WAIRARAPA COLLEGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1938, Page 7

WAIRARAPA COLLEGE

FIRST ANNUAL BREAK-UP GATHERING

PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY LAST EVENING. ASSEMBLY HALL CROWDED. Wairarapa College held its first official breaking-up ceremony last night when pupils, parents and ex-pupils crowded the Assembly Hall to the doors. The Principal, Mr G. G. Hancox reviewed the past year's activities in his annual report and the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, presented the prizes and also addressed the gathering. The chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr W. R. Nicol, welcomed Mr Fraser and trusted that the present development of the college would continue.

After referring to the opening of the college, to the staff, and to the Board of Governors, the Principal, Mr G. G. Hancox, said that on March 1 the equivalent full-time day roll was 521 Altogether 538 day students were enrolled. In the evening school the number of students enrolled by February 25, was 214 and by March 22. 260. Altogether 334 were enrolled during the year.

The following examination successes were gained: University terms, 4; Government shorthand typiste examination, senior grade. 1; junior, credit pass, 1; junior, 5. Mr Hancox said that the Government valuation of the college property was: Improvements, £68,857; unimproved value, £4,552.

After referring to the work at Penrose; to the boarders and to the staff, Mr Hancox went on to deal with the Pipe Band, the Cadet Corps and the drama work of the school. He acknowledged donations and mentioned that £4 4s 8d was raised by the pupils for the Chinese Refugees’ Funds. Mr Hancox added: “Due largely to the co-operation of the staff and of the pupils, generally, the constructive process of organising the amalgamated school has run smoothly for the first year. So far as lam concerned, I have been almost unaware that two schools existed last year. At the outset there were difficulties owing to courses that were provided at the original schools not having the same content. The arranging in the timetable' of small unrelated groups was not easy, even though the staffing allowance was considered by the Department to be on a generous scale. Our experience this year goes to show that if the school is to continue to offer a large variety of courses for both boys and girls; if the highest classes in the various courses are to receive adequate tuition; and if the extra activities such as physical welfare, library, musical appreciation, dramatic work and vocational guidance are to be developed as we would like them 'to be, the staffing ratio must be as liberal as possible. “There have been difficulties, too, owing to changes and reduction of staff and to broken attendance due to measles, chicken pox and other complaints. Throughout the year the attendance was too much below the roll number for the best work to be done. The policy adopted has been to give a reasonable amount of general education in every course offered in the day school; to give every pupil according to his ability and possible future calling, the course most suited to his requirements; to give every pupil sufficient physical culture that he will desire to become and keep physically fit; and to develop sport, hobbies and other interests so that he can in a healthy manner use his leisure time. In my opinion, physical culture and music must become increasingly important in our curriculum. “I wish to thank the members of staff for their co-operation in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the College and for their generous giving of their own time to sport and other activities; to the committee of the Parents’ Association for their invaluable assistance; to those who have made gifts to the college; to the prefects; to the Press; to the Board of Governors for their hearty support, and to all others who have helped us.” In presenting the prizes and trophies. Mr Fraser congratulated the Principal and the staff on a very successful year and referred to the success of the amalgamated schools. The success of the experiment had been surpassed by the result of the year’s work. He felt that in the Wairarapa College the best type of education in New Zealand was being provided. He believed in providing for the individual aptitudes of the children themselves. Referring to the matriculation examination. Mr Fraser said that if the examination was abolished some better method would have to be solved. After dealing generally with educational facilities, Mr Fraser said that the door of learning and the portals of knowledge should be open to everyone. He went on to speak of educational matters in general and to refer to recent developments in education. Mr W. H. Jackson thanked the Minister for his address and referred to the ioart Mr Fraser had played in the development of education in recent years. During the evening items wore rendered by pupils of the school. THE PRIZE LIST. The prize list was as follows:— Dux of school, Phyllis Masters. Proxime accessit, Alison Davie. House competition: Drummond Cup for school aggregate: Tainui House Bruce Patrick. Joan Gemmell. Best aggregate, boys, Tainui House (Hodder Bowl). - Best aggregate, girls. Ngapuhi House (Coradine Vase). Holmwood Cup (general sportsmanship), boys, Bruce Patrick. Old Girls’ Cup (general sportsmanship), girls, Joan Gemmell. George Dixon Cup (head pi elect), Bruce Patrick. James Cup (sheep judging), John Strang. . _. , Shaw Cup (cattle judging), Edmund Ja Dan°ieil Essay Prize, Phyllis Masters. Wool classing certificates: Graham Kingsford. John Whyte, John Strang. Special English prizes (presented by Mr H. E. Pither): Alan Douglas, Joan Gemmell, Alan Read. Spelling prizes:—Senior: A. A. Ross, junior, C. Douglas. Progress League Essay. Foim ~ Joan Rilev: Form 4, Bruce Thomson; Form 3, Thelma Davis. Art work:—Form 5, Melva McKenzie; Form 4, Margaret Gaskin. Form 3, Elsie Steer. Apprenticeship Committees pr>ze. Joinery and carpentry, best work, John Duckett; most improved, Roderick Ei-| liott; Cabinet making, most improved, Max Cole. A „ _, Form Certificate of Merit: Ag. 3. Eelward Condon; Ag. 4. Edmund Jackson, Ag. 5, John Strang; C. 3 Yvonne Foster; C. 4, Mary Tocher, Percy Bragi gins; C. 5 Joan Gemmell; H. 3 Elsie Steer; H. 4, Enid Larnach; H. 5, Jean

Stevens; T 3b Alan Grant; T. 3a, Edmund Bannister; T. 4b, Alan McMaster; T. 4a, David Ellison; T. 5, Jack Wright; 3b. Andrew Summers; 3a, Norman Baird: 4b, Aiieen Peterson; 4a, Bernard Knowles; sa. Patrick Cross; 5 Up.. Donald Spiers; 6b, Michael Donnelly. Most improved: Ag. 3, John Clark; Ag. 5. Simon Dalgleish, Malcolm Stuart; C. 3, Marie Blatchford; C. 4, Keith Spackman; C. 5, Harold Rankin; H. 3, Margaret Holes; H. 4, Constance Burke; T. 3a, Napier Dingwall; T. 4b. Cedric Clemas; T. 4a. Clive Mygind; 3b. Robert Stewart; 3a, Evan Welch; 4b. Colin Stewart; 4a, Kathleen Ross; sa. Alison Morice; 5 Up., Walter Nicol; 6b, Betton Bath. Higher leaving certificates: Gladys Bubbers. Alison Davie, Phyllis Masters. Frederick B. Bath, John Brown, Amy Betty Christie. Vincent Donnelly. Dora Hathaway. Robert Lewis. Shirlev McLachlan, James Steel, Alan Tooby.