in Trentbam Camp. Mis° E. L. Thompson would leave on Friday to take no duties at tlie Wcstimrt Technical High School, and Miss Watson would take up her duties here on October 2. —It was decided to congratulate the school on the success of its Daffodil Day appeal. , , _ ,_. , Tt was decided that the Boys’ High School hold its breaking-up ceremony in the evening of December 12 and the Girls’ High School on the afternoon of tlie same day. The ceremony at the Technical School will be held on December 5.