COVER STORY injuring one of their peers during a “birthday punches” incident in the Gosling Centre—a controversy that made headlines and radio talkshows, but won him overwhelmingly support from the local community for the zero-tolerance stance on bad behaviour. “Honesty, including academic honesty, a sense of purpose, and absolute respect for other students are the values we need to model and promote,” Staunton says. “We will be putting out a new Code of Conduct, which will be School-wide. The consequences for repeated offences will be dire. More than likely, we’ll have a discipline Committee with students on it, so they understand the dilemmas of making judgements and enforcing policy.” Connecting with the wider Bermuda community through charity involvement and service is also a major objective of the School as it moves ahead. Saltus students must appreciate, says Staunton, that not everyone is as fortunate as they are to attend such a private school. “It’s not a right, it’s a privilege,” he says. “They have to be sympathetic and empathetic to others who don’t have that luxury.” His belief in the importance of School pride has been evident in the renewed focus on new logos for uniforms, including standardised sports uniforms, School flags on campus, and updated signage, among other facility improvements. “School pride to a large extent comes from pride in appearance— your own and the School’s,” he says. School pride is also being stoked through afterschool clubs and activities, which Staunton believes are more important than ever in today’s economic climate, when parents are forced to work longer hours. Afterschool “Homework Havens” were established this year for both Upper Primary and Secondary departments, allowing students to complete homework assignments under supervision after the regular school day ends. Clubs have also enjoyed a fresh start, with a wide assortment of offerings catering to all tastes and ages—from Naudé’s Climbing Club to Knitting, Computers, Cooking, Eco Club and Spelling Bee. Starting in September for the 2011–12 school year, Upper Primary teacher Jennifer Pettit will launch a new afterschool programme for Years 3 to 6 (see story on page 27), bringing in-house a service Saltus formerly offered onsite through an outside company. The new programme promises homework supervision, crafts and activities that support the department’s curriculum, guest speakers, even community-service projects. Pettit ‘Honesty, a sense of purpose, and absolute respect for other students are the values we need to model and promote’ Budding chefs in Upper Primary’s new Cooking Club show off creations they made with the help of Royal Bermuda Yacht Club chef and Saltus alumnus Brian Richens (2002) 28 S A LT U S M A G A Z I N E CYNTHIA LANCER-BARNES