GISBORNE SCHOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3200, 22 April 1911, Page 2

GISBORNE SCHOOL.

ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMITTEE. A SATISFACTORY YEAR’S WORK. ‘ The annual reoort of the Gisborne School Committed, which is to be submitted at the annual meeting of householders on Monday, is as follows: — Your committee has much pleasure in laying before the annual meeting Pf householders its report on its work during the year 1910-11. PERSONNEL OF COMMITTEE. The committee lost the services of Mr J. Somervill for three years, its chairman, and of Mr Forbes W. Riaeli, who was the chairman for this year. The committee placed on its minutes a record of their regret at their loss, and of these two committeemen. Messrs. H. Clayton and Geo. Darton were elected to till the vacancies on the committee, and the Rev. L. Dawson Thomas to be chairman. STAFF. As. usual the staff has suffered a number of changes. Miss Matheson, who was. absent on leave for twelve months, returned to her work at the beginning of this year: and Miss Averv, 8.A., who acted temporarily on the staff during her absence, retired. Mr. Olsen, after six years’ service at the school, has been promoted to a higher position in the Mangapapa school. Miss C. King left the profession to become a nurse, after nearly eight years in the school. Miss J. Brown left owing to her approaching marriage, after seven years’ service. Miss M. Burden, who has rendered valuable assistance with the girls’ swimming and life-saving classes, also left to take up an appointment near her own home. Mr. B. Hawkins and Miss M. Oxenham retired, having completed their terms of pupil teachership—Mr. Hawkins to enter the Wellington Training College for Teachers, and Miss Oxenham, on account of bad health, has had to retire temporarily from the profession. Misses L. Sheen and F. Epps have been appointed to vacancies on the staff, and Messrs. B. M. Kebblewliite and N. Rigby are also temporarily on the staff. Miss E. Oxenham and Mr. J. Forsyth have been appointed pupil teachers. Miss Turley acted for two months as temporary assistant. Your committee desires to express its appreciation of the excellent work done by the head master and his staff. It feels strongly that the success of the school is very largely due to the untiring enthusiasm of the school staff. ATTENDANCE.

Owing to the prevalence of whooping cough tlie attendance at school suffered somewhat, and the percentage during the year 1910, 89.4, does not reach the record of 1909, 90.37, or of 1908, 90 per cent., hut is our third best percentage. The average attendance for tne year was 772. The attendance clauses in the Amended Education Act, requiring attendance on every time the school is open, is having a marked effect. The attendance for the March quarter of this year averaged 93 per cent, of the roll number, as against 90.9 per cent, for the corresponding quarter of last' year, and 59.7 per cent, the previous year. The number of medals won for full attendance last year was 138. Gold medals for five years’ full attendance were won by Harry Allan, Frank Matthewson, Robert Thomson, Mary Dempsey, Phyllis Image, Leonard Lentell, and Elsa McDonald. A gold bar, presented by Mr. J. Broad, for seven years’ full attendance, was won by Pearl Hatherall. William and Sydney Wildish and Elsie Higliam have each completed their sixth year’s full attendance, and Ivy Morrison her eighth. Your committee lias decided to modify the system of medal giving, by giving only the gold medal for five years’ full attendance, and a bar for a longer period. The change lias been made because the new clauses in the Education Act have made full attendance compulsory, so far as health will allow, and the use for the medals has gone. In spite of the pressure brought to'hear on the Board of Education to appoint district attendance officers, this body declines to take any action. Only recently a conference of representatives of the teachers and of the Board recommended such appointments. hut once again the question is shelved. EXAMINATIONS. The school gained a very satisfactory result at the recent examination for the Standard 6 Certificate. Of 46 candidates 41 gained the proficiency certificate and Jour the competency certificate. The Inspector’s remarks on the work done was: ‘‘Exceedingly good work all round.” One pupil, Enid Sliarpin, gained a Board of Education scholarship. During the year Mr. Herbert de Costa presented an Honors Board to the school, the Dux of each year to have his name inscribed on it. Harold Angell has the distinction of heading the list on the hoard. SWIMMING BATH. Tlie hath retains its hold on tlie children. Both boys’ and girls’ classes in swimming and life-saving are held during the summer months, under members of the staff. The competition in connection with these classes for Mr. Lysnar’s Cup was won for the second time by Etera Ahuriri, and for Mr. Townley’s Cup by Alice Leslie. The judges were Dr. Porter and members of the staff, and tlie caretaker. Mr. Townlev’s Cup for the championship was won by Noel Lewis. The championship among the girls was won by Alice Ambridge. A most successful sports gathering for the children was held on March 30th,_ when nearly all the prizes were contributed by friends of the school. Public sports meetings were held on October Bth and March 11th, and realised a small credit balance. IMPROVEMENTS. - Numerous improvements have been made in tlie playground during the year, necessitating the expenditure of

