I have been honored to share with students, parents and teachers of Ada Merritt K-8's the joyous moments of the promotional ceremonies of the Fifth Grade and Eight Grade Classes of 2010. Ada Merritt K-8 is the first fully dual language English-Portuguese program in the United States. The school offers an English-Spanish program as well.

On June 4, at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant in Key Biscayne, I had the pleasure of giving to each of the twenty seven fifth graders of the Portuguese-English program a CCBU certificate recognizing their academic success, fluency in the Portuguese Language and knowledge of Brazilian culture. They are ready and looking forward for their academic career in middle school. The class of 2010 is the second Fifth Grade class that is promoted at Ada Merritt K-8 Center.

The promotional ceremony of the Eight Grade Class, the first eighth graders to graduate at the school was an emotional moment for me. Since 1999, as the CCBU's President, I have worked with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools to help create the Portuguese program. The eight students who finished their academic journey in the Portuguese-English program represent the culmination of the dedication and determination of students, parents, teachers, and many in the Brazilian community in South Florida.

All these students are going to be a valuable asset to the Miami-Dade multi-national community and will contribute to making our city a truly global metropolis.