WEST END SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 303, 18 December 1908, Page 4

WEST END SCHOOL.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. The annual ceremony of prize distribution at the schools again emphasises the close approach of Christmas. The breaking-up ceremony of the West End School took place yesterday afternoon. The huge gymnasium was filled with the pupils of the school, besides a large number of parents and friends.' The usual songs which accompany such functions were rendered by the children. Mr. H. J. Gilbert (chairman of the School Committee) presided, and in opening the proceedings, apologised for the absence of the Mayor (Mr G. Tisch), who was unable to attend owing to | other engagements. Mr. Gilbert then called on Mrs. Dowling (head mistress) to read the annual report, which was as follows: —Prizes were being given for attendance, merit, sewing and shooting, and one to each infant. As regards attendance a first-class prize was being given for full attendance, and a second-

class prize to those who hud not missed 'more than ten times. The staff wterto still of opinion that attendance prists should be encouraged. They recognised that there were some hardships such as instances of sickness, where the intentions had been 'good, but illness had prevented children attending. But allowing for such exceptional eases they wished to encourage good attendance' and punctuality for tire moral effect. The regular attendance inspired a love for work and a regard for the school, which would react 011 the whole future life of the child. From a monetaryq .point of view, the upkeep of the school depended upon the attendance, the committee's allowance for cleaning and small ,repairs, etc., being paid on the average. The parents were taking up this mutter of regularity, their evident sympathy being most gratifying. It showed in the increased number of attendance prizes each year. 111 1001 there were 2.3 full attendance prizes and 34 good; in 1005, 30 full and 47 good; in 1000. 40 full and 03 good; in 1007 (a year of sickness). 2S full and 40 good; while this year there were 50 full and 03 good. This year 25 hoys and 25 girls made full attendances, and 32 hoys and 31 girls good. 'l*his was the first occasion on which the boys had attendel better than the girls. The parents and the children were also beginning to see lhat those who attended all the time

received the full value of the teaching, and with perseverance on their part and encouragement 011 the part of parents. must come out on top in i.»e long' run. Again, others loss gifted needed all the time to make average progress. In conclusion, the headmistress thanked the parents for the help they had rendered the teachers in ill's matter. It was good to see all take an interest in (he welfare of the school, as it was pleasing to the pupils and encouraging to the staff. Mr. Gilbert then presented the prizes as follows: Full attendance—Olive George, Agnes Hooker. Freda Johnston, Ivy Thompson, Elsie White, Nora George, Alice Howell, Lottie Hamilton, .Madge Jury, Marv Tiplady. lda Gardner, Nora Moore, Mary McWhiuney, Bessie Sisley, Irene Thompson, Mona Eraser, Gladys Gilbert, Alice George, Emily Bennett;, Alice llart, Dorecu Moore, Rita Martin, Ida Mills, Myrtle Sheppard, Evelyn George, Reggie Brokenshirc, Harold Blyde, Bertie White, Harold Johnson, Iliorns Mandor, Harry Patterson, Ken. Brokenshire, Gordon Jury, Fred. Sheppard, Leonard Aroa, Walter Bennett, JiVe Hamilton, Roy Hoskin, Percy Sheppard, George Way, Diclt Wilson, Raymond Cock, Bertie Gardner, Royce Hooker,

Norman Brokenshire, Henry Bennett, Alfred Downs, Laurie Gilbert, Newtown Stewart, Roddie Morrison. Good attendance, not missed more than 10 times—Veta Gilbert, Doris Gilbert, Flora Collins, Hilda Hollo, lv'eitha Wallrtch, Edith Busby, IJjlda Jury, Myra Ilea, Marjory Smith, Olive Inch, Sybil Jackson, Olive Jackson, Winnie Newell, Margaret Brown, Gladys Morgan, Hope Jlart, Ilildabell Cock, Edna Lammerton, Elbe Tiphuly. Nellie White, Joyce Wilson, Eileen Lye, Eileen John son, Grace Collins, Rita llobson, Monica Newsam, Winnie Hawker, Myra Johnson, Edith Downs, Edith Lynch, Sinai Morgan, Archie Bacon, Frank Sheppard, Roy MeGivcu, Leslie Pipe, Harold Evetts, Jini Inch, Spencer Newsani, William Eordycc, Ken. Jury, Harold Gardner, Allan Mills, Darcy Newall, Keith McCracken, lan Roy, Ernest Reilly, Alex. Siil'leet, Henry Shaw, Raymond Cocker, Willie Olliver, Teddi'e Wa-', Stanley Hart, Lionel Johnson, Leonard Fuller, Leonard Bullot, Jack Darney,

I Jack White, Reggie Edgceumbe, Arthur Aroa, Tom Logan, Allan Watkin, Keith Xodder, John Russell, Keith Thomson. PRIZES OF MERIT. Standard IV.—Girls: Alice Cocker I, Eileen Pipe 2. Boys: Reggie Brokenshire I, Rupert Ward 2. Standard A'.—Girls: Annie Dullard 1, flora Collins 2. Boys: Fred Coleman 1, Harold Johnston 2. Standard IV.—Girls: Joyce Wilson 1, Mvra Roa 2. Boys: Ken. Jury 1. Ray Lepine 2. Standard Hl.—Girls: Sybil Jackson 1, Alma Russell 2. Boys: lan Roy 1, Km Brokens'hire 2. Standard IL—Girls: May Lynch 1, Alice Barnes 2. Boys: Sidney Whitehead 1, Willie Hughes 2. Standard L—Girls: Lily Reed 1, Rita Martin 2. Boys: Raymond Cock I, Rovce Hooker 2. Sowing prizes.—Standard YT.: Winnie Morrison; Standard V.: Flora Collins; Standard IV.: Nellie Ilurie; Standard HI.: Amy Shaw: Standard II.: Alma Shaw; Standard 1: Irene Bullot. Earlier ju the afternoon about 120 prizes were presented to the children in the infant classes. The children's present to the tenchcis were also presented' by Mr. Gilbert, who, in doing so, remarked that a present from the children, no matter how small, showed the good feeling existing between them, lie then handed Mrs. Dowling a silver cake-dish on behalf of her class and wished her the compliments of the season. Mrs. Dowling thanked the pupils f'»r their present. She hoped t'llev would try and get on wrll in the world. "If* they did as well for others as they had

done fur her, thcv should hare 110 trouble in doing this. The oilier presents to the teachers were as follows, each teacher thanking the seholars with a few appropriate remarks:—.Miss Poll, iiaml-hag; "Miss Alynotl, cut-glass seen) lxdtle: Mls-s Alelsaacs. gold pin; Messrs. Hare. Kvetts and Meyonborg. poekol hooks. A box of elioeolates was pr:'per.tod on behalf of Afr. fl. :illan<-lia-d to the teachers.

Tll coticludiiig, Ah\ flilhert llianke:l III" molliers and friends for attending in such largo numbers. The attendance of pal'ents and friends constituted a record, Tt was appreciated bv the commitlee and scholars ns well as bv 1 lie lynchers, to whom it cave gro.it encourn«<>iu,<""ik. 71 0 also thanked Alossr* fl. Tiscli and fl. TSlanrlmrd and \r,s. liullard for donations to the prize fund