GMS wins tree décor contest

Green Meadow School students and teachers receive their $5,000 check presented by Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Chris Concepcion after winning first place in the 15th Annual Christmas tree decoration contest. (Erwin Encinares)

Public and private schools went home last Saturday with extra cash for the holidays by participating in the annual Christmas tree decoration contest, float competition, and caroling competition during the celebration of Christmas in the Marianas 2016 at the Paseo de Marianas.

Green Meadow School won the Christmas tree decorating contest, along with second and eighth places for the caroling competition for middle school and elementary school divisions, respectively, earning the school a total of $5,600.

Milagros Songcuan, Green Meadow principal, was ecstatic about the win. She said that Green Meadow School has consistently been in the Top 3 in the Christmas tree decorating contest.

“I am very happy for the students and teachers and, of course, for the community. This is our second time to [be in the top 3]. Last year we were in second place; [in] 2014 we were first,” she said.

Songcuan said the students’ parents cooperated by helping provide recyclable materials that the school could work with.

“It’s such a good blessing for the school because we are really trying to help the students,” she added.

She said that part of the money would be used to fund the construction of an additional classroom for its middle school. “We are going to build another classroom for the middle school,” she said.

Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Chris Concepcion was pleased with the turnout.

“The crowd was alive and well; the holiday spirit was alive and well in the CNMI. The MVA is happy to put together these kinds of events to provide activities for our tourists as well as our residents, so we thank our partners who helped put this thing together because we cannot do this alone,” said Concepcion.

In his message to festival participants, Concepcion said: “Thank you for [coming]. Without their participation, it wouldn’t be what it is, so I wish them a very merry Christmas, good success, good health in 2017, and we welcome you to join us next year.”

Second place in the Christmas tree decorating contest went to the Northern Marianas International School while third place went to Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, earning the schools $3,000 and $2,000, respectively. The decorating contest requires participants to decorate a Christmas tree using recycled materials.

Oleai Elementary School won first place in the elementary school division of the caroling competition, San Vicente Elementary School won second place, and Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School won third place, earning each school $1,000, $450, and $300 respectively.

Northern Marianas International School won first place in the middle school division of the caroling competition, while Green Meadow School bagged second, and Agape Christian School got third. Each school won $1,000, $450, and $300, respectively.

The Christmas skit contest was won by Saipan Southern High School, with Agape Christian High School, and Marianas High School following close. Each school won $1,000, $450, and $300, respectively.

Christmas in the Marianas is an MVA-hosted annual festival that spans through Dec. 3, 10, 17, 23, and 30 at Paseo de Marianas in Garapan.