Dandan Middle School gets full support for projects

Interim principal Lynn Mendiola is grateful to the government leaders and this school year’s newly elected PTSA officers that have answered her request for assistance to help transition Dandan Elementary School into a middle school.

The assistance the school needed were:

• More benches and tables for students to use during lunch time because the cafeteria is too small and cannot hold all 363 students at one time. Students are given packed lunches and are given the option to eat outside of the cafeteria.

• Tents for students to use during lunch time.

• Shatter-proof mirrors for all the student restrooms.

• Toilet tissue for student use.

• Educational Tax Credit to purchase paint and other materials needed to renovate.

• A bus shelter for bus riders. Dandan Elementary did not have students riding the bus, but after this transition to a middle school, DMS has bus riders from San Vicente, Lower Dandan, Fina Sisu and some in As Lito.

Leaders who have answered to the schools needs were:

• Rep. Janet Maratita, who donated six picnic tables for students to use during break and lunch time. She also donated two boxes of toilet tissue.

• Rep. Edmund Villagomez, who donated materials for 10 benches, one 20 x 20 tent, and one 20 x 40 tent that will be used by students during break time, lunch time, and special school events.

• Rep. Joseph Deleon Guerrero, who donated materials for five benches.

• Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb, who donated two boxes of toilet tissue.

• Reps. Mariano Taitano, Joseph Deleon Guerrero and Anthony P. Sablan, who donated shatterproof mirrors for all bathrooms. The three representatives shared the cost for the Kautz Glass project.

• Rep. Antonio R. Agulto, who donated metal poles for the two 20 x 20 tents for students to use during break time, lunch time, and special events.

Kilili’s contribution
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan sponsored a raffle event, which was held on Oct. 25, 2014, for Dandan Middle School’s bus shelter project. Sablan provided all the 40-plus prizes that were raffled. The prizes included split-type air conditioners, artwork, $100 gift certificates, $100 cash prizes, etc.

Toward the last hour of Sablan’s Luncheon Fundraiser, the DMS Student Council president announced that the school has raised $1,700 out of the $4,200 needed to proceed with the bus shelter project. The school was still short about $2,500.

At this announcement, Mega Stars chair Chan Chun Wei of Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino approached Sablan and expressed that he would like to help DMS by covering the difference of what was needed for the bus shelter project. The news was shared with PTSA president Bobbie Sablan and DMS principal Mendiola, who announced the good news to everyone in the luncheon with much gratitude and happiness.

The check in the amount of $2,500 was delivered to the school but chairman Chen was unable to deliver it himself because he was on a business trip in Hong Kong.

The bus shelter project is now in the beginning stages and DMS is hoping to have it built before December this year.

Parents and other organizations that provided assistance to DMS are:

DMS PTA officers donated a box of Fluorescent Light Bulbs, 3 Fan Belts for the Riding Mower, Tent Tarp and Fixtures for two 20 x 20 tents, and serviced and repaired the school water blaster gun

Educational Tax Credit donations were provided by Marianas Global, Make Over Salon, Commercial Trading of Saipan, and the Law Office of William M. Fitzgerald.

All of the generous donations to DMS have tremendous significance in school improvement and provide a safe learning environment for its students.

“I am a strong believer of a community working together to invest in the future of our children,” said PTSA officer Barbara Torres Sablan. “Thank you to all the leaders who answered our requests and to all the businesses that donated educational tax credit. Every single penny will be spent to benefit DMS students.”

DMS is still seeking Educational Tax Credit donations to help build a pala-pala for students to use during heavy rain. This pala-pala is estimated to cost about $15,000. In addition to that, our riding mower is slowly deteriorating, and we may need to purchase a new one before it gives up on us.

Again, thank you to all the generous leaders for their utmost support for helping Dandan Middle School better day by day! This is a classic example of Students First!

Dandan Middle School, also known as the Home of the Tottots, has a student population of 363, 28 teachers and staff, and serves students from the villages of Fina Sisu, As Lito, Dandan, and San Vicente. (DMS)