ST. MATTHEW’S

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1939, Page 8

ST. MATTHEW’S

BREAK-UP GATHERING LAST NIGHT ADDRESS BY MR JUSTICE BLAIR. I EXCELLENT STANDARD MAINTAINED. Tin* Assemlily Hall of St Mat!liew’s School was filled io overflowing lasi nigin when ihe annual break-up ceremony and pi'eseiiiation of prizes look place. The chairman of lhe Board of (lovernors, the Rev E. J. Ricli, presided and the speaker for the evening was his .Honour, Air Justice Blair. Members of the Board of Governors were also on the stage. Mr Rich extended to the parents of the girls and other friends of the school a welcome on behalf of lhe Board of Governors. The past year had been one of the most successful in the history of the school. In all branches of school work an excellent standard had ween maintained. The Board of Governors during the years had administered the trust that had been placed in them to lhe benefit of everyone interested in the school. They were grateful to all who had assisted in the actual working of the school, and appreciated the magnificent work done by the teaching staff and wished to thank also the matron. Mrs Marshall and also the domestic staff. As the school now had surmounted the difficulties that had confronted it in the early days he was confident that those who were ihe friends of the school would continue to co-operate with the board and maintain the high standard desired.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The Principal, Mrs Max Cleghorn, in her report, said the roll numbered 100 pupils, the highest since 1930. At ihe end of last year five pupils sat for matriculation and one for the medical preliminary examinations and all were successful. Other outside examinations taken during the year had been the 1 St. John Ambulance First Aid and the Home Nursing examinations, in both of which all the candidates were successful. The'girls were commended for the high standard of their work and the school was indebted to Miss Barrer for that extremely satisfactory result. In the life-saving examinations of the Royal Life-Saving Society the usual number of passes had been obtained and Joan Wylie and Joyce Mulvaney secured their instructor’s certificate. The primary school was examined during the year and the examiner submitted a report grading the school | very good to excellent. He had nothing but praise for the work, and found no fault. The secondary school was inspected and as a result Joyce Mui vaney and Joan Wylie had been awarded Higher Leaving Certificates. In order to give parents an opportunity of seeing the work of the school, the Principal continued, they had given a pupils’ concert in the Opera House, a musical recital by the piano pupils, a speech afternoon by the best speakers in each class and an exhibition of work yesterday. They thanked the parents and friends who showed lheir interest by attending these functions and thus encouraging the pupils. The girls had themselves given their usual house concerts and lhe fourth form showed great initiative and organising ability in the concert they gave this term. Th'e work done in the dressmaking classes was shown yesterday afternoon at the mannequin parade and she thought everyone agreed that it reflected great credit on the teachers. The hand sewing was judged by Mrs Cruickshank, who paid a tribute to the high standard of the work. During the winter the girls each knitted a garment and these had been distributed to the refugees in Wellington and to the Plunket Society.

Money raised consisted of £l5 for the Baths’ Fund, £8 15s Gd for the Barnardo League and £l7 for the prizes and magazine fund. The standard of swimming bad greatly improved. The baths were the greatest possible asset. Improvement had also been made in the standard of the tennis. /The school was not so successful in the basketball matches. Mrs. Cleghorn proceeded to thank many helpers and donors I and expressed her personal thanks to I Mr Rich, the members of the Board of Governors and Mr Boddington for their kindness and consideration, ihe members of the staff of both the school and the bouse for their loyal co-op-eration and splendid work, the prefects for their help and the rank and file for their friendship and affection. The year had not been remarkable for any brilliant achievements but good work had been done and the girls had learnt to live pleasantly and happily with each other. She did not think that in I any school in which she had been, had I she known the girls to be more interested and appreciative of lhe church services and the work of the church. That was due to the teaching and influence of Mr Rich to whom as a school they were nmen indebted.

