SOLWAY COLLEGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1939, Page 7

SOLWAY COLLEGE

“This framework into which we have attempted to fit the- elusive life of the year is an education system that has as its objective the whole personality, with all that that means of the encouragement of independent thought on the problems of life and the development of fitness of the body, mind and spirit. Because man’s control over human nature has not kept pace with his control over physical nature we are in the turmoil and tragedy of war. The schools must correct that. They must prepare the soil into which .roots of better national and international understanding can be planted. They must build, even now, the moral and spiritual re-armament which will fortify the post-war world the shape of which no one can forecast, against a repetition of our present tragedy. At the close of the year we know that we have achieved success only as our girls through all their activities and in the fellowship of their residential life have absorbed the principles of self respect, self-control, sympathy, and mutual tolerance that will enable them to adapt themselves to change in this rapidlj’ changing world.’’ PRIZE LIST. Following is the prize list: — Sports trophies: Tennis championships: Senior, Maureen Wilton; junior, Alison McGregor; Past v. Present. Present girls. Sports Championship: Senior, June Hislop; junior, Odette Marsack. Swimming championships: Senior, June Hislop; junior, Alison McGregor; diving, Nola Newton; Carnival Cup, Form VA. Physical culture and gymnastics, Nola Newton. Sportsmanship (Marie Hennah Memorial, presented by Esther Blair and Jean Murphy), Eileen McKenzie; hon. mention, June Hislop. Inter-form winter sports (1932 stall'), Form VA. Basketball: Past V. Present. Present girls: golf, Gladys Vance; riding. Peggy Lucas; hon. mention, Joy O'Meara.

Special prizes: Choir competition, Form V mod.; Old Girls’ choir, Masterton and Wellington: English speech, Jill Hyams, hon. mention, Janet Allen: music, Patricia Blamires; hon. mention. Joyce Eyre.

Prizes presented by Mr A. R. Hislop and Dannevirke Branch of the Solway Old Girls’ Association: Miss McArthur’s pupils: Janet Allen, Joyce Eyre, Jocelyn Lassen, Mary Syme; Miss Mclntosh's pupils, Nancy McDonald; hon. mention, Dorrell Bennett, Joan Donghi; Miss Rowlands's pupils. Margaret Park; hon. mention. Lois Pullyn, Doreen Wakelin; Miss Sorensen’s pupils, Sheila Thornton; history of music, hon. mention, Constance Thomson. Studio: Drawing and crafts: Form H, Mary Walker; Form HI. Jean Lawrence; hon. mention. Peggy Price, Ena McLean; Form IV, Edna Manuel. Ngaere Common; Form V mod., Mary Wood; Form VA, Shona White, Francis French; Form VI, Constance Thomson. Dressmaking and needlework (prizes presented by Air W. McCulloch): Fotm

11, Elvera Wix, Betty Cotterell; Form HI, June Phelps; hon. mention. Betty Short. June Whillans; Form IV. Doreen Wakelin; hon. mention, Peggy Nicol, Ngaere Common; Form V mod., Maureen Wilton: hon. mention, Eileen McKenzie, Mary Wood; Form VI, Doreen Hughes; hon. mention, Barbara Edwards. Commercial: Yvonne Estaugh, Lois Pullyn: hon. mention, Doreen Wakelin, Betty Franklin. First aid: Beth Dunstan; hon. mention, Lois Pullyn. Hygiene: Peggy Price. House (prizes presented by Mrs Malcolm McGregor): Senior, Suzette Miller. Phyllis Whitefield, Isobel Sullivan, Elfie Bannister; hon. mention, Nola Dockery. Intermediate, Eileen FrankJin, Glenys Rowlands, Nancy Peed; hon. mention, Isobel Baker, Helen Ince, Alison McGregor. Junior, hon. mention, Mary McMaster, Mary Walker. Scripture (prizes presented by Mr Malcolm McGregor): Form VI, Jean Thornton; hon. mention, Doreen Hughes; Form VA, Patricia Blamires, Merran McCulloch, Evelyn Bodkin; Form V mod., Joan Thomas; Form IV, Patricia Peed; hon. mention, Nancy Young: Form 111, Isobel Baker; hon. mention. Kathleen Williams.

