CENTRAL SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1922, Page 6

CENTRAL SCHOOL.

BREAKING-UP CEREMONY. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The annual breaking-up ceremony and presentation of prizes in connection with the Central school took place yesterday afternoon in the Workers Social Hall, which was crowded with scholars, parents and friends of the school. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., chairman of the school committee, presided, and there were also present: Mr. F. E. Wilson (Mayor of New Plymouth) ; Mr. Sims, member of the Board of Education, several members of the school committee, Mr. Mcllroy, acting headmaster, and the staff.

Proceedings opened with a short programme of musical items, splendidly rendered by the pupils. The action songs in costume being particularly bright. In every ease the children, who showed evidence of careful training on the part of their teachers, were accorded enthusiastic encores. The programme comprised: Action song, ‘‘The GaySeaside.” standard 1 girls,” encored; song, ‘•'Lad’s Love,” Joyce Waters; dialogue. “Humptv Dumpty,” Nita Gopperth and Jack Birch; action song. “April Showers,” standard 4 girls: physical drill, senior boys; duet, “Whispering Hope.” Phyllis Coker and Noeline Thomson; floral'hoop dance, junior girls. The accompaniments were played by Misses B. Jones and Heal (piano) and Miss M. Ladner (violin).

Prior to the addresses, beautiful bouquets of flowers were presented to the Mayoress and Mrs. S. G. Smith. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P.. chairman of the committee, extended a welcome to the parents, whom he thanked for their ; attendance. It was very pleasing io the ; staff and the committee to note the inI creasing interest that was being taken !in educational matters by parents, m i contrast with the lack of interest no--1 ticea’bltF a few years ago. All regretted ; the absence of Mr. H. A. Stratford, th? | headmaster, through illness, and lie would like the girls and boys’ staff and : parents to approve, of a suggestion riiat | he would make, viz., that a message of hope that he be soon restored to health should be sent to Mr. Stratford.

This was carried with acclamation. Continuing. Mr. Smith said that owing to the absence of Mr. Stratford, there would be no report from the headmaster, but this would he presented at the annual meeting of householders in April. He would like to thank the staff on the excellent results achieved this year. The standard of education right from the primers to Standard 6 was not excelled by any other school in New Zealand, and he complimented the staff and scholars on the success achieved this year. The Mayor said that he had been asked by Mr. .Stratford to give an address on loyalty. He knew the children all loved their school.) went willingly to it, and did their best for it. What, he said, was the meaning of loyalty? Well, he understood that the boys and were going in for a brand new uniform, black and old gold, and when out on the streets and away from the eyes of their teachers and parents they should see that 'they behaved themselves as pupils of the Central school should do, as otherwise people would know by the uniform that they were pupils of the school, and they would therefore bring discredit on it. During the holidays he urged them never to forget that they belonged to the big school of the town. Two years ago he had said that good as the school was, they could make it better if they carried out three little maxims, viz., “Stick at their work,” “Do their hardest,” and “Do their very best” If they Jived up to these they need never be ashamed of their uniform and when a stranger asked which school the Central was they could say “The School.” It rested with them to make the Central not only the best school in New Plymouth, but the best in New Zealand. They should start the year by saying they intended to do better than over before, and they could top the list at the end of the year, and that certainly was worth trying for.

Mr. Mcllroy said that he had been asked by Mr. Stratford to convey to the girls and boys his wishes for a happy holiday. He extended his thanks to the teachers for their assistance during the year, and the staff for their assistance to himself. While he had no report to submit, he said,.that the year as a whole, had been a very successful one. The pupils had worked exceedingly well, and while some few had not earned promotion they must dot be down hearted. He concluded by wishing them all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and pleasant holidays. The children responding “Same to you. Sir.” Cheers were then given for the teachers, masters, Mayor and Mayoress, and chairman of committee, and the gathering concluded with the National Anithem. THE PRIZE LIST. Standard 6. Proficiency.—Noeline Thomson 1. Arthur Mills 2, Keith Grusznlng 3, Frank Davis 4. Cecil Smith 5, Mavis Pascoe 6, Grace BaunNeat Home-work.—Lily Clow. Needlework. —Helen Barnet. Character.—Lois Brooker. Most Improvement.—Fay Wright. Essay on "Anzae Day”.—Keith Gruszning 1, Victor Croker 2, Frank Davis 3. Standard 5. Proficiency.—Jean Julian 1. Harry Kendrick 0 Gwyneth Gillespie 3, Ronald Davis 4. Muriel Boyle 5, Gertrude Layton G, Phyllis Bennett 7, Bovd Mace and Eric Hartley 8. Home-work—Girls: Launa Hammond. Boys: Noel Way. Needlework.—Gertrude Layton. Progress.—Girls: Madge Stagpoole. Boys: Malcolm Cottam. Standard 4. Proficiency.—Wyndham Barnett 1. Florence Peterson 2. Dulcie Bennett 3, Kola Honeyfield 4. Donald Curtis 5, Roy Mcllroy 6, Mofawny Cook 7, Hazel Ford S, Rebecca Hart 9. Home-work. —Winnie Le Page. Needlework. —Alice Hughes. Special Progress.—Sydney Hartnell, Dulcie Wright. Standard 3. Proficiency.—Miriam Allen and Douglas Elliott 1, Phyllis Harvey 3, Nellie Kendrick 4, Bonnie Stanley 5, Jean Girling and Dulcie Cobb G, Tom Parkinson 8, Ray Hogarth 9. Home-work. —Nellie Kendrick. Needlework. —Annie Warner. Special Progress. —Brian Billing, Kitty Har-

