HIGH SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 172, 13 May 1955, Page 1

HIGH SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Committee Chairman's Review Ohere was an attendance of some forty odd at the public meeting held at the Taupo District High School on AVednesday evening, April 27, to elect a School Committee for the onsuing two years. Mr \V. Tj. Ilaines. chairman of the outgoing Committee, presented a report covering the activities of the past two years- ridic ( Tmmittee elected in April, 1953. had eonsisted of Mrs J. Pearce, Miss K. G. Lewis and Messrs W. L. Haines, W. J.. Murray (secretary), T. Burt (treasurer), C. E. Baker, W. L. Fulljames, A. Kennedy and J. W. Robertsbn. During the period Mr Burt and Miss Tyewis had resigned, the vacancies being filled by Mr A. Tierney and Mr N. Sorenson, while Mr Murray had taken over the duties of treasurer. In April, 1953, there had been ten classrooms in three blocks. In 1953 a double-unit pre-fabricated block was ereeted, and in 1954 a self-con-tained block of three classrooms, conveniences and furnace room was built. The School was still pressed for accoinmodation, and another prefabricated unit would be required this year. In coraparison with other schools they were fortnnate in having modern buildings wi tD only one "prefah" to date. The Infant Block and the Old Block had recently been painted. The Education Board had recently agreed, after protracted correspondence, to the provision of bicvcle racks. Assurances had been received from the Board that er'ection of a new High School and Manual Training block would be commenced shortly, on the 15-acre Spa Road propert.v, acquired through the nnremitting efforts of the previous Committee. It was anticipated that this would be a six-rooin block of latest design plus manual training facilities. Completion of this block would relieve pressnre on the primary school accommodation for some time to come. School Roll and Staff The total school roll was 505. The Primary roll stood at 420, but was subjeet to fluctuation. 4n the staff at present there were one senior assist.ant ; one infant mistress ; three assistant masters ; one senior assistant mistress: two assistant mistresses ; two probationary assistants : one relieving assistant. Including the headmaster, the total Staff numbered 15, plus a part-time clerical assistant. During the Committee's term of office the Headmaster, Mr J. R. Osborne, left to take up a new appointment, and following a term with a relieving Headmaster, Mr H. McDonald, Mr G. Foote had taken up his appointment as Headmaster in September last. Recently the four-acre block adjacent to the School had been cleared, grassed and fenced, giving a much needed playing area, and sites for future out-lying primary schools had been acquired by the board. The rapid growth of the school had necessitated the employment of a fulltime caretaker and a part-time assistant cleaner, these positions having been filled by Mr and Mrs Mavs. Mrs T- Rickit, who had been cleaner fo)* many years, rendered sterling service and her resignation had been uceepted with regret. Home and School Association The Home and School Association 'iad made very genei'ous gifts of iiioncy to the School. including £o0 a>ward the pui'chase of a now ]>iano. B108 toward a film ])rojector. and n lier amounts toi' foothall jersevs. ( Continued on Page 2)

( ( 'onfiiiiied 1 1 * >111 piiye 1 i iibrary buoks and Iut'ant Depnri ment | materials. In 1953 the Assoeiai ion | helpert the Committee and Stal'f in running a Gala Day when over £100 was raised for school funds. Major items purchased by the Committee i'or the School 011 Government £ for £ subsidy had been : An Aldis lilm pro.jeefor, £GS ; niovie lilrn projector. £210 (£10S from Home and School Associa t ion ) : Duplicator, £42: T.vpewriter, £50: Piano, £205 (£50 from Home and School Associa t ion ) : Connection of the School to the municipal power supply had enabled much greater conuminity use of the School premises to he made. An auction sale organised hy the Committee in .Timo. 1954, had raised over £100. thanks to the generosily of pnrents and pnhliei Thanks The Conmdltee wished to thank the Napier Frivolity Minstrels for theii' annual coneerts in aid of School I Funds, and the local timher niill owners for their free supply of wood for heating the school. a major item with the grOAVtli of the school. The wood had been sawn by members of the School staff and the Committee in their own time. Tlie Chairman also thanked Comniilteo nienil)ers, I Ieadniaslers and StalT, the Home and School Assoeiatiou, and parents and others for their co-operation, and the Taupo Times for its recording of school activities. Ilis report concluded with a tribute to the sterling work done by Mr Jack Murray as secretary and treasurer, an exacting task. The books and accounts for the financial year had been returned by the Government Auditor without a query. a fact which spoke for itself. The report was adopted on the niotion of Mr B. J. Baumberg, seconded by Mr A. Kennedy. The meeting tlien proceeded to the election of tbe| new committee, as reported in last week's Times.