SPIRIT OF THE SCHOOL. Mr Justice Blair said he was interested to learn from the head mistress’s report that the school roll had reached 100, just, at the same time that New Zealand had reached its century. The girls attending the school, he said, were very fortunate, first of all in the choice of the head mistress. When he camo there that day the one thing that struck him more than another was the fact that all junior member of the school addressed the head mistress by a certain term of affection. It struck him as characteristic of the spiritwhich permeated the school, something that went much deeper than a bond. That influence would permeate to a great extent their future life. Although it was many years since he had left school, really none of them ever lefl school, because when they camo out in the world they were still in school in which they were taught lessons every day. School was intended to teach pupils something more than the capacity to learn things. It also formed I character, which was most important.] The capacity to work honestly and the I capacity to give of'their best would, lesult in greater success and happiness, in after-life. The steady plodders, the [ ones who showed diligence and put' their best into things were the ones] who rose to the top. If they were prepared Io do their utmost and wore determined to succeed they would sue-1 cced. There was a very great difference 1 between a man-made tool and a God-1

made tool like the human brain. The human brain had the extraordinary capacity that the harder it was worked the sharper it got and the more it was called upon to do the more it could do. WOMEN’S INFLUENCE. At the present time. the speaker went on to state, the British Empire needed all the earnest workers it could possibly have. There were some people who did not seem to feel that everyone had a duty to their Empire but all should do everything they could to help the Empire at the present time. Women’s influence in a matter of that kind was of an incalculable value. Every one of them was capable of helping somebody' in some way and in that manner helping the Empire. The place of women in the world was very much greater than a number of men thought. He had lost his wife, said Mr Justice Blair with considerable feeling, and that ’loss had shown him the marvellous capacity a woman had to help a man and he was sure every one of them would use that capacity to the very’ 'best of their power. PRIZE LIST. His Honour then presented the prizes as follows: — Higher Leaving Certificates: J. Mulvaney, J. Wylie. House Cup: Grey. Dux of School, Board of Governor's prize: J. Wylie. Morrison prize: M. Beaven and J. Mulvaney.

Primer 1: P. A. Allen, F. Wilson. M. Tolhurst, Progress. Primer 2: B. Perry, J. A. Robins, Progress. Primer 4: J. Mackley. E. Parr. Progress. Standard 1: A. Booth, writing; P. Cameron, arithmetic; J. Paku, drawing; J. Mackenzie, arithmetic: B. Garland. W, Hodder. F. Johnson, S. McKenzie. P. Reid. B. Smith, Progress. Standard 2: F. Barrington, spelling; B. Lee, reading; C. McKenzie, recitation; S. Norman, writing; V. Hugo. G. Mitchell, B. Morison. D. Sortain-Smith,' N. Wilson, Progress. Standard 3: M. Bird, class work; A. McDougall. Progress. Standard 4: H. Wilson, spelling, grammar, geography, history: N. Hodder, spelling, geography, arithmetic, grammar; M. Fagan, spelling, grammar, geography. history: M. McDougall, spelling, grammar. Form 1: D. Wilson, spelling, grammar, history; M. Cameron, A. Garland, arithmetic; P. Pavitt. French. Form 2: S. Harrison, spelling, gram-! mar. French, geography history, arithmetic, science: E. Daniell, spelling. French, geography, history, arithmetic; P. Young, spelling, history; M. Hodder, spelling; J. Falloon. geography: L. Harrison. history.

Form 3: H. Mulvaney, history. Fi-encli. Latin: B. Irving French; J. Smith French: P. Ramsay. L. Pilmer J. Wilkie. Progress. Form 4: N. Burling, English, geography. history, science; 1.. Smith, geography. science. French. Greek history: J. Potter. French. Greek history; II Wagg. geography. book-keeping: V. Rich’ English. French: D. Wagg. geography. Form sb: 11. Keeling. English French, geography; H. Pilmer. geography, history of art: D. Maunsell English; M. Heckler. V. Jackson. M. Free, B. Best, Progress. Form sa: M. James, history. geography; B. Kunbloy. English, history:] U. Fuller, history of art and architecture; J. Janies, excellence in two term:.’ work’. Form 6: J. Mulvaney, general excellence Mrs Cleghorn’s prize; M. Beaven geography. Special prizes—Scripture: Form 6. J. Mulvane): sa. M. James: sb. M. Heckler: 4. V. Rich: .2 B. Irving; Rev E. J. Rich’s prizes: Form 2, S. Harrison;

