Week At A Glance

Monday:

• Young Author's Book Fair @11:30 - 2:30, cafeteria

Tuesday:

• Kindergarten Registration Begins @7:30 - 4:30, main office

Wednesday:

• 4th Quarter Mid-Progress Date/Bilingual grades due to teachers & Mrs Gomez

Friday:

• NO SCHOOL - Austerity Holiday for Staff, Intersession for Teachers & students

Students of the Week: April 23 - 27, 2007

Mrs. Tullao's Kinder AM - Katielyn Aizon
Mrs. Tullao's Kinder PM - Janna Feolino
Mrs. Dulay's 1st Grade - Junella Deleon Guerrero
Mr. Buniag's 2nd Grade - Shanice Seman
Mrs. Thorpe's 3rd Grade - Lee Ann Jastillana
Ms. CC's 4th Grade - Grace Dowez
Mr. Pinkerton's 5th Grade - Carlo Alfonso
Mr. Aldan's 6th Grade - Kaiza Lucido

The 15th Senate convenes on Tinian to disscuss passage of HB 242 and 255

The Senate met on Tinian last Wednesday, April 25th, to discuss the restoration of 6 million dollars in local funding to PSS. During the Committee of a Whole, the Commissioner, Dr. Borja, Finance Officer, Tim Thornburgh and Chairman of the Board of Education, Roman Benavente were asked to join the senators in discussion. Also present were PSS administrators, Julian Hofschneider, Florine Hofschneider and Yvonne Gomez. After much deliberation, the Senate unanimously passed both bills. The bills will now go to Governor Fitial for final approval.

Thank You Community! Thank You PTI!

Last November and December, customers signed up for DSL service at PTI. For every new person who signed up, PTI donated $5 to their school of choice. We just got a check for $350.00 big ones!! Thank you for thinking of Garapan School, now you can read our school blog lightning fast!

Students of the Week: April 16 - 20, 2007

Kindergarten AM, Mrs. Inaba - Angeline Barcelo
Kindergarten PM, Mrs. Inaba - Louie Calayag
1st grade, Mrs. Pangelinan - Tenela Peter
2nd grade, Ms. Terre - Kaecia Reyes
3rd grade, Mr. Johnson - Jennifer Tan
4th grade, Mrs. Rumley - Kurt Diaz
5th grade, Mrs. Snodgrass - Damien Torres
6th grade, Mr. Maderal - Germaine Macaranas

Thank you coach Ziggy!

Coach Ziggy offered a free soccer clinic to the students last Tuesday afternoon. Everyone from Kindergarten to the 6th grade was invited to join. Thank you coach Ziggy and thank you to Ms. Shryack and Mrs. Springer who helped to chaperone everyone's students.

PTA Meeting

Mr. Buniag and Mrs. Springer's 2nd grade students put on a skit to demonstrate our April ESLR and MegaSkill. The GES News Team reports on a school bullying incident and explains how problem solving can help avoid bigger trouble. They remind everyone to be globally minded and community active! Good job 2nd graders!

Our PTA President, Mr. Mariano Fajardo explains the on-going fundraising efforts set up for the remainder of the school year. Anyone wishing to buy ad space in our school year book is welcomed with open arms. Later this evening, Mrs. Gomez, our school principal, shares important assessment preparation tips with parents and information about the restoration of the 6 million dollar shortfall by the House of Representatives. Next week, the Senate will meet on Tinian to decide on House Bills 15-242 and 15-255.

Principals & Program Managers Institute

Principals and program managers, along with our Commissioner, Dr. David Borja and his leadership team, attended the first in a series of institutes that will be conducted by Dr. Joe Pascarelli. Dr. Pasacarelli was instrumental in creating the Pacific Regional Laboratory in the CNMI. Here, administrators sit in a "fishbowl" to examine their perceptions of job satisfaction and the morning's agenda. Later in the day we would discover that there would be a devastating shortfall in funding for the PSS. A 15.6% reduction across all government agencies would spur a week-long effort to encourage local officials to restore the PSS budget.

Students of the Week: April 9 - 13, 2007

First Grade, Ms. Mendez - Tina Lepwach
Fourth Grade, Mr. Aldrich - Paul Suarez
Sixth Grade, Mr. Bermudes - Patricia Metran

Thank you, Coach Asap Ogumoro and the MSFL Team for all your hard work! Congratulations on your successes at the Regionals last Saturday.

Reminders:
Monday - Flag Ceremony and April Committee Skit
Staff Mtg. @2:30 pm, Cafeteria
Wednesday- Assessment Mtg. @2:30 pm, Cafeteria
MMAC Mtg. @5:30 pm, Aquarius Beach Hotel
Thursday- Principal's Mtg. @8:30 am
PTA Mtg. @6:00 pm, Cafeteria

The Importance of English Language Learners in Our Schools

During the 2005 OELA Conference in Washington D.C., the Saipan Delegation had the special privilege of hearing Dr. Carlos Cortes, Cultural Consultant to Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer and Go Diego, Go! and esteemed Professor Emeritus at UC Riverside, speak about English Language Learners. Here are some highlights of his speech that I was able to capture in my notes.

It is important to mention that after Dr. Cortes was introduced as the Keynote Speaker, he proceeded to share a story about a young Mexican immigrant who befriended a Japanese and was taken in by his family. This young man learned how to speak the language and later, when he fought as a Marine in the Battle of Saipan, he single-handedly prevented hundreds of Japanese from jumping to their deaths. This hero, and second language learner was the late Guy Gabaldon. It was an honor to be in the auditorium on that day, to have our islands mentioned in the same breath as Guy, and to be reminded of the awesome responsibility we
share in educating and embracing all the children who walk through our gates.


