NELSON PARK SCHOOL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 72, 28 April 1930, Page 8

NELSON PARK SCHOOL.

The axinual report- of the Nelson Park School to be preseuted to the annual meeting' of housebolders on : Monday evening reads as follows-: — "The committee has pleasure in reporting on the past year's work in coxmection with the school, which has just completed its sixteenth year. "Committee: At the annnal meeting of householders held in Apx-il, 1929, the following were elected: — Messrs E. Baxter, O. Corner, T. Faulkxior, J. McLean, A. Phillips, A. Robinson, T. Rowe, W. Shearer axxd J. Thorp, Mr T. Rowe heing appointed chairman and Mr R. Thomas secretary and -treasurer. "Roll: There were 625 pupils on the school roll, the highest niimber' during the year being 640. "Buildings: During the. Summer vacatxon the senxor school buildings were entxrely. remodelled, and we have now nine class rooms and a fine assembly corridor, .in place of the previous accommodation of six class rooms plus two very unsatisfactory converted corrxdor rooms. The present rooms are smaller, but the lighting and ventilation are vastly improved, while the installation ' of "an up-to-date hot water heating system should be greatly appreciated by both scholars and staff. "Staff : During the . year-Jhere -xyera

many staff changes, the following teachers having left the school for positions elsewhere : — Miss A. Atkin, to assistant Tlxorndon Normal School ; Miss A. Stewart, to Wairoa School; Miss A. Iving, to Opotiki; Mr A. E. Wxshart, to sole teacher Puhipuhi ; Miss D. Menzies, probationary assistant, completed her traming here ; Mr K. Cockerill, px-obationer, to training college; Miss P. Rood, retired; Mr W. D. Johns has been granted one vear's leave of absence tor study in England. The incoming teachers were Miss M. McCarthy, assistant; Mr D. E. Brown; Mr A. Nielson, relieving assistant ; Miss J. B. Cattanach, probationary assistant; Miss E. McPherson; Miss N. Findfay, probationer; Mr D. G. Doole. Ixi addition Mesdames Johnston and Stinnear have acted as relieving assistants during the year. "Pupils' successes. — Fifty-two Standard 6 boys and girls gained either proficiency or eompetency certificates. Tlxe dux of the school -was Master D Butler. Masters D. Butler and J. Edmundson won junior free places at secondaxy schools, the latter scholar also cax-rying off the Navy League essay prize for senior division ■ of primary schools for Hawke's Bay. Master Jack Hora won a junior national scholarship. "Our boys won ,the seixior championships for primary schools for both cricket and football, while our junior gii'ls won the B grade basketball champxonship.. In swimming our pupils were third in the competition for the Education Board' s Shield, our girls wxnning in addition the Knapp Shield for life-saving, while 34 proficiency, 40 learners' and 7 . merit certificates Were also gained for swimming by . our pupils. "The rnain playground has. heen finished in Leycold, thus providing an excellent surface for the pupils' play. Tlxe Kennedy road frontage has been put down in gi*ass thus greatly improving the appearance of the grounds and when the other pending improvements are completed, your committee is confident that the school playground and snrroundings will he a credit to onr school and a pleasure to all who have worked so hard to bring these improvements to pass. "School Library. — A fine collection of new books is now available for our boys and girls; during the year a handsome bookcase has been purchased at a cost of £24 and is proving of great service. "Special Activities. — A most .successful queen carnival was organised by the staff and committee, while the staff ai-ranged a .higbly successful children's concert in the Municipal Theatre at which the carnival queen — Joyce Tlioi-p — was crowned with all due pomp and ceremony. These functions resulted in the fine sum of £162 4s 6d being raised for playground and other objects, and your committee heartily thanks the staff for the willing assjstance. rendered in these m.atters; with subsidy. the sum of £300 is now available ancl is at px-esent being expended, the improvements effected incidentally providing woi*k for a number of men, "Dental Clinic. — This has. again proved of great service a lax-ge number of our . pupils being treated dentally during the year, and the thanks of all concerned are due to the nux-ses in charge for the ekilful and eourteous manner in which tlieir duties have been dischax-ged. Tbe earnest co-ojxeration of parents is solicited on behalf of the work, which is now being carried on b3r the school committee. "Religious Instruction. — Our liearty thanks are hex'eby tendered to the ministers who cheexffully give half an hour of their time every Tuesday moxn-

ing for religious instruction in the school. "Parents' League. — Your committee wishes to acknowledge the fine wox-k,, on behalf of tlxe school on the part of the Parents' League which has proved its xxsefullness throughout the year. Special donations this year by the league include a gramophone and cabinet for the infants' departnxent. £10 for cricket and sports goocls for the main school, and the sum of £22 for playground fund ; in addition, tlxe ladies of the league organised a shop day, which resulted in £26 being raised. Tbis ■ opportunity is taken of tee's sincere thanke to the xnexnbers of again placing on record the committee's sincere thanks to the members of tlxe Parens' League which has proved a most valuable adjunct to the committee. "During the year the suxn of £549 has passed through the schools accounts of which details will be supplied at this meeting. Many incidental repairs, etc., have had to be attended to, tlxe balance sheet for the year showing a credit on the school account of £32 17s 2d. - "Committee. — Your committee has met regularly and given careful attention to the needs of the school, and the work done, has, we believe, been of a permanent nature and in the best interests of the school. Muci. still reniains to he done, _ axxd the McDonald street frontage, in partxcular, will need the attention of future committees. It is pleasant to state that our relations with the headmaster and staff have been of a very harmonious character during the year, all having worked together for the good of our school, while from the Education Board and its staff every courtesy and consideration have been received. Our caretaker, Mr Wood, has carried out hig duties in a very satisfactory manner, and the work is appreciated by the committee. "We extend1 our thanks for the confidence reposed in us dui'ing the yeax*, and extend our best wisbes for ■ an equally satisfactory and pleasant year of office to the incoming committee."