END OF YEAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1938, Page 7

END OF YEAR

ST. MATTHEW’S COLLEGIATE SCHOOL

GATHERING IN ASSEMBLY HALL.

GOOD PROGRESS MAINTAINED.

The Assembley Hall of the St Matthew's Collegiate School for girls was crowded last night with parents and others on the occasion of the annual break-up ceremony. Members of the Board of Governors were on the platform, together with the Principal. Mrs Max Cleghorn, and Professor G. W. Von Zeidlitz, the speaker of the evening. The Rev E. J. Rich, chairman of the Board of Governors presided. “It is my privilege, in the name of the Board of Governors," said Mr Rich, “to welcome the parents and friends of the girls who have come tonight to this annual prize-giving function and showed their interest in the work of the school. I do want to tell you that it is encouraging to the board members when they came to the end of another year in the history of this school to find that there are so many people interested in the work that they are trying to do, and by their pesence here tonight ■ show in a practical way that interest.” Referring briefly to certain aspects of the school work, Mr Rich proceeded to make reference to the great loss the school had suffered through the death of Mr H. M. Peacock, who had been a keen, enthusiastic and valuable member of the board. Mr Peacock, said Mr Rich, -was a man of sterling character, and it would be hard to find anywhere a man who was more willing to put into practice the ideal of service and the ideal of stewardship. After referring to the high standing Mr Peacock had attained in his profession, Mr Rich stated that his place on the board had been taken by Mr P. G. Ramsay, whom they welcomed to his official seat on the platform that night. Mr Ramsay had brought not only his personal interests in the well-being of the school but also his business ability, and he had already proved of great value to the board. Mr Rich said the year had

been an eventful one in the life of the < " school. The progress which had marked the school for many years had been maintained, and been accelerated during the last twelve months. Referring to the provision of baths, Mr Rich said they had already proved their value, and he was sure they would stand as a tangible monument to the enthusiasm and goodwill of the friends .of the school. So many had a share 'in providing them that it would be impossible to refer to all individually but they all knew that but for the unshaken faith and unbounded enthusiasm of the Parents’ Association, more especially of the president, Mrs Leslie Maunsell, the baths would not be there to-

day. The board was grateful for all that they had done, and now the baths were there they provided a splendid addition to the amenities of the school. The work of the school had been carried out faithfully. They had had a splendid report from the Government inspector, which was evidence of the service that was being carried out by the Principal and staff and all connected with the actual work of the school. The board members appreciated the great work that all had done. Making some reference to the future of the school, Mr Rich said the school was now firmly established, and had its definite place in the life'of the Dominion and as long as all continued to work and co-operate on behalf of 'the school, as they were doing today, the future of the school would be bright indeed. Old girls of the school were out in the world and they knew that they were proving to be leaders in the life of the community, and there was no better advertisement for any school than Ihe old girls who had passed through it.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. In presenting the twenty-fifth annual report, the Principal, Mrs Max Cleghorn, stated that the primary school was inspected in July and graded very good to excellent. After referring in more detail to the inspector’s report, and the staff, Mrs Cleghorn went on to express her regret that so few parents saw the exhibition .of the pupils’ work, held at the end of each year. During Ihe winter each girl made a knitted article. and these were to be given to the Plunket Society for distribution. Some of the primary pupils entered, for the drawing competitions at the Carterton Show, and won six first prizes, two seconds and one third. The girls continued their practice in speech-mak-ing. and the school took part in the inter-school speech competition. Mrs Cruickshank, who judged the needlework. commented on the excellence of the girls’ work. “The great event of the year,” said Mrs Cleghorn, “has been the acquisition of the swimming bath. No bath could ever have been hailed with more joy nor been more greatly appreciated. It is in daily use when the weather allows, and the progress made in swimming and diving has been most marked. The girls join with me in thanking all those who worked and gave their money and time in order to bring the baths into existence, and we invite all of them to come any day at 3.30 p.m. to see for themselves what benefit and happiness they have given. The girls competed in the inter-school swimming and diving competitions and congratulate Solway College on winning both events. A number entered for the life saving examinations of the Royal Life Saving Society, and nearly all were successful. There are now only a few very small people who are unable to swim and these are making valiant efforts.”

