The graduates at the Rum Cay All-Age School Speech and Awards Day Ceremony ranging in age from kindergarten through ninth grade were lauded for their mission accomplished as they move on to the next phase of their educational lives. Father Chester Burton, rector of St. Peter's Parish and St. Christopher, flew in from Long Island to address the graduates at the ceremony that took place at St. Christopher's Anglican Church, Port Nelson, Rum Cay, where he told the graduates that their mission as defined by Webster's Dictionary as a "job or task given to an individual to perform" and that accomplished which is defined as "established, expeditiously completed" was a done deal. As they sought higher education, the priest reminded the graduates that as they gain knowledge and experience, to always remember that the island of Rum Cay needs them. "Every day is a learning experience so it demands every student to reach for the stars and use their God-given talent to succeed in all aspects of their life," said Fr. Burton. For the two young men (Javon Johnson, the salutatorian and Wilfred Kelly Jr. the valedictorian who received a lap top) graduating ninth grade and who were leaving their "mother's arms" to attend school in New Providence in September for the start of the new school year and high school, Fr. Burton reminded them to always put God first in everything they did. The priest also reminded the graduates that in the religious aspect of their lives, that their true mission accomplished can never take place while they have life, health and breath in their lungs. Fr. Burton was overcome with emotion during the ceremony as he watched the presentation presented by the pupils.  And he told the students that their graduation was a testament to the institution led by school principal Ann Strachan, who single-handedly instructed students for national examinations like the Grade Level Assessment Test (GLAT) in third grade and the Rigby Read and Iowa Math, and the five Bahamas Junior Certificates (BJC) examinations that the ninth graders sat. The priest told the graduates that they should feel honored and privileged just as students in New Providence do when they graduate and receive their various accolades. During the ceremony the entire school participated and sang a rendition of R. Kelly's hit song "The World's Greatest." With the graduation exercise, Strachan said she felt her mission was accomplished, as all events planned during the school year had been accomplished and that she viewed the ceremony as the "icing on the cake."

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