PSS schools revel in CCLHS contests

The Rafaluwasch Warriors and the Chamorro/Carolinian Club perform a dance number during the first Chamorro Carolinian Language Heritage Studies performing arts competition awarding ceremony last Friday at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

The Chamorro Carolinian Language Heritage Studies program hosted its first Language and Cultural Performing Arts Competition the entire week last week and handed out awards to the top schools last Friday.

The competition was created to entice students from across the CNMI to embrace the Chamorro and Carolinian languages and heritage through songs, dances, poetry, etc.

According to CCLHS program director Jonas Barcinas, it was the first time for the program to host this sort of competition and all the students showed enthusiasm throughout the week up until competition night.

“It was a very good turnout [and] was very successful. This would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors [and] especially our students,” he said. “It was to them that we passed on this vision and goal to perpetuate and preserve our language and culture.”

The competition was open to elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Each school was given the chance to participate in an essay contest, in a poster contest, in a spelling bee, in choral reading, in dramatic interpretations, in singing and dancing, and more.

For the elementary school Chamorro essay contest, Tinian Elementary School placed first, Sinapalo Elementary School placed second, and William S. Reyes Elementary School placed third. For the Carolinian essay contest Oleai Elementary School won by default.

For the middle school Chamorro essay contest, Francisco M. Sablan Middle School placed first, and Tinian Elementary School placed second. FMS also placed first in the Carolinian essay contest by default.

For the high school Chamorro essay contest Marianas High School placed first and Kagman High School placed second and third. MHS placed first for the Carolinian essay contest by default.

In the Chamorro poster contest elementary level, WSR placed first, and Sinapalo placed second. No elementary poster entry was submitted in Carolinian.

In the poster contest middle school level, FMS was the only middle school that submitted an entry for both Chamorro and Carolinian and placed first by default.

In the poster contest high school level, MHS placed first for both Chamorro and Carolinian entries and second for their Chamorro entry KHS placed third for their Chamorro entry and second for their Carolinian entry.

The spelling bee competition was only open to elementary schools. In the Chamorro spelling bee contest, Sinapalo Elementary School placed both first and second and WSR placed third. Olei Elementary School placed first and second for the Carolinian spelling bee contest and Kagman elementary placed third.

In the Chamorro choral reading contest, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School placed first, Garapan Elementary School placed second, and Kagman Elementary School placed third. Oleai Elementary School placed first in the Carolinian choral reading contest, and Kagman Elementary School placed second.

For the Chamorro dramatic interpretation GTC placed first in the elementary level, Tinian placed second, and Sinapalo placed third. In the Carolinian edition, OES placed first, Kagman placed second, and GES placed third.

For the dramatic interpretation middle school level, FMS placed first for both Chamorro and Carolinian editions. Chacha Ocean View Middle School placed second in the Chamorro edition and Hopwood Middle School placed third. Hopwood also placed second in the Carolinian edition, and Tinian placed third.

In the cultural dance contest middle school level, Tinian Jr. Sr. High placed first, Chacha placed second, and Sinapalo Elementary School placed third for the Chamorro edition. In the Carolinian edition, FMS placed first and Tinian placed second.

In the cultural dance contest high school level, MHS placed first for the Chamorro and Carolinian editions. Tinian Jr. Sr. High placed second for the Chamorro edition and KHS placed third. KHS also placed second for the Carolinian edition.