Saltus Students Celebrate Their Graduation
The 2019 Saltus Graduation took place last night at the Anglican Cathedral in the City of Hamilton.
Fifty-nine students – a record 39, or 65 percent, of which had started together in Year 1 and spent the majority of their academic together – crossed the stage following the usual pomp and circumstance to receive their hard earned diploma.
Graduates were addressed by Deryn Lavell, Head of School, and R. Gil Tucker, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
The keynote address was provided by former Premier Sir John Swan, who was invited by the school’s Head Boy and Head Girl, and told the students, “We, as a people, when we breathe the air, we breathe someone else’s breath. We are committed to each other just by the breath we breathe.”
“Yet people can walk around as though they are isolated from the very breath of other people. I made my mind up that the path has to be a path that will pull us together.”
Sir John added: “I ask you to be an inspiration in Bermuda by your conduct and the things that you will do to help make a difference. Bermuda needs you now. The challenges Bermuda and the world face – you are the people we will depend on.”
As the ceremony progressed through a series of awards, a musical interlude was provided by a group of musicians from the graduating class. Musicians included Jackson Spurling – Violin; Gabriel Jones – Violin; Myles Packwood – Trumpet; Jordan Davies – Clarinet; Gabriel Smith – Euphonium; Aidan McPhail – Euphonium; Zoe Skinner – Bass Guitar; Cormac Sagurs – Drum kit; Ryan Topple – Saxophone.
James Anthony, BA [Hons.], Exon PGCE, Director of Senior School delivered a powerful message to students and orchestrated the presentations to the Graduates. He was assisted by Jon Beard, B. Ed., MSc, Deputy Head; Tanja Walker, BSc, MSc, University Support & Guidance, Teacher of Biology; Fiona Murdoch, BA [Hons.], PGCE Oxon, Head of Art [SGY2 Coordinator]; and Erica McArthur, BA [Hons], B. Ed., Teacher of History [SGY1 Coordinator].
Subject prizes were received by: Jackson Spurling [Economics; English Literature; History; Mathematics; Physics]; Ashley Irby [Accounting; ICT and Business/Economics]; Cormac Sagurs [Chemistry and Computer Science]; Sydney Rego [Art and Spanish]; Haleigh Martin [Psychology and Sociology]; Bria Maybury [History and Philosophy & Ethics]; Jewell Cumberbatch [Biology]; Kirk Stapff [Computer Science]; Hanna Percy [Design Technology]; Suki Rowden [English Language]; Lauren Zanol and Maya De Silva [Human Geography]; Gabriel Jones [ICT]; Jordan Davies and Sy McPeek [Marine Science]; Olivia Washington [Media Studies]; Daniela Buglione [Performing Arts]; Mackenzie Costa [Photography]; Declan McKittrick [Spanish]; and Cameron Coffey [Sports Science].
The 2019 Saltus Graduate named as Valedictorian was Jackson Spurling, who has been with Saltus from the age of 5. Jackson will be attending Dartmouth in the fall of 2019.
The school extended their special thanks to David Desilva [the Mall Studio] and The Very Rev. Norman Lynas, M Theol. Canon Residentiary and sub-Dean of the Anglican Church of Bermuda.
The Graduation programme follows below [PDF here]
