FITZROY SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1917, Page 8

FITZROY SCHOOL.

ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. The annual concert and prize distribution in connection with Fitzrov school i took place in the Fitzroy hall last night. ( The audience that gathered taxed the seating capacity to its utmost, and ex- ( tra chairs had to be provided and a number of people obtained only standing room. Tlie stage had been tastefully decorated with flowers and ferns, and when the curtain rose and revealed the smiling faces of the juniors of the school, who were seated on the platform, the effect was exceedingly pleasing. Mr. S. W. Reid, chairman of the committee, presided, and recognising that the occasion was one in which the children deserved prominence, said he had decided that a speech from him would lie out of place. lie said a very attractive programme had been arranged and he knew the parents and friends of the children were anxious to hear them. The first part of the programme consisted of a number of choruses, songs, arid recitations given by the juniors. The choruses wore sung very well and tunefully, and the little soloists acquitted themselves creditably. The second part was given by the senior scholars," and consisted of a number of well-selected items, all of which were well given. A highly, diverting item in this part of the programme was a dialogue, entitled "A Little Pickle: of None so Blind as Those Who Won't See," in which all the if.ichievous doings of the village "bad boy'' were recounted, none of which, however, could be brought home to the realisation of. his fond guardian. Following were the items given: Juniors: Songs and choruses, "Santa Claus," "Play Song." "A Little Bird with Feathers Brown," "The Little Plant," "The Silvery Sands," . and a Christmas Carol. Recitations: "When I was at the Party,' - Roa Day: "The Runaway Snail," Norma Eva: -''Mr. Nobody," D Murison : and "isn't the Wind' a Trixie Sprite?" William Knowlcs. Seniors: Chorus, "Men of Harlech," "Rollicking Song of the Sea," "Sweet and Low," and "See the Conquering Hero," Koeitaiions: "Loss in Delay," Q. Senter; "Rosabelle," Evelyn White; "Aunt Ta'bitha," (!. Sorenson. Dialogue by Bertie Harvey, Allen Crupper, Arthur Asquith, Claude Grayling, Aloan Francis, and Maurice, Mills. The' headmaster (Mr. 0. Johnson) in his report said the 'school continued to maintain a high standard of efficiency as was shown by the results at the annual examinations, where all the 15 candidates presented secured proficiency certificates. Five candidates sat for the junior national scholarship, the result of which, of course, would not be known for some weeks yet. The roll number had grown consistently, the present total being 209 and the average attendance entitled the school to another assistant next year. The smallness of the playing ground was a great handicap in the matter of the school sports. The general behaviour of the children in school was referred to in terms of high praise. Mr. Johnson also referred to the success , of the recent school fete, and stated that many requests had been received that the fete might be made an annual one. He concluded by urging the parents of scholars to be prepared to make big sacrifices for the sake of their children's education, especially those whose children had gained proficiency certificates. He also expressed his thanks ' to the members of the committee for their support, and to the school staff for their loyalty during the year. Mr. P. H. J. White, a member of the Education Board, then addressed the audience and complimented the residents on the flourishing state of the Fitzroy school. He apologised for the inability of the chairman of the board to attend, and also for the absence of the other town member of the board, Mr, S. 0. Smith. Mr. White urged the scholars to remember that they were as much a ' part of the school as the teachers wore, and that really they were all teachers, for the teachers wore always learning something from the scholars every day. He urged them to keep on learning, as '. in that way they would be test able to serve their country. (Applause.) The prizes were then distributed by Mr. Wm. G. Eeid, who congratulated ! the children on their success. Each re- ; cipient was applauded on rpceiriiijf the award. At the conclusion of the pres- : entation cheers were given for tlv head-

master and also for thost who helped to make the recent fete a success. Cheers \i;ere given by the scholars for the members of the committee. The proceedings closed v»it'h the singing of •Rule Britannia." PRIZE LIST. Following is the prize list:— Standard (!.—Highest marks, boys Allan Crapper, girls Evelyn White; general proficiency. Doris Petch, Gudrun Sorensen; general progress., Arthur Asquith; general courtesy, boys Robert Scott, girls Lily Aroa; sewing, upper divison, Agnes Sorensen; English (Mr. Avery's prze), Maro Nops. Standard s.—Highest marks, boys Bertie Harvsy, girls Queenie Seftter; general proficiency, Amy Petch. . Standard 4.—Highest marks, boys Claude Grayling, girls Eileen Clcjan'd; general progress, Winnie Old. Standard 3.—j ugliest marks, boys Harry Farmer, girls Apua Skipper; general progress, Ivan Pepperill, Te Rata Day; sewing, Hazel Gunson. Standard 2.—Highest marks, boys Arthur Christian, girls Nellie Taylor; general progress, Harry Antony, Set on Richardson, Roy Jones, Una Allan, Lizzie Scott, Stella Jenkin. Special prize given by Miss Tolme: Neat homework, Arthur Grigg; prize given by Miss Tolme: Improvement in homework, Irene Locke. Standard I.—Highest marks, boys Roy Locke, girls Rita Fenwick; general progress, Leslie Barlow, Iry Booh. Special prizes:—Miss Tolme, neat homework, Maudie Linn : improvement in homework, Annie Hayward; Mr. T. Avery, conscientious work, Muriel Hall.. Primer marks, boys Stanley Mackie, girls Koa Day; general progress, Russell Bishop; special prize, care and neatness (0. Johnson's pTTzc), Hardwick. Each primer child received a book from Santa Claris. Attendance certificates.—Standard 0: Rob. Scott, Lily Afoai. li">ne Dickey, Agnes Sorensen. Standard 3: Marjory Dickey, Amy Petch, Ron Cleland, Norab Andrews, Winnie Knowles. Standard 4: .lobn Dickey, Eileen Cleland. Winnie Old, Archie Huggard. Standard :'!: Leslie Pycroft, Hazel Gunson, Apua Skipper, Fred. Goldsworthy. Standard 2: Vinson Aroa, Ivel Dickev, Elsie Goldsworthy, Frank Cleland, Willie Knowles, Clarice Chh-ers, Lizzie Scott, Stella -Tonkin. Nellie Harvey. Standard 1: Joe -Kinsella, Roy Locke. Louis Olivers, Don Parkin, Elsie Pycroft, Noreen Knowles, Ivy Koeh. Primers: Tommy Clarke, Wm. Cleland, Stanley Mackie. Lionel Dicker. Olms. Kinsella, Emily Pearce., Florence Cliivers, Clarence Gray, Blanche Coldsworthv.