SSHS PTSA ‘excited’ for stage project

Ten shovels are planted on a mound of dirt before the groundbreaking ceremony of Saipan Southern High School’s stage facility inside the campus last week. (Jon Perez)

Saipan Southern High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association president Glenna Reyes told a funny incident before last week’s groundbreaking ceremony of the school’s stage project, which is funded through a donation by E-Land Group.

Palacios said the Manta Ray family is excited with the project since the school will finally have a stage facility despite only 14 years of existence. She said that Herman P. Sablan, of contractor H&H Construction, also informed her that everything is set for the ceremony.

“While I was going through the list of things to do between the contractor and I, I realized that we have 12 scissors and a blue ribbon listed. So I called Mr. Sablan and asked if he was ready for the ceremony,” said Palacios.

“‘Absolutely!’ was his immediate response. ‘I already purchased 12 scissors that I will be donating to the school after the event.’ A few seconds later, we both started laughing out loud. We had to change everything and started calling to secure the shovels.”

“We are so excited that we got ahead of ourselves and envisioned a ribbon cutting ceremony instead of groundbreaking,” she added with a laugh.

Palacios said that she had to check the invitation she sent to make sure she sent the correct one. “Please accept it as an advanced invitation for the actual ribbon-cutting ceremony in August.”

She added last week’s groundbreaking symbolized the importance of SSHS, the school’s PTSA, and E-Land Group in the partnership that they forged in the interest of the students. “And surely, we look forward for the actual ribbon-cutting ceremony.”

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Kensington Hotel president Myung Wook “Matthew” Park, SSHS principal Martha Kintol, Palacios, Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan), and Rep. Joseph Leepan Guerrero (R-Saipan) led last week’s groundbreaking ceremony at the campus grounds.

Public School System associate commissioner Glenn Muna, SSHS PTSA vice president Velma H. Sanchez, PSS Capital Improvement Projects program coordinator Rachel Fusco, H&H Construction’s Herman P. Sablan, and MDA Enterprises’ Abul Bashar were the others in attendance.

Before the opening of school year 2016 is the expected date of completion of the stage, which measures 29 feet by 50 feet. It is located at the back of Building C and just across Buildings A and B.

SSHS and E-Land signed their partnership last June 7. E-Land, which also owns Coral Ocean Golf Resort, has made its presence felt within the surrounding area of the school where they had maintained and repaired two bus shelters, and built the Unai Dankulo Beach Park Pavilion.