S. MATTHEW’S SCHOOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1940, Page 3

S. MATTHEW’S SCHOOL

PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY LAST NIGHT (Continued from page 7.) PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. Presenting the twenty-sixth annual report, the Principal. Mrs Max Cleghorn, stated that the primary school was inspected in July and was again graded very good to excellent. Miss Kelleher and Mrs Messenger were to be congratulated on the excellence of the report. The secondary school had not been inspected this year. Three girls were sitting this year for matriculation and four for the school certificate examination. In the life saving examinations held during the first term five girls obtained elementary certificates, three intermediate certificates, five bronze medallions, five bars to bronze medallions, six resuscitation certificates and two instructors’ certificates, second class. Thirty-eight girls gained swimming certificates, seventeen of which were for half a mile. They had a particularly good swimming season last summer and as a result the standard of swimming greatly improved.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. Referring to staff changes, Mrs Cleghorn said Miss Mace was the first pupil of the school to come back as a member of the staff and had a special welcome on that account. At the end of the second term the usual school conccert was given in the Opera House and the girls had organised three concerts in the Assembly Hall. The work in the art, craft,(needlework and dressmaking classes had been on exhibition that day and the mannequin parade in the qfternoon had shown how capably the seniors could make their own clothes. The girls had taken part in the inter-school speed competition, the in-ter-school swimming and diving competitions and had played hockey, ten nis and basketball. In tennis the St. Matthew’s team always seemed to hold its own. Inter-school activities were encouraged and cordial relations were enjoyed with other Masterton schools. The cricket match against the fathers, was again one of the highlights of the year and Mr Ramsay was thanked for his trouble in making the arrangements. PATRIOTIC WORK. “Patriotic work has continued throughout the year,” Mrs Cleghorn proceeded. “The girls have made a large number of balaclavas, scarves, mittens and socks for the Navy League and numerous knitted garments for evacuee children.” Mrs Cleghorn said the recipients were most grateful for the donation of comforts and she thanked the parents who helped the girls in making them. “We have raised money in various ways and spent some of it on wool and given donations to the Red Cross and the Sick and Wounded Appeal Fund,” she observed. “The girls contributed £6 18s to the Barnardo League and the senior school still maintained its 100 per cent membership of the Navy League.” Various additions had been made to the school equipment and furnishing. The Parents’ Association had given a beautiful wireless set and the girls had added a loud speaker for the common room. “We are delighted,” said Mrs Cleghorn, “to hear that the Parents' ’Associatipn has decided to work for a school library, to be built at some future date. This will be a most valuable addition to the equipment of the school and when we have got that 1 will be nearly satisfied. Any donations towards this excellent project will be most gratefully received. I acknowledge the first two donations to the Library Building Fund from Mrs S. M. Baird and-Mrs P. Rayner.”

DONORS & OTHERS THANKED. “We wish to thank the following donors of gifts to the school. The Parents’ Association for the wireless Stet, the Masterton Borough Council, Mrs W. L. Free, Mrs George Wagg and Betty Kimbley for books for the library, Nora Robinson, Hein Taylor and Marian Hodder for chairs for the assembly hall; Mrs L. B. Maunsell, Dawn Wagg, Suzanne Harrison and Prudence Pavitt, for cups. The Misses Morrison, Miss Dale, Mrs Hugh Morrison, Archdeacon Rich, Mrs J. Caselberg, and Miss Kelleher for prizes; Mrs Donald James, Mrs H. J. Rayner, Mr C. J. Bennett, Mrs S. R. Gawith, Mrs R. D. Pilmer, Mrs K. Butler and Mr F. West for gifts to the house; Mr and Mrs Tolhurst for the use of their tennis court and other kindnesses; Mrs Cruickshank, Miss Pither and Miss Stephens for acting as judges, the parents for their hospitality to the boarders on visiting Saturdays, the parents and friends who patronise the school concerts, Mr W. L. Free for taking the girls up Mt. Holdsworth, a noble work, the business people of Masterton who pay much excellent and kindly attention to our wants and extricate us from any difficulties. We also thank Archdeacon Rich, Mr Pearson and Mr Joblin for their weekly visits to the school to give the Scripture lessons. I wish to express my appreciation of the loyal and efficient services rendered to the school by Miss Price, the members of the school staff and of the domestic staff and by Wain Wright. My personal thanks arc due to Archdeacon Rich, the members of the Board of Governors and Mr Boddington for their kindness and consideration.”

FUTURE POLICY. “I suggest to parents.” Mrs Cleghorn stated, “that it might be of interest to discuss at one of the meetings of the Parents’ Association whether, in view of the uncertain conditions of life that may prevail in the future, it is advisable to give the children all possible pleasures and advantages now or whether it is better to stiffen their characters by insisting on their overcoming difficulties, going without some of the pleasures they now mostly regard as their right and taking a subject or course of study because it is hard instead of because it is easy. Of one thing I am certain and that is that the only sure safeguard for the future is the widest possible education and training—one of the few possessions in these days that once gained can never be taken from us. We had a visit from Miss Fraser, a member of the staff of the Glasgow Girls' High School, who helped to conduct a party of children to New Zealand from Scotland. She said: ‘I wonder if you realise how fortunate you are here to have a school and grounds like this. When I think of the difference between it and the Glasgow Girls' High School I envy you from the bottom of my heart.’ I hope the girls will take note of this remark and recognise what a responsibility it is to them to be worthy of the great advantages and opportunities they have enjoyed.”