Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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our curricula on approach up to 0 level, but some people have taken this step as yet another sign, along with our Leaving Certificate and the fact that we are happy to join in the Bermuda Certificate, of the fact that we are contemplating abandoning our traditional, ' British-type ' approach. This is not so; the certifi- cates are excellent supplements to the 0 levels, with their emphasis on con- tinuous assessment and the consequent motivation at each level of secondary work. But, at the academic school, at least, I do not see them in any way as substitutes for external examination, and we shall continue to insist on the progressive, non-terminal, courses up to 0 level, along with the emphasis on knowledge and skill acquired at each level, on revising and mental discipline as demanded by this system; ironically, it is already clear that students are bene- fitted by this approach when they switch systems. With the Senior Year comes the hope, rapidly and comfortingly turning into a certainty, of a new Library. But this building, which we hope will be in use by September, 1975, will be far more than just a Library and far more than just a Senior Year facility. The library will be for the whole senior department and anyone who knows the school knows how much in need of one we are. It will include reading areas, as well as a hopeful space for research and learning machines; in fact, we have planned it not merely to offer opportunity for reading and study but to encourage these habits. The building will also include room for career display, a small counsellor ' s office, a coomon room for Senior Year students and two small seminar rooms to accommodate the smaller sets of senior year and free existing classroom space. There are so many happy and encouraging events in the year and as Head- master, and parent, I can enjoy the whole range and catch the whole flavour; children bouncing off the fence at the end of the track at the Prep School sports; an unusually young chess team in the final against the Sixth Form Centre, and winning; Christmas concerts with St. Christopher in the Junior School; ' Oliver ' , of course, the cast clearly enjoying themselves as much as the audience; and, at the end of the summer term, the Leaving Certificates distributed by Allan Marshall, Head Boy two years ago and now with entrances to Harvard and Princeton. Parents are more and more involved in the Saltus community each year, both helping at the lower levels and playing a part, often an undramatic one, in all the functions, inaugural teas and social occasions. Founder ' s Day was an especially satisfying occasion for anyone involved in all of it, with its blend of rousing music and dignity at St. John ' s and the good fellowship of the excellent lunch and cricket afterwards. But it was in Canon Wheatley ' s address that I found the keynote of the year and to the school; with the sensitivity that we have come to expect from him, he dealt with the interdependence of change and tradition; change was essential for life, but change only emphasised the need for the external verities and, always, the challenges remained, the challenges of work, dedication and standards. -4-

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HEADMASTER ' S NOTES No school can, of course, hold all its good teachers; there are many good reasons, professional and personal, for needing to move on, especially in Ber- muda. It is comforting to know that, even with the comparatively large exodus this June, Saltus ' turnover of staff during the last four years is considerably less than average. Nevertheless, it is sad to lose five very good teachers; Martin Hunter, Michael Jackson, Mai ' Evans, John McEwan and Jean Northcott have, between them, given the senior school thirty six years of fine service; teachers of very varied character, each very competent in his own field and a good member of a team who has deserved and won the respect and affection of boys and colleagues. Our good wishes go with them and their families. The Bursar ' s restoration of the senior school building proceeds steadily, limited only by funds. We arrived back last September to new ceilings and neat, practical work benches in the corridors, now free from the untidy clutter of lunch tables. Paint has since freshened up the hall and corridors and we have a splendid new entrance lobby, a point of pride as well as an interesting and well-used centre for displays. Soon, new doors to each forf room should appear and the old woodden back staircase is to be replaced. But loutish carelessness and lack of community sense still produce enough unnecessary breakages and littler to break . any Bursar ' s heart, despite drives, warnings, threats and punish- ments. The junior and prep departments put the seniors to shame in this.. The inauguration of Senior Year, after 0 levels, is of course the most notable and exciting development, and the thought, planning and work f or it has dominated the year. This is not the place for detail, most of which has been circulated anyway, but the emphasis throughout has been to provide a course which will do most for most of our boys. It is clearly right that a school such as Saltus should be able to send its students directly to college; we certainly have now many pupils worth such a course, and we already have teachers well qualified to teach at this level. And there should be some useful by-products to benefit all Saltus. A school needs a ' top ' , and the general academic atmosphere of the school should gather strength from the presence of students and courses at this level, with the opportunity for some scholarship and researh, albeit modest and we are determined that this course will not be a year for the drifter; admission into Senior Year has already been seen to be by no means automatic and the courses will be passed only with real effort. Also, we should be able to call for more mature leadership from the prefect body. I am hoping, too, that it will be a little easier to keep up connections with our younger old boys. Results are what matter of course, but it is encouraging that numbers for this first year are greater than at first envisaged and will certainly increase in 1 975, that BHS have joined us, and that we have the approval and support of the Ministry. But the challenges all lie ahead and, with them, the exciting oppor- tunities. It should be unnecessary to reaffirm that this Senior Year will not change -3-

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EDITORIAL Many, many years ago, when dragons still roamed the earth, I was asked to produce an article for this Magazine. When, eventually, it was submitted, it was quickly returned - rejected. Now, nearly five years later, I have no fear of rejection, but my deadline has long past. Why, you may ask, should it take me so long? Why are others, (who are virtually newcomers to the field of year-book writing compared to my status as a grizzled veteran,) so quick to submit their assorted essays? It is, of course, diffi- cult to write about a place, which, (if the money my parents have spent there, and the time I have spent tbere is any criterian,) is quite close to my heart. Another reason, no doubt, is that the very extent of my memories make it difficult to know where to begin. (At this point I would like to state most categorically that if anyone thinks that I am trying to be cute or whimsical ii i seeming to have difficulty in carving out this essay when I am actually writing with tl e utmost in speed and facility he is crazy - I am s erious to the verge of melancholia.) Ans so, not knowing where to begin, I merge all my potential subjects into one: Saltus, of course, has changed over the past five years. It contains nearly twice as many pupils and teachers, and with the new Senior Year next year more are promised. And the buildings, too, have been enlarged. It was five years ago that the science block was built. (Remember when Mr. Rothwell was where the. bicycles are now and the bicycles were where Mr. Rothwell is now? Mr. Roth- well was dismantled, removed carefully piece by piece, and reconstructed on his present site.) And there has be en the recent addition of the old Cavendish School. But probably more noticeable has been the addition of the school ' bursar ' in the shape of Mr. Hopkins. Not only has he done a remar-kable job in im- proving the condition of the school buildings, but he is a man who is-never to busy to stop and chat with the boys and ask their opinions. It was under his direction that the interior of the senior school received its first painting this century. Every ethnic group is represented in the colour scbemes: the doors are in the familiar red, green and black bands; the upper corridor is painted in the vasco da Gama colours - canary yellow, crimson and green; and the lower corridor is in the traditional Nazi colours of red, grey and black. The floors are green but the ceilings are still wh te. But more important is the fact that the school has deve loped into an institution which is capable of satisfying a much larger range of interests. There have been over twelve new clubs initiated in Saltus in the past five years, and on the games fields Saltus has reached previously undreamed af heights. Yet dispite these commendable achievements there is one unhappy point -5-