prize for general diligence, B. Hugo; Form 1, A. Garland; Rev T. V. Pearson's prizes, St 4, M. Hodder; St 3. M. Bird. Needlework —Form 3. B. Irving; Form 2, M. Hodder, M. Mynott, S. Harrison, Mrs J. Caselberg’s prizes; St 5, D. Wilson. E. Rayner; St 4, M. McDougall. Mapping—Form 5, R. Hindley; 4. D. Wagg; 3. P. Wells. Drawing—Form 5. R. Hindley; 4, P. Free; 3, P. Wells. Best hand made Christmas card in Primary School, M. Mynott. Primary School Certificates: D. Corskie, E. Daniell. J. Falloon, E. Groves, L. Harrison, S. Harrison. M. Hodder, B. Hugo, E. McKenzie, M. Mynott, P. Young. Carterton Show prizes—Knitting. Class 512, F. Chapman 1; Class 524. R. Hindley 3. Drawing—Class 525, Elizabeth Parr 1; Class 526, J. Paku 1; Class 530. M. Bird 1: Class 536, D. Wilson 3; Class 539, M. Mynott 2; Class 540, B. Ramsay 1. S. Harrison 2: Class 543, R. Hindley 2. Associated Board Music Examination, Grade 5: V. Rich. Special prizes—Senior Tennis Championship: J. Wylie. Junior Tennis Championship: E. Daniell. Senior Sports Championship: M. Beaven. Senior Sports runner up (Rayner Cup): J. Wylie. Junior Sports Championship: J. Smith. Junior Sports runner up (Sellar Cup): D. Corskie. Senior Swimming Championship: J. Wylie. Junior Swimming Championship: S. Harrison. Senior Diving Championship: F. Chapman. Junior Diving Championship: A. Garland. Cricket Cup: M. Beaven. InterHouse Senior Gymnastics Cup: Fergurson -and Grey. Inter-House Junior Gymnastics Cup: Wakefield. Drill Stripes: Green —M. O’Connor. Juliet James, D. Corskie. H. Mulvaney. P. Yeung D. Best. M. Cameron. M. James. Blue: E. Corskie. Enamel Bars: J. Wylie. M. Hodder. J. Mulvaney. B. Best L. Smith.

Life-Saving Certificates — Elementary: N. Hodder. P. Pavitt. M. Hugo. Intermediate Certificate: B. Best, D. Bcsi P. Young. M. Hodder A. Garland, M. Heckler. H. Mulvaney. Bronze Medallion: E. Corskie J. potto’ - H. Wag". L. Smith. H. Taylor, B. Knubley, F. Chapman. M. Beaven. Bar to Bronze Medallion: H. Pilmer. H. Keeling. Silver Medallion: J. Wylie, M. James, J. Mulvane). Instructors’ Certificate (2nd class): J. Wylie, J. Mulvaney. Games Colours—Tennis: 1... Smith. J. Mulvaney. Basketball: L. Smith. M. James. H. Pilmer. J. Wylie. J. Mulvaney. Swimming: D. Maunsell. Senior Tennis Doubles Championship: M. Beaven. J. Wylie. Betts Inter-House Life-Saving Cup: Grey House. St John Ambulance —First Aid and Home Nursing Certificates: F. Chapman, M. O’Connor. M. Beaven. U. Fuller. M. Free. R. Hindley, D. Best. B. Best H. Pilmer, D. Maunsell. First Aid Certificates: B. Wells. J. Mulvaney. J. Wylie. P. Broderick. V. Jackson. Home Nursing Certificate: J. James.