Last Friday, the Graduation ceremony of the 35 students of the XX National Baccalaureate Promotion and the VI Promotion of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program of Colegio Arenas Internacional was held in the incomparable setting of the "Jameos del Agua" auditorium.
A magical night in which parents, relatives, teachers, political and academic authorities, as well as the directors of the educational center, surrounded the bachelors with an atmosphere full of warmth that made this ceremony unique in which the students say goodbye to the School where, most of them, have lived together since childhood, to begin a new stage, the university, in which they will not lack anecdotes and experiences.
The emotional event was presided over by the Island Director of Education of the Government of the Canary Islands, Mario Pérez Hernández, together with the General Director of Colegio Arenas, Colegio Arenas Atlántico and Colegio Arenas Internacional Alberto Rodríguez, the CEO of these Schools Bernardo Rodríguez, the director of Colegio Arenas Internacional Delfina Rodríguez, the Coordinator of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program José Paz and the Councilor for Education of the Teguise City Council Francisco Javier Díaz.
The speeches and interventions were interspersed with performances by the San Ginés Polyphonic Choir. The ceremony also featured an audiovisual projection that recalled, with nostalgia and good humor, the students' passage through the educational center.
Alberto Rodríguez, after congratulating the students and their families, and recognizing the effort and professionalism of the teaching and non-teaching staff of the Center, stated that the center, as it is known, was founded in 1986 and during its three decades of existence "has had unstoppable growth and significant development, being for some time an emblematic center on the island and an example of overcoming and educational innovation". He also stated that "the school stands out for the incorporation of innovative teaching methodologies in all its educational stages, from Infant to Baccalaureate, which have been certified by the prestigious International Baccalaureate Organization. We are currently awaiting the result of the recent verification visit by the IB inspectors in Infant and Primary. With this new educational offer we will culminate the implementation of these new International Programs that are recognized as the best educational programs existing today worldwide and that we already put at the service of all our students".
For his part, Bernardo Rodríguez also took a tour of the 30 years of existence of the educational center, recalling that 450 young people have already graduated and encouraging them to "be useful people, to achieve the proposed goals with effort and perseverance because only in this way are successes reaped". Our schools, he added, "impart a complete and balanced education that has been the reason for recognition.... We will continue as before teaching our students to be good students and above all good people, so that like you they preserve the ideals that identify the School: defense of human rights, solidarity, respect for others, for the laws, for democratic principles, love for nature, sports and art".
During the event, the director of Colegio Arenas Internacional, Delfina Rodríguez, also spoke, who defined "true education as that which lays the foundations, which makes us people, that is, responsible, conscious and free women and men and whom nothing and no one can manipulate. If tomorrow, when you are outside the school, you manifest these values with your behavior, we will have achieved, parents, teachers and the Management of the center what we have intended from the first day you arrived at it, values with which society will allow you to live happily, with your head held high and a clear conscience".
The students María Cabrera Pérez and Chao Yuan Li Cai spoke on behalf of their classmates, highlighting in their speech the "attention and help they have always received from the teachers, making us responsible and cultured young people who know how to function without difficulties in society, since they have never spared efforts to advise us when we have asked them for help. They have resolved academic doubts, but they have also helped us to face and solve personal problems".
We are prepared to face the future with courage and enthusiasm, because we have all the necessary tools for it.
The closing of the event was in charge of the Island Director of Education in Lanzarote, Mario Pérez Hernández, who thanked for being able to share "an act full of joy that rewards the work well done in which the Center, its teachers and their families have collaborated". In his words, he asked the students to do him a favor "be good people of whom you, your parents and the society of Lanzarote feel proud".
Recognition on the thirtieth anniversary of the School
Before the end of the event, a recognition was given to Pilar Martínez, a recently retired Primary teacher who has worked at the school for 15 years demonstrating her professionalism, and to Emilio Amigo, head of the dining service at Colegio Arenas Internacional since its inception, always demonstrating his willingness to dialogue and his great capacity for work. The General Director of Colegio Arenas Internacional, Alberto Rodríguez, presented both of them with a commemorative plaque and a gift.
After the ceremony that closed again the Gadeamus by the San Ginés Polyphonic Choir, the guests shared a cocktail in Jameos del Agua.
