HIGH SCHOOL PROGRESS

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 86, 11 September 1953, Page 1

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRESS

THREE NEW CLASSROOMS Cabinet approval has been given to the acceptance of a tender for the erection of three additional classrooms at the Taupo District High School. This information is contained in a letter dated September 3rd to Mr P. Kearins, M.P., from the Hon. R. M. Algie, Minister of Education. The Minister's letter states that the Primary roll at Taupo had increased from 252 in 1951 to 356 this year, while the Secondary roll had grown from 23 to 51. It was expected that by 1954 the Secondary roll would rise to 70 and would continue to increase steadily in tho future. Nine classrooms were required for the present Primary roll and three classrooms for the Secondary pupils. Present accommodation on the four acre site consisted of ten rooms, so that there was an immediate deficiency of two rooms and three additional rooms at least would be required to cater for the 1954 roll. Headmaster's Report i In a report dated September 1st, made to the School Committee, Mr J. R. Osborne, headmaser, stated that the Primary roll was now 380 and the Secondary roll 45, a total of 425, 18 more than the figure mentioned in the Minister's letter. The Primary roll was 74 more than at the same time last year. With a Primary roll of between 361 and 401 the School was entitled to the following staff: — 1 senior assistant master, 3 assistant masters, 1 Infant mistress, 1 senior assistant mistress, 3 assistant mistresses, 1 probationary assistant, a total of ten, excluding the headmaster. Thus with the departure of Mr Ogston they were three permanent primary teachers shorfc. The Education Commission had advertised all these positions and had said they would endeavour to prbvide relieving assistants meantime, The headmaster advised that the Home and School Association were prepared to co-operate in arranging a Field Day and had suggested the first Thursday in October, and he now suggested that some School Committee members meet representatives of the association and the School Staff to arrange details. Royal Visit. Mr Osborne reported that some 195 children had signified that they wished to go to Rotorua to take part in the Children's Reception to the Queen in the High School grounds on January 2nd, 1954. The H.B. Motor Company could provide one bus only, so that it was proposed to use V-plate trucks, which would cost £52/10/-. He had asked the Rotorua Centre to indicate whether the whole cost would be borne by the Government. The H.B. Company's bus would take Waitahanui and Oruanui children, who would need first to be brought to Taupo or Wairakei, as the H.B. Company had advised that they could not travel outside their own area.