OUR SCHOOLS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 66, 22 December 1871, Page 3

OUR SCHOOLS.

THE MISSES DONOVAN’S SEMINARY. The following was unavoidably omitted yesterday, owing to a want of space : On Wednesday the breaking-up for the Christmas holidays took place at this seminary, and was celebrated by a distribution of prizes in the presence of large number of parents and friends. We noticed present:—Mesdames Wallnutt, by whom the various awards were presented, Heron, O’Meara, Hill, Kennan, Leah, Russell, Allen, Dewar, &c.; the Rev. Mr Buller (in the [chair), Rev. J. Hill, Dr. Sam. Messrs. Dewar and Wallnutt were also present. Mrs Wallnutt presented the following young ladies, in the different classes, with suitable prizes:— FIRST CLASS. Miss Lucy Ninnis, good conduct ; Miss Scott, grammar ; Miss Brown, composition and fancy work; Miss Ginn, geography ; Miss Kate Donovan, history and an additional prize for grammar ; Miss Godhard, writing; Miss Barnett, music. second class. Miss Dufty, writing; Miss Ann Dewar, arithmetic; Miss Fanny Ninnis, second prize for music; Miss Minnie Rosey, reading. THIRD CLASS. Miss Tookey, general improvement ; Miss M. A. Reddy, reading ; Miss Baxter, arithmetic. During the proceedings the company present were entertained by several of the pupils, who played and sang the pieces and songs allotted to them very tastefully and well. The Rev. Messrs. Buller and Hill addressed those present, complimenting the Misses Donovan on the good management which evidentlj* pervaded their seminary, and the prize-takers on their success. A cordial vote of thanks to the Mrs Wallnutt was passed, and after some more music the assembly broke up, everyone seemingly well pleased with the whole of the proceedings. MISS CAREY’S PRIVATE CLASS ROOMS. On Wednesday Miss Carey celebrated the break-up for the Christmas holidays by an afternoon party and dance to the pupils, many of the parents also being present. The various prizes had been distributed on Tuesday afternoon, the following _ young ladies being the principal recipients : —Misses Binney, Davis, Honiss, Read, Sniffer, and Alcock. The examinations have been going on during the past month, and the Ist prize was awarded to Miss Binney, who obtained the highest aggregate number of marks, Miss Davis being second. The children, during the afternoon, danced and played at various games,_ and thoroughly en joyed the treat so kindly prepared for tiicm by their instructress, Miss Carey. SIIORTLAND SCHOOL. The third annual distribution of prizes in the above school took place yesterday prior to breaking-up for the Christmas holidays. The school is conducted by Mr McKee. The progress made by the children during the past year is very satisfactory. Mostly all the classes were examined on Wednesday, and prizes provided for those whose progress was most satisfactory, and who acquitted themselves best at examination, The Rev James Hill proceeded to distribute the prizes at 11 o’clock. Prize List. Fifth Class : Ist prize, Samuel Robinson ; 2nd, William Pitkethley ; 3rd, M. Graham; 4th, William Baty; sth, A. Sherlock. Fourth Class : Ist prize, James Mease ; 2nd, William Greenville ; 3rd, William Thomas and A. B. Champion ;4th, William Fincher; sth, E. Saunders ; fith, C. Bagnail. Third Class: Ist prize, B Sutherland ; 2nd, A. M. Moll; 3rd, A. Locke. Second Class : Ist prize, M. Baty ; 2nd, M. J. Norton; 3rd, S. Mackic. Tne Rev. James Hill then addressed the children in an able and very appropriate speech, explaining the advantages of education, and that youth was the time for acquiring it, and encouraged them to prosecute their studies with firmness and energy, and concluded by moving a cordial vote of thanks to Mr McKee, which was heartily carried. Before responding to the vote of thaks Mr McKee called upon the Rev. P. Mason, A. 8., who had examined the fifth class to address the children. The Rev. Gentleman then proceeded to state that ho was much pleased to find the proficiency of that class, which he had examined. He would specially mention the thorough knowledge of British history which they seemed to have, as well as a good knowledge of English Grammar and Recitation. The Rev. Mr Hill here stated that Mr Porter (a visitor) had offered a prize for the boy whose conduct was best during the session past. The boys, being asked to name such, unanimously cried out James Moase. Mr McKee said he was sorry not to be able to give prizes to all, but hoped that all would agree, in that he had given prizes to those who best deserved them. He arrived at the decision of those who should get prizes by counting the number of marks each boy had during the session, which was in no case altered by the result of the examination. He was glad to be able to state that this school, which was the first opened on the Thames, being about four years, was in a flourishing condition, having an average attendance during that period of 85 pupils, and concluded by moving a vote of thanks to the Rev. J. Hill, the Rev. P. Mason, and Mr Porter, after which the school was dismissed.