The joyous summer cry that marks the end of blackboards, text books, teachers and tests and the beginning of fun in the sun had special significance for a group of students at the Bermuda High School for Girls this week.

Unlike their fellow students, who will be returning to the halls of learning at the top private girls' school in September, the 100th graduating class last night bade formal farewell to the institution which has been their academic home for up to 12 years. Today, they are on the threshold of a much bigger world.

The graduation ceremony, held in the school's Queen Elizabeth Hall before family, friends and trustees, was a bittersweet experience.

While there was a certain sadness in realising that life as they knew it would never be the same again, the girls were equally excited about the challenges of the future.

"We're confident and we're ready. We can handle it,'' Samantha DeCouto assured.

Her peers agreed.

"Twelve years is a long time to be in the same system,'' Vanessa Madeiros said. "It's time to move on.'' But the young women, so poised and confident, won't be entering the workplace for a long while yet. For the next few years they plan to occupy higher halls of learning, such as the Bermuda College or post-graduate boarding schools abroad, before ultimately going on to university or college.

The graduates have already demonstrated an ability to be movers and shakers.

Faced with the prospect of no particular celebration to mark the fact that they were the centennial graduates, the class of '94 fought hard for what they believed in.

"Although the school is one hundred years old this year, many of the celebrations are planned for next year,'' Amy Harvey explained. "We almost didn't have any graduation, but we fought for recognition as the 100th class.

We threatened to go on strike, but eventually handed in a petition and they listened.'' Fighting for what they believe in is a pattern that doubtless will be repeated many times throughout the young women's lives -- and comes as a direct result of the school's belief in training its students to be independent thinkers.

Looking back on their education at the Bermuda High School, the girls had high praise for its approach to producing not just academically successful students but also but well-rounded individuals.

"We have been given an excellent foundation for whatever we go on to do,'' Johanna Flath said. "I think that is one of the most important things BHS offers. We have all become independent women. A lot of other girls probably wouldn't have the same self-confidence and self-esteem that we have. I don't regret being here for 12 years at all. It's been excellent.'' Agreeing with Miss Flath, Jurina Smith noted that the school also taught its students to have pride in themselves.

"You make sure your uniform looks nice for school. You polish your shoes. You care how you look. Even when you're out of school you take pride in yourself and your appearance,'' she said.

For Samantha DeCouto, the traditions of the school were also important.

"There is a sense of unity here,'' she said. "On Old Girls' day, when the torch is passed through the ranks of past and present students gathered on the big, oval driveway, the solemnness, the unity and pride that circulate around are beautiful to see.

"Traditions like these give you pride in being a BHS student, and to have come up through a system which has taught you so much.'' Miss Madeiros also felt the school had instilled in its students good moral values, and the necessary confidence to make one's way successfully in "a male dominated world''.

Which fits perfectly with the school's motto: Purity and strength.

The graduates were equally upbeat about learning in an all-girls school.

Claudia Haegele, who transferred to BHS from a co-ed school, felt hers was a positive move.

"You feel secure giving your own opinion in an all-girls school. By the time you leave here you are confident enough to be able to stand up for yourself, state your own opinions, and be yourself in the outside world,'' she said.

Amy Harvey, who also transferred from a co-ed school, felt a single sex education was particularly important in high school.

"There are less distractions. In the other school I didn't get as much work done as I did here because boys were disruptive in class and fooled around,'' she said. "Girls mature earlier and have higher standards in an all-girls school.'' Mrs. Haegele said, "They are great teachers here. They will do anything for you, you just have to ask. You can go to them with your problems and just have a chat. It is very personal here.'' Proud as they are of their school and all that it stands for, the graduates admitted that being alumni of BHS had not always been easy beyond the school boundaries. Black students, in particular, often faced adverse reactions from their peers.

Yet negative reactions left them unswerving in their loyalty.

"People on the outside don't understand,'' Karen King, who is black, said.

"I know BHS has been slandered, but I don't think anyone can form an opinion unless they have been to this school or have spent time here. A lot of people say, `How can you go to an all-girls school?' or else they say terrible things about BHS, but unless you have been here you cannot know.'' Samantha DeCouto agreed.

"There are a lot of stereotypes about an all-girls school. There are also pre-disposed opinions, especially in Government schools, about BHS and the students who attend here. The image is of a rich, white school.'' For two of the black graduates, who transferred from predominantly black Purvis and Dellwood schools, BHS proved a pleasant surprise.

"I was very insecure at first,'' Karen King admitted, "but everyone was so nice they impressed me right away. I never felt uncomfortable at all even though some friends from Dellwood said, `How can you go to that school?' The myths are untrue.'' For Jurina Smith, the problems of transferring from Purvis were slightly different.

"I never knew what BHS was, and for the first time in my life I had to carry a lunch box instead of a paper bag, so when my mother brought me here I thought she was taking me to boarding school and not coming back!'' As they looked forward to their graduation ceremony at the time of our interview, the class of '94 showed, through their choice of speaker, just how mature and well-rounded they were, and how successfully they had surmounted the racial and social prejudices others would attach to them.

"Our speaker will be Mrs. Naomi Schroter, a Bermudian with a daughter at the school,'' Amy Harvey said. "We chose her because she is a successful black woman who is very independent. She has had a very interesting personal life, and is a good example of how women can make it in any world.''