Essay competition: Senior, Vivien Heighway; hon. mention, Jean Thornton; Junior, Sheila Thornton; hon. mention, Isobel Baker. Character Cup (Lawrence Thompson Memorial trophy presented with miniatures by the Napier-Hastings Branch of the Solway Old Girls’ Association). June Hislop; hon. mention, Doreen Hughes. Class prizes:. Form I, Catherine Hayman. Form 11, Mary McMaster, Elvera Wix (arithmetic). Form 111, Betty Short, Ist Science; Isobel Baker, Ist English, 2nd Latin: Jill Hyams. Ist French, 2nd Maths., 2nd Science; Kathleen Williams. Ist Latin. Ist Maths., 2nd English, 2nd French. Form IV. Mary Caldwell. Ist English; Helen Ince, Ist Latin; Jocelyn Pringle, Ist English, Ist French; Nancy Young, Ist Science, Ist Maths. Form V mod., Joan Thomas. Ist English. Ist Scripture; Betty Franklin, Ist arithmetic. Form VA, No’reen McLeod. Ist Latin: Nola Dockery, Ist Latin, 2nd French; Christina Manuel. Ist Maths., 2nd Science; Patricia Blamires, Ist English, Ist French. Ist Science, Ist scripture; Dux of Form Alice Frances Free. Ist aggregate marks. Ist history, Glady Vance. Form VI (presented by Old Girls' Association), Valerie Gordon. Ist French (Mr H. E. Pither); Dorrell Bennett. Ist History; June Hislop. Science. Dux of school: Ist English, Ist Latin. Ist French, Ist Maths., Vivien Heighway. Higher leaving certificates: Dorrell Bennett, Valerie Gordon. Doreen Hughes, Shirley Stevens, Constance Thomson, Jean Thornton. Primary school certificates: Betty Cotterell.' Avis McGovern. Alary McMaster. Shirley McMaster. Elvera Wix. Music certificates: Grade VII, Janet Allen: Grade VI, Jocelyn Lassen. Thule Moffatt, Joon Donghi; Grade V, Nancy McDonald. Zona Holloway: Grade IV. Diana Coleman, Peggy Lucas; Grade 111 Doreen Wakelin: Grade 11. Lois Pullyn; Grade I, Sheila Thornton; Rudiments, Phyllis Whitefield.

