CENTRAL SCHOOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1940, Page 7

CENTRAL SCHOOL

BIENNIAL REPORT. * A PERIOD OF PROGRESS. The biennial report of the Masterton Central School and East School Committee, to be presented at the I householders’ meeting on Monday. 1 April 22. and which is signed by Mr ‘ J. E. MeV. Calwell (chairman) states. ' inter alia: The total roll number, now 580. will probably go to well beyond ’ 600 by the end of the year. Misses ’ Renner and Hooper are the present ; probationers and Messrs Ihaka and Foley (both temporary teachers) have gone into the army. Inspectors’ reports show a very highly satisfactory state of affairs, work in drill and marching, art, handwork. drama and verse-speaking bc- ’ ing specially commended, while English. writing, spelling and arithmetic were classified as sound. Each year 'a final concert was held with pleasing ; results and in addition two fancy dress ‘ parties were successfully carried out. At the East School two sales of work produced pleasing results. A new 9- ' speaker radio was installed in the i school in June, 1938. and continues to ' function well. ' The Drum and Trumpet Band first paraded in June, 1938, and has since ’ given a very good account of itself. It played at both East School func- ’ tions and has led several parades ' through the town. The instruments . were provided by the Parents' Association. The Post Office Savings Bank continues to operate in the school and • in five years over £350 have been banked (an average of about £7O per year). Last year over £l2 was raised by the children for the relief of Chinese orphans, and every term a collection is made by envelope for the Health Camp, resulting in approximately £lO per year. The school has continued to keep up its excellent sport activities and has given a good account of itself in Rugby, cricket, basketball and swimming, as well as in athletics. The school has been well represented in the representative teams both in Rugby and cricket. The Wairarapa district won the Rugby tournament last year. Excellent results are being obtained in swimming; 95 per cent of Std. 6 children can swim and including all standards from Std. I to Std. 6. sixty-five per cent can swim, though Std. 1 came out of the primers at the beginning of the year. A very fine handwork display was held in the school in 1938 and last year the school combined with the other schools to put on a combined display so that a choice could be made for the Centennial Exhibition. As a result 37 articles went from this school to the Exhibition. A party of about 180 children from this school together with children from other schools were taken to the Exhibition and a very valuable experience was the result. During Centennial Week in the town the children played a full part. A procession of school children was put on. led by our band, and a second one through the town formed a part of the special children’s day. Finally a big fancy parade was staged very successfully. The milk in schools scheme was started last October and is working quite smoothly. At present 445 children at the Main School and 60 at the Side School are partaking of milk every day. Excellent work is being done by the Central School Parents’ Association in helping the school. The sum of £25 was given for the purchase of a gang mower, £8 7s 6d for band jerseys. £6 for wickets and bats for girls’ games, £5 for the sports fund, and £3 10s for i Exhibition expenses. The association also provided the band instruments. In i addition a substantial sum has been earmarked for the eventual purchase i of a sound motion picture machine. ( The congratulations of the committee upon the very successful activities of this association and thanks for the 1 generous donations made for the be- ' nefit of the children have been placed ( on record, as well as appreciation of the generous efforts of the East School I Association in many ways for the advantage of the children of that' school. ■'

Special thanks are due to Messrs G. R. Beecroft, W. R. Nicol, A. V. Dixon and A. I. Gibbs for their wholehearted and valuable assistance in the activities of the respective School Parents' Associations, and your committee much regrets that Messrs G. R. Beecroft and F. A. Wesney could not accept, nomination for a further term. Messrs J. E. MeV. Calwell, W. R. Nicol, C. J. Braggins, A. V. Dixon, A. Newman. A. I. Gibbs. J. H. Cole (returning members) and Messrs .W. L. Butler, A. E. Nelson and P. H. Shaw have been nominated for re-election. Being one exceeding the required number a poll will therefore be necessary at the meeting but no further nominations can be made. Members of the committee have attended the following number of meetings during the past two years:—J. E. MeV. Calwell 20, A. I. Gibbs 20. W. R. Nicol 19. A. V. Dixon 19, C. J. Braggins 19. J. H. Cole 19. A. Newman 15. G. R. Beecroft 16. F. A. Wesney 15.