Tinian, Rota public schools will open Tuesday

All public schools on Tinian and Rota will reopen tomorrow, Aug. 25, for over a thousand returning and new students and newly hired principal, classroom teachers, and counselors for the new school year.

For all of Saipan’s public elementary, middle, and high school campuses, the impact of Typhoon Soudelor has changed the school calendar and school year opening. The school district’s leadership will announce soon the reopening for Saipan for school year 2015-2016.

“The recent storm may have devastated the island of Saipan but we prevailed at the end as we move
 forward rebuilding our lives, our homes, and our schools to welcome everyone back to PSS,” Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan said.

Tinian and Rota’s opening tomorrow is based on the CNMI Board of Education approved calendar of the new school year.

Tinian Elementary School will open with 315 enrollees. It will welcome three newly hired teachers and one counselor.

Tinian Junior Senior High School will have 292 students and four newly hired teachers and a special education teacher.

Sablan also announced the appointment of Dr. Robert Koenig as the new principal of Tinian Junior Senior High School.

On Rota, Sinapalo Elementary School will be the new home for 209 public school pupils. The school will have a new counselor and a new primary grade teacher.

Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior Senior High School will open its doors to 224 returning public school students and three new classroom teachers. Sablan said these are health and chemistry, mathematics and special education teachers.

During the onslaught of Typhoon Soudelor, several Public School System personnel responded to emergency needs of the community particularly those who sought refuge in shelters. Several public school campuses were used as typhoon shelters.

“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to many of our PSS employees who sacrificed their time away from their families to serve our community pre-Typhoon Soudelor, during the typhoon and post-Typhoon Soudelor,” Sablan said. “We were at the call of over 600 families who sought shelter and transportation at PSS and you all did an outstanding job.”

“Our school calendar for Saipan has changed due to the storm, and therefore, we appreciate your understanding during this school year. The school calendar for Tinian and Rota schools remain the same. Please refer to our website (www.cnmipss.org) for the modified school calendar for school year 2015-2016.” (PSS)