Students from Dellwood Middle School took Hamilton by storm yesterday as they toured the city to celebrate their achievements.

The students, dressed in their newly designed blue and maroon school sport shirts, were participating in The National Salute to Students launched by The Royal Gazette last year to help to instil a sense of pride across the island’s schools.

This year the Salute was extended from senior schools only, to include middle schools. With the help of The Royal Gazette staff, students have created newspapers which will be published over the next two weeks.

As part of their tour, the students piled into the reception at The Royal Gazette to perform a chant they created with their drama teacher Nishanthi Bailey outlining their core values.

Vernita Hollis, a teacher at Dellwood, told The Royal Gazette what the students had done throughout the day with the help of their Salute committee members, Ms Bailey and Dante Cooper.

She said: “This morning we honoured some of our alumni students who were inducted into our Hall of Fame and we highlighted some of the past principals of Dellwood Middle School. Also in the morning we greeted traffic on top of Spurling Hill, on Johnny Barnes roundabout, and along Dutton Avenue.

“We had a big truck playing soca music that took the students to City Hall and we blocked the streets.

“Then, at City Hall there was a performance by Emanuel Humphreys who came second in Bermuda Idol, and we had a dance performance. Right now we are giving out trinkets to our community partners.”

Speaking about the chant the students created in which they pledged to “raise the bar”, teacher Nicole Grant said: “The chant emphasises all of the students’ core values which are to be respectful, to be safe, to be responsible and to be prepared.

“That is a chant that they created themselves and are very proud of. It’s been a great day.”

The Royal Gazette this week launched a new National School Salute website, salute.rg.bm, which features a series of school newspapers written predominantly by students. Each paper will be published online and in The Royal Gazette over the next two weeks.

The next school newspaper publication dates are:

• Today: Somersfield Academy

• May 12: CedarBridge Academy

• May 13: Bermuda Institute

• May 16: Berkeley Institute

• May 17: Mount Saint Agnes Academy

• May 18: Warwick Academy

• May 19: Saltus Grammar School

• May 20: Bermuda High School

• For more information follow #rgschoolsalute