"BREAKING-UP."

Otaki Mail, Volume XXIII, 17 December 1920, Page 3

"BREAKING-UP."

I The Otaki State school children dispersed yesterday afternoon for the midsummer vacation. There was no formal ceremony, but. u number of parents assembled, together with members of the committee, and the children were regaled with a plentiful afternoon tea. A few races were also indulged in, and the kiddies spent a i pleasant time. The attendance, profidoncy and competency certificates vere also distributed to the winners. The thanks of the School Committee | ~e due to "Mrs Higgott (Jubilee I Hotel), Mr J. D. Howell (Central), and | Mr W. Sotheran (Family) for kindly | supplying cordials for the children. I PROFICIENCY AND EFFICIENCY ! : CERTIFICATES. ' The following proficiency and com- \ potency certificates were distributed I at the annual "break.ug-up" ccre- | atony at the Otaki State school yes- | -erday afternoon:— Proficiency: Walter. Arnold, Alfred J Bennett, Benjamin Heap, Charles List. , 1 Austin Wilton, Janet Smith, Isla j f .Cathie. .. ,} Competency: Charles Noble, Leslie , J Binns, Eeita Bennett, Eliza Cook.. | Myrtle Noble, Marjorie Penn. j , f There were no failures. 'J ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES. 1 The year just closed has been a disj! astrous one for school attendances,, i owing to the prevalence of sickness. >! \lanv children who attended most re- - -ularly had their record spoiled by , rfekneu. The following were the only who secured the first-class r attendance certificate (not absent ! m ore than five half-days): - Janet j Smith, Dorothy Smith, Olive Chandler, ! Alex. Dawson. ; TE HORO SCHOOL. i ANNUAL SCHOOL CONCERT. 1 j \s usual, the annual entertainment I ! and distribution of prizes in connec- | tion with the To Horo school, held last I night at the Te Horo Hall, proved a j splendid success. A very largo audience filled the hall, and the lengthy I programme was gone through to the I "reat enjoyment of all- Though not ! oerhaps, quite up to the very high I ,tandard of last, year's concert, the I -Mdron's items were distinctly credit- ! [bio showing that, very great care and ! ~ uch trouble had been taken in the : raining of the participants, while tho children showed much ability iu their i various efforts. Three dialogues were 1 taged In these the children were i ilmost word perfect, and in nearly j r-verv instance spoke their parts Nearly intelligently, and naturally, i ,-hieh is saying a great deal consider- | ; n g the young children who took part. ■ The. dressing and staging were also excellent An exhibition by five girls and hoop drill by the girls were very prettv and pleasing items, well earned out, while the Japanese song, is costume, was a dainty, sweet item. Two choruses by the senior children were much enjoyed. The children were well j under command of their conductor I (Mr G. W. Kirk), and their time was \ excellent, but. unfortunately, one or ! two items were out of tune. The same J -mplied to an otherwise splendid item by three boys, a song, entitled "In the i Ruin >' The choruses by the little 8 ones were particularly good. Much | attention has been given to the groupiinrr and dressing of these pieces, and the effect was admirable. Miss Stella Sawyer's recitation was emphatically „ encored. Miss Eva Windley contril buted a very nice pianoforte solo, and * Dick McLaren .-cored with a song. The • I only items given by adults were a j I pianoforte solo by Mrs McCallum and j n song by Mr Frank Penn. | At the conclusion of the excellent and lengthy programme, Mr H. Catley (chairman of the school committee) . complimented the children for their most creditable performance, and also returned hearty thanks to the teachers f or training the children. Special ! thanks were due to Miss Albie Mtttr, said Mr Catley. for assisting the children for weeks past by playing the accompaniments. Mr Catley then distributed the I prizes—a splendid lot of valuable and I appropriate books. The full prize list I will appear in our next issue. Supper was served, and dancing was then indulged in by the large number present. ! _ i WAIHOANQA. '• The children attending the Waiftoanga school had a pleasant time f esterdav, when a picnic was held in "the scho'dl grounds, and the children Were royally treated. A Christmas 'tree, laden with attractive toys, etc., provided keen enjoyment for the little ones.