Mrs Cleghorn said the girls undertook at the beginning of the year to raise £lOO for the baths’ fund, which had reached a total of £75, a large proportion of which had come out of their own pockets. In addition, they gave £4 3s lid to the Chinese Consul's fund for refugee children, £9 3s 5d to the Barnardo League, and raised £l3 for their prize and magazine fund. “They are to be congratulated on their generosity,” said Mrs Cleghorn, “and they wish to thanK all those who by their presence at our concerts have helped to swell the funds.” SPORTS ACTIVITIES. During the winter the weather had greatly restricted hockey and basketball, said the Principal. Tennis, had been enthusiastically played all the year, and the girls had greatly improv-j ed in their play, especially the juniors. The school team won the tennis match against Solway College this week. The squad drill competition was judged by Mr Bate, who gave first place to Grey ■ House in both senior and junior competitions. “We are indebted to the following friends for gifts to the school,” said Mrs Cleghorn, “Mr and Mrs S. M. Baird, Mrs B. R. Bunny, Mr Tolhurst, Mr R. Maunsell, Mrs Peacock, Mrs W.

i James, Mrs Brodrick, Mrs Broadbent, Mr Boddington, Elaine Prior, Mr J. D. I McDougall, Mr Best, Mrs Reid, to Mr and Mrs Tolhurst fbr the use of their tennis court, to Mrs Cruickshank for judging the needlework, Mr Bate for judging the drill competition, and to Mrs Peacock, Miss Tennent, B. Wells and Elaine Prior for books for the library, and to the following for prizes and cups: the Misses Morrison, Mrs Beaven, Hazel Bergh, Mr K. D. McCalmont, the Rev E. J. Rich, the Rev T. V. Pearson and Mrs J. Caselburg. Mrs Cleghorn said they were pleased to see the many old girls who had visited the school during the year, and she congratulated them and Mrs Rich on the teams winning the local area festival of the British Drama League and on the excellence of the production. The names of the donors of trees and shrubs planted during the last six years had been placed on record, and the school was indebted to the many garden-lov-ing friends who had donated plants. Mrs Cleghorn said they also wished to place on record their appreciation of the work of the late Mr Peacock for the school. Thanks were expressed to Mr Rich and to Mr Pearson for their weekly visits to the school and to the parents and friends for their hospitality to the boarders on visiting Saturdays. Mrs Cleghorn said she was deeply grateful to Mr Rich and the members of the board, to Mr Boddington, to the members of the staff for their loyal support and co-operation, to Mrs Marshall and the domestic staff for their care and kindness and to the prefects. Good work had been done in all departmenas. The girls had learnt to work hard and to live pleasantly and happily with each other. If parents, Mrs Cleghorn went on to observe, would leave their daughters at one school for the last five years of their school life, schools would be able to turn out more girls of a splendid type. She would like all girls to know how much she appreciated their loyalty, helpfulness and friendliness. .

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The prizes were presented by Professor Von Zeidlitz, as follow: — I P. 1.: J. Hill, J. Mackley, J .A. Mci Millan, progress. : P. 4.: P. Cameron, J. McKenzie, J. Paku, B. Garland, P. Reid, B. Smith, W. Hodder, S. McKenzie, progress. Std 1: N. Wilson, S. Norman, B. Lee, J. Cameron, C. McKenzie, G. Mitchell, V. Hugo, D. Sortain-Smith, progress. ■ Std 2: A. Irwin, M. Bird, A. McDougall, progress. Std 3: H. Wilson, N. Hodder, M. Hugo, M. McDougall, class work; M. Fagan, J. Brady, progress. Std 4: P. Pavitt, spelling, writing, grammar, French, history; D. Wilson, history, writing, grammar. French; E. Ramsay, history .writing; J. Berryman, progress; E. Rayner, progress; M. Thomson, progress. Form I.: S. Harrison, spelling, grammar, French, geography, history; E. Daniell, grammar, history, arithmetic; M. Mynott, writing; P. Young, recitation; J. Falloon. B. Hugo, M. Hodder, progress.

