TARADALE SCHOOL.

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

TARADALE SCHOOL.

The committee have '.pleasure in reporting the successful negotiatipn of , what has been the most memorahle year in the. school' s history, viz., the ' jubilee vear. The School. Jubilee — It would fbe difficult to accurately , estimate the value of the. services rendered to tlie school by the large and representative body of citizens who made up tlie Ju'bilee Celebrations Committee. Tlie committee was elected at a publie meeting held on Fviday. May 17, 1929, in the Taradale Town Hall. Tlxe Rev. F L. Frost was . appointed ehaix*man, ' Mr B. H. Turton, secretai-y, Mr C. H. 1 White, assistant secretary, and Mr W. Pollock, treasurer. Two sub-commit-1 tees were set up as follows : — Rolls : Mr Jno. Williamson, convener, Rev. E A. MeCutcheon, secretary, with Messrs F. Tooman, W. G. Jarvis and ' N. D. Gilchrist. Details : Rev. F. L. Frost, coxivener, Messrs B. H. Turton . and 0. H. White, • seci-etaries, W. H.' Brown, W. Pollock, F. King. and N. 1 D. Gilchrist. The above committees did invaluable work. The jubilee took 1 place oh August 24 to 27, and the extensive programme- went through as .arranged without a hitch; A, jubilee booklet was prepared by Mr Jno. ^Williamson, and the cost was • practically eovered by local advertisements, for the securing of which Mr C. H. "Williams V.as I'esponsible. A. most pleasing feature of the celebrations was the prese'nce of a large num'faer of fii-st pupils, one of whom, Mr .Chas. Tayloi-, of Hastings, donated a framed photograph of one of the first classes. The total income from all sources for the jubilee was £155 17s 10^d, the net ' pfofit being £66 14s -4^. _ Altliougb the exgenses were so heavy, it was considered that the profit was satisfactory. Permanent reminders of the jubilee have been secured for the school in the new Honours Boa'rd, made and donated by .Mr J. Rockell, and in handsome framed photographs of the children's fancy dress procession. The souvenir booklet has also been pixt amongst tlxe school's treasures, and will in years to come prove most useful for reference, as Mr- Williamson. spared no pains to ensure aoeuracy and comprehensiveness in liis compilation. . .A more utilitarian mom'ento of". the' jubilee is the hot water service for .the supply of cocoa to .the children .in, both schools. • • - The. copxniittee. .are grateful to all who . helped, and w;ould^.pay- n special woro. of . tribute tp-. ther lapge' and enthusiastic ladies' Qomxnittee. The succe§s of thq functions was .largely due to .the williBgness with " which they worked. • School Improveni ents . — We. wish to express our gratification as a committee for the cojisideration shown to our school - by tlxe Education Departnxent and- the Hawke's Bay Education Board. Early in ihe -year g-yisit was made bj' the Hon. H. Atmore, Minister for Education, 'Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P., and officials and members of the Education Board. A very favourable lxearing was given .to the representations lnade ,by your -committee, and plans long delav- ' ed have now been carried out. Tlie main school lxas .heen entirely remoUelJed and renovaied, two new qlassrooms, a teacher's room, an office for the headmaster, a store and a new shelter shed have been provided, Central steam lieating has heen installed throughout the main school. The qut-offices ha.ve been nxodernised. The iixaster's residence has also heen extensivel.v renovated. In- addition plans are well forward fdr the acquisition of an increased playing area, which will give a fairly ample sports ground to the school. Special Expeixditure. — The committee have foftunately been able to raise a considerable sum for. special purposes. Thanks - in this connection ai-e due to the Frivolity Minstrels, the Blxiebird Entertainers and ihe Greenmeadows Progressive Society. School ground improvements absorbed £34 8s lOd, renio.val of shelter slyxd £10 10s, piano £26 10s, .gramophone and records £10 17s, library books £8 17s 7d, picnic "ahd. school; prizes £19 10s, spox-ts equipnxetlt £5 2s. A maci-oearpa hedge- has been planted at the side school- and a basket' ball pitch made for* the children there. The total expenditure out of the special fund to date lxas been Just over £162. The division of the school into two buildings and grounds entails double expense ' on the committee and prevents a 'more economical use of the funds. There is a credit balance to date in the general fund of £26 ,7s 2d, and in the special fund of £29 16s 8d, a total of £55 3s 10cJ/. School Attendanfce, etc. — At the end of 1929 the attendance had reached its peak, the roll lxumber being 389. Tbe present numbers are : Main school roll 257, side school 110, total 367. This is an increase of 17 over the beginning qf 1929. The decline since the end of December is "due to tlxe witbdrawal 6f the secondary pupils for 1930 -pnd a few other l-enxoyals. There were 17 'proficiency certificates and 12 compstencies gained.' Walter Metealf was the; dux of the school, the medal again hfing preseuted by Mrs Woon, of Waiohiki. Mabel Line and Walter Metealf were first and second respectively in an essay competition on "The School Jubilee," . handsome hook prizes being presenfed by Mr W. E. Barnard,- M.P. The school lias made steadv p'rogress under Mr F. Tooman. who has unfortunately been compelled to take 'sick leave. Staff changes include the ar-.rival'-of- Miss Lee, of- England, on exs,

change with Miss Hull, and Mr W. A.B. Goodwin, first assistant. Mr Goodwin is actitlg headmaster during Mr Tooman' s illness, and is sffowing the kpenest interest in the general life, as well as the education, of tlie pupils. The staff are to he congratulated on the high standai'd maintained at the school. In conelusion, we wish to thank the parents for their general support of our undertakings, and- wish the new committee a happy and successful terxn of office.