Islamabad: The youngest students of Sheikh Zayed International Academy (SZIA) were the hosts of the final function of the academic year - the Pre-school Graduation Ceremony for the 2010-2011 session - here on Saturday.

MNA Shireen Arshad Khan officiated as the chief guest at the three-hour event, which packaged presentations of songs, dances, speeches and national costumes by students of playgroup, nursery, and kindergarten, their ages ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 years. Also in attendance were a number of ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic community.

The grand finale of the function was the calling out of names of the 46 pint-sized graduates - each duly dressed in his/her official graduation cap and gown - to receive the scroll, which designates the graduation from one class level and promotion to the next. With this accomplished, all the proud students joined the administration and the chief guest for the ceremonial cutting of the official ‘graduation cake.’

Addressing the gathering, the Principal of the Academy, Wafaa Abdul Ghaffar said, “At SZIA, every student, including the youngest ones, is given the opportunity to perform, to gain confidence, to ‘stretch his/her wings’ and, most of all, to realise a moment of glory in his/her own light, as we have seen here today.” The news