Form IL: B. Irving, spelling, writing, history; J. Smith, grammar, geography; H. McPherson, writing; P. Ramsay, writing: A. Cameron, H. Jackson, progress.

Form III.: L. Smith, geography, science, Greek history; N. Burling, English literature, geography, book-keep-ing; P. Free, English composition, home science; V. Rich, French; H. Wagg, progress.

Form IV.: M. Hecklen, home science, geography, arithmetic; V. Jackson, English composition, history, geography; H. Keeling, history, geography; M. Free, history, geography; D. Maunsell, English literature; H. Pilmer, geography; M. O’Connor, progress. Form Vb.: J. James, English, history of art, geography, history of costume, hygiene; M. James, geography, hygiene; B. Wells, history of art. Form Va.: Y. Jones. English, history, history of art, geography; R. Smith, geography; J. Wylie, history, Mr Pither's prize; M. Beaven, shorthand and history of art. Form VI.: J. Jones, general excellence, Mrs Cleghorn's prize. Special Prizes.

Scripture: Mr Rich's prizes: Form G, J. Jones; Form sa, R. Smith; Form sb, J. James; Form 4, M. Heckler; Form 3, N. Burling. Mr Pearson's prizes, Form 2, P. Ramsay: Form 1, L. Harrison. Miss Kelleher’s prizes: Std 4, D. Wilson, std 3, N. Hodder.

Needlework: Form 3, D. Wagg; Form 2, A. Cameron, Mrs J. Caselberg’s prizes; Form 1, Mr Mynott; Std 4, J. Berryman. Mapping: Form 5, B. Wells; Form 4, M. Heckler; Form 3, P. Free. Drawing, Form 5, J. Wylie; Form 4, D. Thompson; Form 3, P. Free. Carterton Show prizes: Drawing, primers, 1, P. Cameron; Std 1 ,1, J. Cameron, 2, G. Mitchell; design in colour, Std 1 and 2, M. Bird; std 2,1, M. Bird, Std 3,1, M. Hugo; girls’ leaf pattern design, Std 3-6, 1 S. Harrison, 2, B. Irving, 3, M. Mynott. Form 2 certificates: A. Beetham. A. Cameron, B. Irving, H. Jackson, J. James, S. McKenzie, H. McPherson, P. Ramsay, J. Smith, P. Wells. James Cocker Memorial Temperance Competition, merit prize, H. Keeling. Gymnastic and Sports Cups and Trophies.

Senior tennis championship, R. Smith.

Senior tennis doubles championship, B. Wells, R. Smith. Junior tennis championship, P. Wells. Senior sports championship, M. Beaven, J. Wylie. Junior sports championship. M. Hodder.

Sellar Cup (runner-up), J. Smith. Senior swimming championship, Y. Jones.

Junior swimming championship, B. Hugo. Senior diving championship. J. Wylie Junior diving championship, B. Hugo. Cricket cup. R. Smith. Inter-house senior gymnastic cup, Grey house. Inter-house junior gymnastic cup. Grey house. Bar to the bronze medallion. E. Todd. Games colours: tennis, M. Beaven, J. Wylie; hockey, R. Smith; swimming, Y. Jones, E. Todd, P. van Praagh, J. Wylie; diving. Y. Jones, J. Wylie. House challenge cup, Grey house. Drill stripes, green, J. James, L. Smith; blue, B. Best, J. Mulvaney, H. Pilmer, J. Wylie; enamel bar, H. Keeling, E. Rich. B. Wells; Life-saving certificates: Elementary, M. McDougall, P. Young; intermediate, E. Daniell, B. Hugo; bronze medallion, P. Brodrick, H. Keeling, J. Mulvaney, H. Pilmer, B. Potter, E. Rich. R. Smith, P. van Praagh. i House cup, Grey house. Dux of school, Board of Governor’s prize, J. Mulvaney. Morrison prize, Y. Jones.