MCS shares messages of appreciation

As part of Mount Carmel School’s annual Thanksgiving celebration, the Mount Carmel School family shared messages of appreciation for everyone in the community and from around the world who have helped and are continuing to help with relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu.

Dear donors and philanthropists: Thank you for helping us in our time of need. From near and far, whether through financial contributions or in-kind donations, you have provided much needed relief and have helped everyone in our school and in our community recover from Super Typhoon Yutu. They say that the worst times can bring out the best in people, and the worst of this natural disaster has definitely brought out the best in you. So, while times are still hard, we remember all that you have done for us and all that your help means to us. You are the light in the darkness that fills us all with hope.
— Mount Carmel School’s leadership team (delivered by school president Galvin Deleon Guerrero)

Dear linemen from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Guam, Palau, and Colorado: Hafa adai, alii, and hello to you! We are the senior class of Mount Carmel School, the graduating class of 2019. We all just want to formally thank you for your support in our islands’ recovery efforts, and we appreciate all of you for coming to our islands in an effort to restore our power. Without all of you coming together and helping us, the recovery progress we are making would have been much slower. But thanks to your hard work and dedication, some of the villages in our island now have power and water, and we are continuing to make progress. Biba Palau, Guam, CNMI, and Colorado! Together, we are “CNMI Strong.”
—Mount Carmel School’s seniors (delivered by Gary Camacho)

Dear men and women in the armed services and law enforcement: We don’t know what it is like to be in your shoes so we owe you an incredible amount of gratitude and appreciation for all that you have done for us. At times like these, we are glad to say that we can count of you for help and support. From things like passing out MRE’s and relief goods, to picking up debris on the side of the road, and for your service, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We thank you very much for your aid in the aftermath of the devastating Typhoon Yutu and the sacrifices you have made for this island, our country, and its people. Thank you for defending peace, liberty, and freedom here in our home and all around. We salute you all for your hard work, thank you.
—Mount Carmel School’s juniors (delivered by Kalea Borja)

Dear government leaders, including Gov. Torres, Mayor Apatang, Homeland Security and FEMA: We thank you for your hard work and untiring dedication you have provided and are providing to restore our island. Thank you for continuously working hard to ensure that the people of the Marianas are safe and informed. The work you do truly helps, and we can see it through the positive spirit of recovery in the community. Your hard work and effort helps bring together our Marianas. We are truly thankful for your dedication and the decisions you have to make, whether big or small, that impact our lives. We are grateful that those decisions are always made with good intentions that yield great outcomes, and continuously bring us all closer together as one Marianas…a strong Marianas.
— Mount Carmel School’s sophomores (delivered by John Isaac San Nicolas)

Dear non-profit organizations, including the American Red Cross, Marianas Young Professionals, the Samaritan’s Purse, the Salvation Army, and many more: Thank you for helping out our island. We appreciate all the things you have done to contribute to the people of the Marianas’ recovery efforts. From distributing free meals and providing free water, to give to those in need and everything that you all have done, we commend your actions. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you and we appreciate you all.
— Mount Carmel School’s freshmen (delivered by Tessie Schweiger)

Dear Mount Carmel School parents, faculty, staff, and AlumKnights: Though it may not seem like it at times, I think we speak for all the students when we say we are thankful for everything you do, not only for our school but for us, the students. We appreciate all the time, money, energy, and effort all of you invest to make our school the best it can be. We thank you also for all the help you have given us, especially through rough times like now after Super Typhoon Yutu. Not only have you given us the help we need, but also with the continuous support in our daily lives, you have created a family of students that are there for each other through thick and thin. You have created a society in which students can interact with each other, in and out of class, a society where students interact and have more of a reason to come to school other than the learning aspects of it. In conclusion we just want to say we love you guys and thank you for being the greatest supporters Mount Carmel could ever have not only in but out of school as well.
— Mount Carmel School’s 8th Grade sudents (delivered by Jill Mallari)

Dear Saipan International School, Grace Christian Academy, Green Meadows School, Marianas High School, Kagman High School, and Saipan Southern High School: We thank you for helping us at our school get back on our feet. When we were in need, you stepped up and helped us, and we are very thankful for that. Without your help, we would not have been able to open our school. We are so thankful that you came and helped us make our campus safe for us students to learn. You helped us even if you and your family had damages of your own. So thank you so much. We hope that if or when the time comes, we can also help you. Thank you again for helping us rebuild, brick by brick, book by book. Knight strong, we will rise!
— Mount Carmel School’s 7th Grade students (delivered by Vicente Reyes)