-a* considerable sum of money. , The maim drain; which has caused much trouble for some time, is now working well, and the surface drainage has been improved by the construction of ,an open, drain extending for 84 yards, and leading into tlie side channel in Derby Street. The whole of the asphalt, comprising over 5000 square yards, has been i'ep.aired arid top-dressed. For this purpose the Board of ’Education has promised a £ for £ subsidy up to £75/ The Board has also renewed the fencing on the north-east boundary of the school playground and some of the fence dividing the hoys’ and girls’ playgrounds. The enclosure which has done ditty for many years as a horse paddock has been taken into use by the classes in agriculture. It has been fenced by the woodwork classes under Mr. Levey, the material being supplied by the Board of Education. No work in tree-planting was done this year, hut Arbor Day was recognised by a very interesting and instructive address to the children by Mr. Darton. ENTERTAINMENTS.

To provide funds for the improvements referred to, and for other purposes, appeals have been made to the public on three occasions by means of entertainments. In July a concert by the school children was given, and the sum of £sl 5s was paid into the school fund. The whole of this was not available for improvements, as a hill for attendance medals was the first call on the proceeds. In November a carnival was held in the school ground, when the not proceeds amounted to £sl 13s Id. In March a flower show produced about £2O profit. Thus a sum of about £9O has been raised for the purpose of improving the school grounds. Your committee desires to place on record its appreciation of tlie work done in organising the above entertainments hv the head master end his teaching staff, assisted by outside friends. THE CADETS. Although tlie whole of the school, girls as well as hoys, is taught some form of drill, only 13S hoys are recognised by the Department as junior cadets under the new Defence regulations. These are divided into two companies, under Captains Leslie and Cowan, and good progress has been made with the new drill. Staff Sergeant Moore, of Auckland, spent the month of February with tlie schools of the district, and thus materially assisted the teachers. Capitation is not now liaid to the companies, hut all necessary equipment is supplied and expenses' met from Wellington. In future, instead of making use of the Kaiti rifle range, the cadets will he given target practice with the two Hazard miniature targets lately. granted to the school. B.S.A. aid rifles will be used. The officers believe that this arrangement, besides being more convenient, will he more beneficial to the cadets. Major J. Kinder continues to take an active interest in our cadet movement. LIBRARY. Mr. Cowan, librarian, reports as follows :—The library continues to be a popular adjunct to the school. With a few exceptions all the boys and girls in Standards 4,5, and 6 are readers, and use the library. Excellent care of the books has been taken by the pupils, though a few hooks were unaccountably lost during the year. On the other hand about 40 have been presented by pupils. For the first time since the opening of .the library hooks have had to be laid aside as worn out. At present there are 716 hooks in the library, all in good order. MANUAL INSTRUCTION. The classes under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act -have been carried on as in previous years. Classes in cookery and dressmaking, woodwork, and chemistry have .been held in the Technical School for children of Standards 5 and 6. Standards 3 and 4 (boys) have been taking agriculture, and the majority of the children in Standards 4,5, and 6, swimming and life-saving. BIBLE READING CLASSES. These classes continue to be held in tlie school by the Voluntary Bible Reading Teachers’ Association out of school hours. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. The abstract of accounts for the year is as follows: —Receipts amounted to £449 8s 7d; expenditure, including a debit balance of £2B 14s 4d brought forward from last year, £450 14s Id, leaving a debit balance on March 3lst, 1911, of £1 5s 6d. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The Gisborne School Committee met last evening. Present: Tlie Rev. L. Dawson Thomas (chairman), Mrs. Walker, the Rev. W, Grant, and Messrs. Clayton, Wildish, and File (secretary). The Hawke’s Bay Education Board wrote under date April 4th that Miss Epps had been appointed temporary assistant teacher on the staff of the Gisborne School. The Board also forwarded £2 17s 6d, being the balance of grant for drainage improvement account. The head master reported that tlie attendance had averaged 93.1 per cent, of the roll number, the average being 740.2. The roll number at present was 791. The staff had changed since the last meeting by tlie retirement of Miss Turley and Mr. Olsen. Miss Sheen and Messrs. Kebblewliite and . Rigby joined the staff at the beginning of

the month. On March 30th the chtldren’s: swimming sports were held. Ho received several contributions to the prize fund, mostly from donors who wished to give anonymously. The prizes for these sports, together with the attendance medals and certificates and the flower show prizes and certificates, were distributed yesterday afternoon by the chairman. The remainder of the certificates would be sent to the winners as soon as possible. The Inspector (Mr Smith) paid his usual visit on Monday and Tuesday, April 3rd and 4th. The report was received. The annual report was read and approved of.