school for 30 boys on the corner of Angle and
North Streets to today's two-campus, co-educa-
tional school for 900-plus students, the vision of
our School's founder has unfolded.
"Character and Industry"--two attributes held dear
by our founder. The current motto, Labor Omnia
Vincit, or "Hard Work Conquers All" also describes
his personal philosophy. His obituary in the daily
paper closed with the observation that "there are
many traits in Mr. Saltus's character which can be
held up to the imitation of young enterprising
business people." How proud he would be to know
how frequently during his School's 125th anniversary,
mention was made as to his work ethic, integrity
and concern for the broader community.
daunting and diverse as world wars, depressions
and recessions, epidemics, floods, and fires.
Nonetheless, determined leadership from Trustees,
Headmasters and faculty, and support from students
and parents over the past century overcame these
adversities, putting the mottoes to action and proving
their worth. Take the first Headmaster, Thomas
Waddington, who, recruited from England, essen-
tially had to start building a school from scratch on
February 6, 1888. Or Goodwin Gosling, the official
"first student" of Saltus, whose generations of family
have generously supported the School ever since.
Or 1904 Rhodes Scholar recipient Henry Cox, a
former Saltus student who became Headmaster
from 191634 and singlehandedly kept the
academic programme alive during the sparse First
World War years by teaching all the subjects
himself ! Roy Haygarth was another Head who
faced a severe setback, in the form of a major fire
in 1977 that swept through the Assembly Hall
and Gymnasium, reducing both to rubble. The
fire necessitated the building of the Haygarth
Gymnasium two years later.
the whole Bermuda community was born. Today,
Saltus boasts an enrolment of 935 students, with
103 teachers and 27 staff. Our students distinguish
themselves in numerous areas of School life:
academics, athletics, music, drama, and debating,
to mention a few. They graduate to outstanding
universities and colleges and go on to make their
mark in Bermuda and countries around the world.
that the past four years haven't turned out to be,
perhaps, every bit as tough as some of the trials and
tribulations faced by my predecessors. Yet, so much
has been accomplished and so much support has
been given to me by the School community--not
least of all by our students, whom I feel are the best
and most inspiring I've ever worked with.
first female Head of School, which is a testament
to how far Saltus has come, but she brings to the
post the same dynamic energy, goals, ambitions
and dreams for this School as every one of her
forerunners, and, indeed, of Samuel Saltus himself.
I will take back to Canada very fond memories of
my years at Saltus and of Bermuda and her people,
and I wish Claire all the best as she continues the
hard work and carries forward this institution's
extraordinary legacy.
A
beginnings
through
challenging
hardships,
a fine
institution
was born'