Over a thousand enroll in PSS summer enrichment programs

This year’s summer enrichment programs of the Public School System registered over a thousand participants across all schools and levels, according to Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan and federal programs officer Tim Thornburgh.

In a visit to Hopwood Junior High School yesterday, teacher Jenn Castro was seen attending to 31 eighth graders in a transition course for language arts. Throughout the six-week program that will end Aug. 5, participants in her class are expected to be fully prepared for the next grade level. The transition course or preparatory class is open to all incoming high school students from all public schools and runs from 8am through 2pm each day.

For Judy Rose Ngirbabul, an eight grader from Hopwood, attending the preparatory class for language arts will help her improve in that particular subject. She admitted finding language arts to be among her weaknesses among all subjects.

“I really wanted to improve in this area so I decided to take it this summer. High school is a new challenge for me so I need to make sure I am ready and prepared for it,” she told Saipan Tribune. Ngirbabul will enroll at Marianas High School next school year.

Another eight grader from Hopwood, Judy Ann Rabauliman, is taking the class to recover credits for the subject. “I don’t want to repeat it next year, so I grabbed this opportunity to recover the lost credit,” she said, adding that once she completes and pass the summer class, she could continue her studies at Saipan Southern High School.

Teacher Jacklyn Echon was also seen yesterday attending to about 70 seventh graders in a class at the school’s cafeteria. She explained that her summer sessions primarily involve math and language arts, but she also incorporates social studies and science subjects. Participants in her classes include seventh graders who failed on one or more subjects and lack the needed credits to go to the next grade level.

Echon was being assisted by three other teachers and nine trainees from the Workforce Investment Agency.

Also seen attending to 26 eighth graders yesterday was teacher Jackie Dela Cruz, who is handling the transitional class for Algebra.

At Kagman Elementary School, principal Ignacia Demapan told Saipan Tribune that over 60 students participated in their summer programs. She considered the sessions offered as advanced lessons for language arts and math. Demapan said a significant number of her students also participated in the summer science camp and the Chamorro and Carolinian Language Heritage Studies program.

Besides Hopwood and Kagman Elementary, other summer programs are ongoing in other campuses such as Oleai Elementary, San Vicente Elementary, Chacha Oceanview Junior High, and Saipan Southern High School.