Standard 2. Proficiency.—Edith Hedley 1, John Birch 2, Ronald Jones 3, Dolores Jelljunan 4, Gordon Linklater 5, William Liley .6, Rowe Dingle 7. Needlework.—Lorna Derby. Special Progress.—Reginald Cook 1, Donald Smith 2, Ivan Cattley 3, Edith Childerstone 4. Standard 1. Proficiency.—Kenneth Rea I, Joan Harvey 2, Allan Rankin 3, Harry Taylor 4, Jean Henderson 5, Richard Edgecombe 6, Gordon Mackay 7, Margaret Fookes 8. Home-work. —Erie Coleman, Betty Bullock. Needlework.—Nellie Rankin, Lily Soar. Special Progress.—Roy Cottam, Lois Echlin, Betty White, John Cooper, Wynn Wilson. Sports Prizes. • Best Athletes.—Thomas Taunt, Mary Lee. Best Batting Average.—Edward Arnold. Labor Daj- Relay Team.—T. Taunt, R. Taylor, H. Kendrick, J. Warner. Proficiency.—Life saving certificates: Stuart Black, Reginald Field.

COURTENAY STREET INFANTS. The presentation of prizes to the infants took place at the Courtenay Street school in the morning. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., chairman of the committee, presided, and there were also present: Mr. Sims, a member of the Board of Education, and a considerable number of parents and friends of the school. The children, under the supervision of the infant mistress, Mrs. Martin and her staff, rendered a number of items very prettily, including: Song, “Nursery Rhymes,” primer 1; song, “Lullaby,” and recitation. “Daffodil,” primer 2; rounds and also recitation, “Jack the Giant Killer.” with Clifford Broad as Jack, and “The Fly,” primer 3.

Mr. Smith expressed regret at the illness of Mr. H. A. Stratford, and expressed the hope that he would soon be restored to health. As chairman of the committee he wished to publicly congratulate the staff on the splendid results aclpeved, parents fully recognising that Mrs. Martin and her staff had carried out their duties under most unfavorable conditions. He regretted that the new school was not sufficiently far advanced to permit of this ceremony being held In it. The next important event in connection with the infant school would be the'official opening- of .the Courtenay Street school, and if the new school laid the foundations of the education of the future citizens of New Plymouth as thoroughly as had been the case in the old school. New Plymouth would be very fortunate. The committee was very pleased with the way the children had worked and had helped the teachers, and he expressed the hope that all would have an enjoyable holiday. Mrs. Smith then presented the prizes, each recipient being applauded. Mr. A. L. Mcllroy, acting headmaster, delivered a message from Mr. Stratford, who wished the children the very best of holidays. He also expressed pleasure at seeing so many visitors who were accorded three hearty cheers, as were also Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Martin and the staff. Each child was then presented with a bag of sweets. Primer 3. Proficiency.—Frances Bullock 1. Marjorie Harvey 2, Dean Eyre 3. Winnie Burrows 4. Scripture.—Laurie Buckley 1, Mavis Frethey “ Good Oral Work.—Dean Eyre, Cameron TurGood Progress—Alan Lomas. Reading and Recitation—Erice Pearce. Writing.—Florence Horton. i Drawing and Modelling.—-Gladys MontI gomerie. 1 Recitation.—Clifford Broad. Full Attendance—Laurie Buckley, Theo Boulton. Errol Bridger, George Best, Phyllis Campbell, Jack Cobh. Leonard Cattley, Gladys Montgomerie, Ruby Stewart, Jaimes Sutherland, Frank Sykes, Bertie Terrill. Primer 2. Proficiency.—Lena. Hughes 1. Millicent Sykes and Roy Goodin 2. Bertie Elliot 3. Scripture. —Phyllis Thomson. Full Attendance. —Dorothy Horton, Bernice Mackay, Grace Morrison, Millicent. Sykes, Leslie Betts, George Brabyn, Hector Luxon, Notion Goldsmith. Primer 1. Proficiency—Colin Demchy 1, Gladys Preacher 2, Audrey Martin 3. Scripture—Reginald Julian. Full Attendance—Colin Hardgrave.