Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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School Activities. THE LIBRARY. By H. Richardson. Early last term it was decided that a library should again become one of the school institutions, so that boys could borrow books for home reading and study in leisure moments. A room was allotted as a library and the books of the Old School Library, of which many were so badly worm-eaten that they had to be destroyed, were moved in, thus forming a nucleus, round which a varied selection is being accumulated. This is done by offering liberal borrowing facilities to boys making gifts of books to the Library, and gifts of books or of money will be received with the highest appreciation. The magazine section is almost solely represented by the National Geographic, but other periodicals will be added when funds permit. There is hope that the library will shortly be enlarged by the inclusion of another room, so that one corner can be allotted to each house for the display of House Shields and trophies. In conclusion I must mention the Library Committee, which consists of E. L. Gibbons, S. M. Paschal and L Outerbridge. SCIENCE. By R. T. Gorton. The embryo of Science has appeared in Saltus. It is cling- ing to life with a tenacity that knows no bounds. In our miniature laboratory there is a seeking after truth reminiscent of the palmy days of the Royal Society. We out-Beebe Beebe. But we espy a cloud on the horizon. The time is fast approach- ing when an hour of voluntary science on Saturday mornings will no longer slake that thirst for enterprise and experiment that could only have been experienced to a similar degree by the Alchemists of the middle ages. Our need is greater than theirs But every cloud has its silver lining; our hearts throb with the unquenchable fires of a great hope. At the moment all is well and we look forward with eager anticipation to yet more tangible achievements. CHOIR AND SINGING. By G. S. C. Tatem and Miss D. Lines. The Headmaster is making a determined effort to strengthen the singing throughout the school. The choir has been augmented by several fine treble voices, and practises industriously under a great deal of energetic direction on our part! 4

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Reorganization. Scheme, system, schedule; meetings, arrangements, co-operation; quite a lot of thinking and conferring; a batch of notices and announce-, ments in the Daily Order Book; an adequate and most enthusiastic staff; boys taking a real interest and doing their part to help — and the life of the place begins to take shape. I seem to have started with the bare essentials, the preliminaries — but now I come to the true crux of the matter. I shall never cease to be grateful to every member of the staff, and to the boys for the way in which they have not simplv accepted, but actually sustained, my steps in the work of reorganizaion, which was initially made possible by the active support of the Trustees lately retired. It is not necessary for me to refer in particular to the new or re- animated activities of the School; articles describing them, written by those who are responsible for their conduct, will be found in this Maga- zine. I do not wish, however, to let slip this opportunity of expressing my thanks to those members of the staff who assisted me when I first took over the School in the Summer term; a term memorable for visits from His Excellency the Governor and Lady Cubitt, and for a most successful Sports Day at which Sir Henry Watlington made the presentation of prizes. During that term, also, we were glad to hear a remarkably fine lec- ture given by Mr. Livingstone, Director of Public Works, in a series begun by Mr. Ivo Stourton, the Chief of Police, and to be continued this term. By the time this is in print, our candidates will have sat for Cam- bridge Junior and School Certificate Examinations, and we shall be hoping for their success. I quite realize that the progress of the School must in the long run be judged by results, and I feel confident that in the course of time good results in examinations will follow the necessary improve- ment in the work ; but I must state quite plainly that these are not the only results at which I am aiming and I am not content to have the School judged by them alone. The aim and object of the re-organization is to provide the boys with a balanced school life in which due and proportion- ate emphasis is laid upon work, conduct and sports. I have said before that I wish all Saltus boys to be exemplars of Good Manners, Good Morals, Good Learning and Good Sportsmanship and that states the ideal that I have set before the Saltus Grammar School as concisely as is possible. It seems to me that if we can attain the four standards of this composite ideal, some success must necessarily follow, and we shall then be able to face your judgement of us with perfect confidence. REEB. HOUSE COMPETITION. The School is divided into four Houses (Butterfield, Darrell, Saltus, Watlington) which compete in every activity of school life. Individual boys are awarded good or adverse marks for Work, Sport and every kind of Duty and Conduct, and the result is reflected at the end of each week in the movement of dummy men on a House Ladder set up in Assembly Hall. At the end of each term a House Shield which is being most kindly presented by Lieut. Nicholl, R.N.R. will be won by the House which has scored the highest ap ' o ' regate of points. MR. HENRY COX. We all regret the prolonged illness of Mr. Henry Cox, our late Head- master, which ban necessitated the absence of his brother Mr. Freer Cox. A portrait of Mr. Henry Cox, presented by the old boys, is now in As- sembly Hall. 3

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A selection of the more appropriate hymns has been made, with emphasis on those that lend themselves to mass singing. Christmas carols and a few simple rounds relieve the solemnity of the repertoire, eked out by a few secular airs of a more jaunty nature. In addition, the junior forms are being given regular instruction in sight reading, voice production and rhythm, which will have in time a decided influence in building up a nucleus for a trained treble choir. Singing will count as a contribution to inter-house com- petitions for the Nicholl Shield, and if more of the older boys would regard singing as an enjoyable pastime, a double- quartet could be formed in each house capable of rendering easy arrangements, and derive a great deal of satisfaction therefrom. THE GARDENING CLUB. By H. Richardson. On many afternoons and most Saturdays of the term boys, strenuously wielding mattock, hoe or spade, have been seen in various parts of the School grounds. It is rumoured that flippant onlookers describe them as the chain-gang. They are, in fact, the very cheerful and quite voluntary members of the Gardening Club. The Club is divided into two sections. One is making small flower and vegetable gardens. Another has visions of a shaded and beautiful sports field in the years to come and are digging enormous holes for the reception of young trees. This section is particularly commendable as they may never live to see the fruits of their labour. A third section has been suggested, having as its object the pruning and general care of school trees. But there are several difficulties. One is the absence of tools, another is the scarcity of soil-covered ground, which has been alleviated by Mr. W. E. P. Motyer, the donor of several loads of manure. In the near future we hope to see flowers, blooming, vege- tables flourishing, and young trees shooting up. And last but not least, the Kindergarten deserve to be con- gratulated on having prepared and edged a flower bed under their window, and we hope the seeds they have planted will add a bright spot of colour to the outside of the school building. THE CADET CORPS. By J. H. A. Linton. The difference between thirteen and thirty is seventeen, which shows that as far as keenness in the school is concerned, the Corps is definitely looking up With the 5