"Quo non ascendam" - to what heights may I not ascend. This epitomizes the ageless spirit of adventure and achievement of Warwick Academy and it's students.
Warwick Academy is the oldest continuously run school in the western hemisphere. Established in 1662, WA is a selective, co-educational school which has around 800 students from ages 5 to 18.
In November 1663, the school constructed two rooms measuring 14'x16' and is still visible today. Morgan Hall was built in the late 1920's and was the first cinema in Bermuda. It featured a roof that could be opened for ventilation on sultry nights. It was also used as a community centre for Warwick Parish.
The 20th century brought expansion of its facilities. One of the earliest benefactors was Mr. James Morgan who extended the buildings around the quadrangle which is still in the heart of the school as well as an assembly hall and well equipped laboratory.
Marking the 300th Anniversary of the school, the Phoebe Purvis Memorial Hall was built and the school policy was changed to allow the enrollment of all children.
From 1974 to 1981 the school expanded even more, building two hard surface tennis courts, new science laboratories and completing food and needlework rooms along with a 25 metre swimming poll. Additionally the school offers a full range of sporting, drama, musical and other exdtensive extra curricular opportunities for its students.
In 2012 WA celebrated it's 350th Anniversary and marked it with the burial of a time capsule which will be opened at ther school's 400th Anniversary.
Several headmasters have distinguished themselves. the Rev. Dr. Francis Patton became the President of Princeton University, Mr. Walter Thorbun became a Judge in the Supreme Court in Calcutta and Sir James Hodson became a surgeon of repute in Edinburgh.
My mother and I attended WA. Mr. Perkins was the headmaster when I began kindergarten, then Mr. Lamacraft succeeded him. I loved school and my teachers. Some of the women teachers I remember were - Winters, Logan, Jones, Finley, Walenchiak, Devin, Bouchard and Cooper. Ms. Cooper was my mother's teacher too. I wonder if she was the longest tenured teacher at the school. The men teachers I remember were: Eccles, Enoch, Rogers, Frewin and Benbow.
The #8 Bus from Dockyard stops a little past Warwick Academy. Heading back to Dockyard the bus stop is across from the school.