group, like the choir, also performs at numerous
school and community events. Music classes begin
in the Foundation Year, where Mr. Guerrard leads
classes of singing and instrument play, along with
music and movement sessions where children get
creative with a parachute, beanbags, scarves and
ribbons to live and recorded music. "I enjoy
composing music," he says, "and it was fantastic to
see the S1 and S2 children perform my musical,
Polo's Christmas last year."
master Staunton, "I made a point of dropping
into as many classes as I could. I quickly
Excellence' around the arts programme. Not only
was the instructional expertise present, but the
talent of the students was incredible."
in 2009, to individual student music performances
at Upper Primary Assemblies, to the acting prowess
of Secondary students at the Shakespeare Festival,
there existed ample evidence the School had the
potential to be a leader in arts education, he says.
an initiative to pay homage to Saltus's best visual
artists. "My former school had a long tradition of
producing outstanding student artists. Many went
on to study Fine Art at established colleges in the
with them; there was an absence of student work
hanging on the walls. In 1997, I instituted the
Headmaster's Art Prize, awarded to the student
whose work, either painting or sculpture, was
deemed the best, by a panel of art teachers and
myself. We purchased the work, framed it,
presented it on Prize Day, and hung it along with
an appropriate inscription in the main corridor.
After 12 years, the walls were adorned with student
art, a testament to all visitors of the importance the
school placed on the visual arts."
awards in 201112
to showcase the
talents of students
of all ages. The first
such award, the
SGY Headmaster's
Prize for Art, was
awarded at June's
graduation ceremony
to Zakiya Morris
for her self-portrait.
The Headmaster's
Junior Visual Art
Award was
awarded to Mackenzie Pearman at the Secondary
Department Prizegiving for her acrylic painting,
Tail of a Time. And the S5 Headmaster's Art
Award was presented to Upper Primary's Tyler
Hurdle for his acrylic work, Bottles. All the
artworks were purchased and framed and will be
put on permanent display at the School.
subjects," says Head of Art Fiona Murdoch, who
with Steven Masters (see story page 23), runs a
flourishing visual arts programme at the School.
She notes that for the third time in four years,
Saltus students--recent grad Zakiya Morris ('12),
musicians Alex Fox (S12) and Gabriel Jones (S7),
and lighting technician Ryan Day (S9)--are being
recognised at the annual Premier's Concert in
December. Sarai Hinds ('11) and SGY2 Nahshon
Hollis have also been Visual Arts Awardees.
disciplined and do well in other areas of the
curriculum," notes Mrs. Murdoch. "Perhaps they
students
who are
involved
in music,
sport,
dance and
visual arts
are more
disciplined
and do
well in
other
areas
of the
curriculum'