Jackson in the Secondary department. In 1972, the first male Head of School, John Delany, joined the School to see it through a great period of change. During his six years at BHS, he established a Scholarship Scheme to assist students from the Government Primary School system in attending BHS, and oversaw the extension of Science, Modern Languages and Business Studies courses throughout the school. Perhaps most importantly, he oversaw the desegregation of the student body and the staff. The Senior Years Programme was introduced in 1974, which saw boys back on campus, but at the end of their educational journey this time! BHS had started to take the shape of the School we know today. In 1973, the Parent Group, the precursor to the PTA, was founded and parents took on a more active role in fundraising for the School. Throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, the School expanded its footprint and subject offerings with the opening of the Arts Centre in 1974 (renamed the Frances Tucker Zuill Wing in 1991), and the start of Computer Studies in 1984. In 1990, The Dudley G. Butterfield Centre opened, and in 1991, BHS made an important contribution to the community when it leased land to The Reading Clinic for their current home.
Education in the
New Millennium The past two decades have seen enormous growth at BHS. Mrs. Eleanor Kingsbury, Head of School from 1995 - 2000, was tasked with finding an appropriate sixth form programme for BHS. In 2000, under the leadership of Mrs. Kinsgbury and Head of School, Roy Napier (2000 - 2007), BHS became the first IB World School in Bermuda, leading the way for other schools to follow in its path. The Renaissance IB Centre was completed in 2006 and houses IB students in their own, purpose-built facility. In 2003, a state-of-the-art gymnasium was built, named after donor Head Girl, Jessie Vesey ’19. At 102 years old, Mrs Vesey was present to cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening Ceremony. In 2005, BHS became Bermuda’s only Global Member of Round Square, joining a worldwide network of 200 schools in 50 countries on six continents. The organisation enriches the lives of BHS students through educational exchanges, conferences and service projects abroad, and through the six IDEALS of Round Square that root their education in an international context, shaping students into global citizens well before they leave Bermuda.
Moving Forward: Continuing its legacy for excellence in education, BHS will open the new Innovation Centre in the fall of 2020. This purpose-built facility will be home to BHS’s STEAM-focused curriculum and allow students to develop skills for the 21st century.
In 2007, alumna Linda (Noble) Parker ’78 became the Head of School after four years as Head of Secondary at BHS. She is the second Bermudian alumna to hold this position after Mrs. Frances (Tucker) Zuill who was Head of School from 1965 – 1967. Mrs. Parker has guided the School through two international accreditations, the Council of International Schools (CIS) in 2014 and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in 2015. These accreditations speak to over a century of diligence in the pursuit of excellence, and celebrate BHS’s remarkable commitment to a high standard of education as well as continued growth and self-improvement.
In 2016, Mrs. Parker oversaw the introduction of the Early Years Programme (EYP) when 18 four-year- olds joined the BHS family. The BHS EYP provides essential learning and social skills and creative exploration opportunities which ensures a smooth transition into Primary School.
A School for the Future
BHS launched its Leading the Way Campaign for Innovation in March 2017, and to date has raised $10.8M to build a 14,000 square foot Innovation Centre and renovated Arts Wing purposed fo STEAM subjects. The ground-breaking was held in January 2019 and is due to be completed in the Fall of 2020. The Innovation Centre will include five new Science laboratories, two Computer Science and Robotics labs, a
MakerSpace, a Learning Commons and Library, a Leadership Centre for Girls and a Digital Media Room. Renovations include a Blackbox Theatre and an Arts Wing connected to the Innovation Centre that will house the upgraded Music and Visual Art departments, with an outdoor “Idea Hub” linking the Visual Arts with the MakerSpace.
BHS has always been known as a school that provides an excellent education, and prepares students for wherever life takes them. The global economy of the 21st century needs more girls studying STEAM subjects, and Bermuda also requires young women with the leadership, communication and collaboration skills necessary to lead companies, non-profits and indeed, the country. By offering a higher quality and comprehensive STEAM programme with updated facilities, BHS is broadening the potential for a wider educational experience, not only for current and future students, but also for others in the community. Throughout its history, BHS has evolved with the times; growing and changing as needed, but always staying true to its core values in the pursuit of excellence. On the verge of a new era, which will bring BHS firmly into the 21st Century, it is remarkable to look back on 125 years of history and reflect on all the people who have played a part in this venerable school’s history. It is with honour and pride that alumni of BHS realise that they too are a part of the BHS story – a story with many exciting chapters, and many more still to be written.
Torchbearer Fall 2019 23
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