ST. MARY'S SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1915, Page 3

ST. MARY'S SCHOOL.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Friday. This afternoon the breaking-up ceremony of the above school took place in tlie I'urish Hall, when a large gathering thoroughly enjoyed the eiitertainraen provided. Mr. W. 11. H. Young, chairman of the Board of Governors, presided, and Mr. B. Masters, a member of the Education Board was also present. The ActingPrincipal, Miss M. S. Fleming's report was as follows:—"We opened in February with sixteen pupils on the register, our roll-call is now seventeen. We have besides two outside pupils. The attendance on the whole has been good. Jn one or two eases, 1 know it has been quite necessary for the children to stay away,, but I should like to impress upon the parents the necessity of regular attendance. The school is divided into two parts—the preparatory under Miss -Shepherd, the upper school under myself. Jn the tipper school there are two divisions, in both divisions the form work comprise scripture, English, arithmetic, history, geography, nature study, English, literature, drawing, singing, drill, needlework. The seniors have additional subjects, French and -mathematics, and next year 1 hope to begin Latin. This year our nature study has been the llora and fauna of Xew Zealand, and in literature we have studied the Ancient Mariner (Coieridge), Evangeline (Longfellow), and selections from Tennyson, Newbolt and Scott. We are very grateful to the Ke.v. C. W, Howard for his kindness in taking the scripture class in the upper sehoof At the end of this term examination papers were set in all the subjects, find in mosl cases very satisfactory results were obtained. Good papers were sent in bv Muriel Young, Inez Dale, Cwen Good, and Marjorio Besley. We began Ibis ear with two boarders, (lie (~! m opened with three; thii term v -.e have four, and next year we have the prospect of opening with at" least siv or seven. The health' of the girls i m< been excellent, slight colds b.'ing the only ailjnent, a fact which speaks well for the healthy situation of the school, and the suitability of Stratford for a boardingschool. On account of the sma'.i lumbers, games are a difficultv, but through the energy of some of (he members of the Board we have the tejinis court, now in playing order, and next year we'hope to have a good team. 'Through the courtesy of Mr. Tyrer and the School Committee we have obtained the use of the swimming baths on Tuesday afternoons, and I hope to see all the girls avail themselves of this privilege. Owing to the war, no prizes are being presented this year, but, instead. Miss Marchant has sent out from England certificates which are to be given to the girls. These arc given on the whole year's work, so that the girls who have been at school only one or two terms, and in some cases have done very good work, are not able to compete. In the upper school, certificates are given to any girl who has 80 per cent, of the year's m aiks. I wish to express my great appreciation of the assistance given to me by Hiss Shepherd who lias been untiring in her efforts to promote the good of the school, I wish also to thank o the members and secretary of the Board for interest they have shown, and for their practical assistance in many ways, and the parents for their readiness to carry out any wishes 1 have expressed. There is one thing I would like to ask the parents, that is to see that their children have a (jiiiet room and a reasonable uninterrupted time to prepare their home wbrk. We provide it for the boarders, and if the day girls could get the same I am sure there would be no complaints about the amount of home work. .. „

Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., then presented the certificates as follows:—Lower Schools: Helen Abraham, scripture, arithmetic, reading, writing dirtstion; Mary Fookes. writing; Allan Budge, scripture, reading, arithmetic, writing! dictation; Vincent loung, arithmetic,' and dictation. " '

Upper School: Inez Dale, scripture, English, history, geography, French, drawing; Muriel Young, scripture, English, history, geography, French, sewing, drawing; Kitty Grant, sewing; Doris Hair, attendance; Dorothy Stevens, drawing. The chairman said the Board wished to thank Miss Fleming and Miss Shepherd for the excellent work done by the school. Miss Marchant, the Principal, had to leave for England early in the year on urgent business, and she was expected back early in April. He thanked the parents and others for their loyal support, .and trusted thev would continue it.

Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., thanked the chairman for the kind invitation to be present that afternoon, especially us it was the first church school in Tara'liaki. It was some time since the school had been mooted, and it had made strides, if not perhaps in boarders. Still it showed the school was a necessity, and he felt sure its success was assured. The teaching was on different lines to other schools. It was on church lines, which every ardent churchman appreciated. lie was an advocate for Bible reading in schools, flnd he. hoped it would soon be an accomplished facts.

Hcv. C. Howard, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Hine, said the school was moving along 111 a slow way, but lie felt sure the subjects provided must be in the interest of the school. He felt sure the school had the sympathy and support of the church, and the diocese. He hoped to see Miss Marehant back again shortly, and with that great energy displayed by her, he frit the success of the school was asslred. During the afternoon, the pupils, under Miss Shepherd, gave a most pleasing entertainment, the programme being ,as follows:—Song, f£ l\ule Britannia," singing class; piano duor, '"Spanish nance," Misses T. Dale and 0. Good; action song, ''Old Roger," preparatory elass; drill, Swedish exercises, upper school; nursery rhymes, preparatory class; three scenes from ''Cranford,'" upper school. God Save the King. At the conclusion of the entertainment the Board of Governors invited those present to afternoon tea, which, needless to say, was more than appreciated.