ANNUAL BREAKUP

ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR REVIEWED. LIST OF PRIZE-WINNERS. i . j There was a large attendance of I parents and ex-pupils from all parts of the North Island at the Solway College annual break-up held in the Assembly Hall last night. A short programme of items was given by the pupils prior to the commencement of the principal ceremony. The speaker was Dr. Inkster, Toronto, Canada, who addressed the pupils. "I am happy to report a record school in numbers and in health, the latter largely due to the vigilance of the matron. Miss Young, whose service has been a ministry to the comfort and well-being of the houshold." stated Mrs M. B. Thompson, Principal, in her annual report. "To the Rev J. Davie, acting-chairman of the Board of Governors in the regrettable absence of the chairman, Mr M. J. McGregor, our thanks are due. His prompt response to the many demands on his time and attention has contributed to the smooth running of the school. “The old girls, through their association and individually, leave us with a debt of gratitude. There are now nine branches, one in Christchurch. The presence of so many at the bazaar and their contributions substantially helped and encouraged the prefects in their effort. Their gifts have been numerous: donations to the library and prize funds, chairs for the diningroom, shrubs for the shrubbery, and renovation of the senior sitting-room. Readers of the magazine will note the striking evidence of the fellowship of Solway Old Girls in the letters that have come from all quarters of the globe. Their activities in home-life and in various careers are a source of pride and pleasure to their school. "We are indebted to the ladies and gentlemen who have again willingly acted as judges of our competitions: Miss Donald (life-saving awards), Mr J. Conly (choir), Mr Betts-Vincent (music), Mr R. Drummond (speech), and Mr G. W. Morice (essay). The local Plunket Society again gave the services of their nurse for a series of lectures in mothercraft, a courtesy much appreciated by the large number of girls who attended them. Visitors from overseas and recitalists have earned our gratitude for delightful talks and entertainments, as have the prize-donors, some of whom are making their gifts a tradition. I thank the parents for their co-operation throughout the year as also the members of the teaching and domestic staffs and the prefects whose courteous consideration has made my association with them a privelege. The readiness with which our teachers have filled any breach caused by staff changes of which there have been several has greatly helped what could have been a difficult year.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. "The curriculum is generous," Mrs Thompson continued. "Music, arts, handcrafts and sports activities figure largely in the programme of work, and with such a wide appeal there is little need for coercion. Impositions are rare. The response by the girls of honest work in the classrooms, hard play in the sports field and courtesy in the house has made the year’s work a joy. "The standard of the drill and games under Miss Williamson’s supervision has been well maintained. The general average of the performances on Sports Day showed improvement, and keenness has resulted in tennis, golf and riding from the special coaching in all these activities. The executive of the New Zealand branch of the Royal Life Saving Society sent a message of congratulation from Christchurch on our gaining second place in the Dominion of all secondary schools and training colleges for life-saving awards. New Plymouth Girls’ High School was first. “The dressmaking classes under Miss Latham continue to do good work. Period and fancy costumes for many of our plays have been designed and made by the girls. Much of the needlework has been art needlework, for Mrs Bowden has made tapestry and Richelieu work a feature of the studio handcrafts. She has insisted on originality of design for all crafts; this means much work behind the commendable display, which delighted all our visitors. "Music calls for special comment. At the beginning of the year we welcomed the directress. Miss McArthur, back from her trip to England. We also welcomed the beautiful Bechstein piano which she purchased for the school, in London and which has been a delight to our senior pupils and to visiting recitalists. Miss McArthur took the opportunity of her stay in London to' have a refresher course at the Royal Academy under Mr Frederick Moore. The school in general and Miss McArthur’s pupils in particular, whose playing shows musicianship and artistry, have benefited. "After nearly fourteen years of devoted service Miss Campbell left us at the end of the second term. Her place has been ably filled by Miss Mclntosh. As the three residential teachers could not cope with the increased number of pupils Miss Verna Sorenson, one of our old girls, has been a visiting teacher. The clever pupils presented for the practical examinations of the London Associated Boards were successful, two of them passing with credit. Mr L. De Mauny (violin) and Mr Claud Tanner (’cello) have visited the school fortnightly and the drcam of a school orchestra has come true. Its members, still small in number, are very enthusiastic. It should prove an incentive to our Music Education. Many sweet; Singers hUVC mucic Choir and chorus work a delight to their conductors and to their audiences, and recitals brightening our social life, have inspired our musicians. •■'Dramatic work has been prominent in our Saturday evening socials, when most of the plays have been produced by the girls themselves. We regretted the loss of Miss Ait-ey who did so much to foster the dramatic talent of which the recent prefects’ play gave evidence. In the classroom there has been consistent speech training. "Commercial: Miss Woodhead has made the best use of the time allotted to her to teach her 21 pupils shorthand, bookkeeping and typewriting. An additional typewriter has helped greatly. This is not. a commercial school, but the services of a specially trained teacher enable me to report on the work with self respect. CLASS WORK. "Both departments, primary and secondary, were visited by the inspectors of the Education Department."

said Mrs Thompson. "There are only eleven pupils in the primary school, who are taught by the secondary teachers—an arrangement which is open to criticism. What it loses possibly in unified control it gains in variety and individual attention, while the improvement in health of a number who came to us as delicate children is most gratifying. "The examination results last year held surprises, both in successes and failures. They were on the whole satisfactory. Of the 20 entered for University Entrance, School Certificate, and the Preliminary to the Diploma of Fine Arts there were only three failures. The rest scored success, either full or partial in one or other or both the examinations. Special mention must be given to the work of Form V Modern, the standard of which has definitely improved. In English it has been brought up to that of University Entrance. with additional work in literature, drama, verse-speaking, cultural history, history of music and history of art. The last two subjects have been shared with Form VI. They have listened to records of the music and studied the lives of many leading musicians and have grown familiar with the lives and some of the works of the great masters of the Italian, Flemish and German schools. The programme of work thus gives scope for cultural development.