TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 8

TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION CEREMONY ASSEMBLY HALL NEEDED The need of a commodious assembly hall at the Takapuna Grammar School was stressed at the prize distribution ceremony yesterday afternoon. The function, which was largely attended by parents, was presided over by Professor A. P. W. Thomas, chairman of the Board of Governors. Associated with him were Mr. E. Aldridge, Mayor of Devonport, and Mrs. Aldridge, Mr. J. W. Williamson, Mayor of Takapuna, and Mrs. Williamson, Mr. A. Harris, M.P., and Mr. W. W. Baker, a member of the board. The chairman expressed regret that the function had to be held in a public hall, and expressed the hope that a fitting school assembly hall would be provided in time for the next ceremony. In referring to the improvement of the school facilities during the past year, he said that within the next few days a tender would be accepted for the laying out of cricket and football fields, for which a grant had been received. According to the headmaster, Mr. C. M. Littlejohn, the school had 422 pupils when it opened this year, and at the beginning of the third term there were 372, a number of boys having found employment in the City. A tennis court had been laid down out of funds raised by the pupils, but other courts .would soon have to be formed. After referring to the improvements effected during the year, the headmaster commended the provision of an assembly hall to the board. Meantime, he urged that a commodious gymnasium to serve the dual purpose of an assembly hall and recreation room should be constructed on the grounds, and he appealed to public-spirited

North Shore residents to assist toward this end. The headmaster commented upon the elevation of the senior cricket and football teams, to senior rank in the secondary schools competitions. A great impetus was reported in swimming' and life-saving. Of the certificates of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, the school had obtained 318, this number being exceeded by only one other school in the Dominion, while in the number of certificates for ability to swim 880yds, the school’s total of 213 was easily the best for New Zealand. In life-saving, four boys and one girl had obtained the honorary instructor’s certificate and badge, while 31 boys and 5 girls had qualified for the proficiency certificate and bronze medallion. In the examinations -at the end of 1928, seven boys and seven girls passed the University Entrance Examination, four pupils gained senior national scholarships and two passed the Public Service examination. This year 48 boys and 48 girls had been awarded senior free places by recommendation, two boys secured passes for the teachers’ D certificate, while eight pupils obtained partial passes in more than one group. From the school’s newly - formed post - matriculation form. 10 pupils had obtained higher leaving certificates.