Top teacher Rasheema Swan told a special dinner for the Island's head boys and girls they must show leadership in their schools and lives.

Ms Swan spoke to 14 head boys and head girls or student government leaders from CedarBridge Academy, Bermuda High School for Girls, Berkeley Institute, Mount Saint Agnes, Saltus Grammar, Bermuda Institute, and Warwick Academy and their head teachers at the La Trattoria Restaurant.

Organised by the Little Venice Group, the dinner was the second annual salute and is designed to "encourage you to give your best and to work hard''.

"Your presence tonight is a major part of our community programme,'' spokesman and director of Training Dale Butler said. "We hope you will enjoy yourselves and who knows...maybe one day you might enter the industry.'' In her speech to the students, Ms Swan told them that effective leaders put "a higher being'' first, regardless of their religion or denomination.

"You will need a foundation -- a rock,'' the Berkeley Institute teacher said.

"You don't live in a vacuum. And if you look at the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi or even the rapper Mase -- God was part of their plan.

"Effective leaders are those who seek wisdom and understanding, not just in the classroom academically, but spiritually and physically. School is much more than just book learning. You have got to expand your mind.'' Ms Swan challenged the teens to learn about their country, suggesting good citizenship is a part of being a leader.

She asked if they could name all of the people who ran for office in their home district in the last election and how many votes the victors got.

"I didn't know either but that shows how much we all need to learn,'' Ms Swan explained. "Do you know what your Constitution says? Do you know when it was written? It's time we all learn about our home.'' Setting personal standards of behaviour was a major theme of the speech, as a benchmark for achievement.

But Ms Swan told the group they must not forget their fellow students who may not be as fortunate.

"Yes, the pressures of life will come upon you,'' she said. "You may even fall down. But effective leaders will admit they make mistakes.

"Effective leaders need to think of all of these things when you go into your schools and communities. Be an encourager. Be a motivator. Be proactive.'' The students were: Nishanti Bailey and Liam Anderson of Berkeley; Stephanie Lewis and Christie Hunter of BHS, Jonathan Herring and Cathy Hay of Saltus, Maya Davis and Byron Walker of CedarBridge, Michael Spenser and Janice Mullings of BI, Lacey Dobson and Danny Wicks of MSA, and Bruno Teixeira and Diana Darrell of Warwick.