Dr. Cortes:

"When we look back at our own history,
and ask ourselves if we did our nation a
favor with NCLB, what will we find?"


Six scenarios to consider:

1. Sharing the American Dream

"Nothing happens, unless first we dream" (Carl Sandburg). There are two types of immigrant families that come to America in pursuit of the American Dream.

• Brain Drain Families - immigrants who come to America and rise above their circumstances and the expectations of their community. 43% of nursing immigrants are Filipino. There are now 4,000 physicians in the PI now pursuing nursing degrees in hopes of coming to U.S. These are the "entrepreneurial engine" families. 50% of the motels in the U.S. are owned by Indians, many other businesses are owned by particular groups of immigrants.
  

• Brawn Drain Families - those who work in packing plants. These are children of Latino construction and custodial workers, or service workers.

Question: Are we going to include their kids in the American Dream? Robin Scarcella emphasized reading in the content areas, and we have no choice but to teach content to these students. We should not focus only on raising scores, but include them in the "dream". "Let's no write a history where we have failed to include ELL students" (Scarcella).

2. Contributing to the American Future - Will our Nation be left behind?

We need to meet our own domestic needs. Each week 88,500 Americans will turn 60. The over 85 age group grew 38% in the last decade. U.S. is on its way to being an ultra aged society. Over 25% are over the age of 60. Men are the weakest link. A 65 year old woman has a 31% chance to reach the age of 90, whereas a man has only an 18% chance. There are now 82 men per 100 women. 80% over the age of 70 are white, 75% of those under 10 are of color.

Our failure to educate these children is on a personal level. The world is ever changing and the make-up of society will determine future laws and how the elderly get taken care of, as well as how much value is put in education. 60% of nurses and aids are immigrants who admit that they don't understand instructions being given to them (12%). It is in our best interest to not leave ELLs behind. "In times of change, learners inherit the earth while the learned are only prepared for a life that no longer exists" (Eric Hoffer).

3. Preparing for a Global Future - Will we recognize special languages and cultural skills that ELLs bring to class, and help develop them?

All education grows from some image of the future. We need people with bilingual and inter-cultural skills. It does not make any sense to celebrate kids who come with a language and culture that they love and then take it away from them and replace it with English. It is not a good sign of Americanism to forget who you are. (Guy Gabaldon)

4. Enriching Cultural Opportunity - Exposing other American students to the global community.

The idea of respect is cultural and very different in each setting. If we fail to build upon the presence of other cultures, we fail our students, all of them.

5. Balancing the E Pluribus Unum Scenario - Helping all students develop an understanding for all cultures and integrating ELLs into the American mainstream.

Respecting the pluribus and the unum: Germany has just now begun to instruct in their own language.

• The Unum imperative- We want our ELLs to learn English, it is crucial to their future success. They are learning English, and at a faster rate than ever in history. But, because of so much immigration, there are still 12 million who are linguistically isolated. There are 18,000 rules of grammar in our language.

• The Pluribus imperative - We want to value and maintain culture. Dr. Cortes shared a story about a time when he shared the movie "La Bamba" with his class and at the end, when they were asked what they had learned, most student replied that "in order to make it in America, you had to change your last name. The real lesson: people who don't think their culture is respected won't want to protect and keep it.

6. Develop a Commitment to Constructive Participation of Citizenship - An attitude of being active.

In 1906, it became a requirement to learn English to be a U.S. citizen. Teaching ELLs how to be productive as a citizen is important. "The U.S. is my community, but Cuba is my land - my heart(Gloria Estefan). Who in your classroom is the next Rosa Parks?

Key Points:

1. All ELLs must be viewed as assets, not problems.

2. Schools must commit themselves to developing in ELLs, dreamers and constructive citizens. "I saw angels in the marble and I carved until I set them free" (Michelangelo)

3. Underline Commonalities and Special Needs. "There is nothing as unequal as equal treatment of unequal people" (Aristotle/Thomas Jefferson). Don't treat ELLs the same.

DO NOT LEAVE OUR NATION BEHIND.

Newsletter (click on image to enlarge)

Registration Information

GES will be registering the following groups of students according to the schedule below. Please help us to organize the registration process by making sure you have all the required documents and copies for your child. GES charges a fee of 25 cents per copy.

On-going Students Grade K-6: April 10, 2007
Registration forms have been sent home from the counseling office with information about documents that need to be updated. Please fill out a new form and remember to include any new contact numbers, important information. If your child did not receive a packet, please contact his/her teacher.

Kindergarten: May 1, 2007
Kindergarten usually fills up in a day or two of registration, so please come early and bring the needed documents. We will register only students for Kindergarten who are in our zoning district and are or will be 5 years old by August 31, 2007. There are only 90 slots for Kindergarten students.

New Students (PSS): June 8, 2007
Students transferring to GES from CNMI Public Schools are required to finish the school year and bring in proof of grade placement.

New Students (Other): June 1, 2007 from 11:00 am - 2:30 pm (after June 8th: 7:30 - 4:30)

Requirements:

1. Birth certificate (or copy)
2. School Entrance Health Clearance (From CHC or private clinics) *If you have an appointment slip, please bring it with you.
3. Health Insurance (Government, Private and School Accident Insurance)
4. Map to Residence (Zoning is strictly enforced)
5. Any power of attorney, guardianship or legal document applicable (must be recorded at the court and notarized)
6. Official School Transcript or Withdrawal Form (for new and transferring students)

Reminders:

1. Age of entrance for Kindergarten: child must be 5 years of age on or before August 31.
   
2. Age of entrance for First Grade: child must be 6 years of age on or before August 31.
3. GES Zoning Areas:
1. Garapan
2. Navy Hill (upper and lower)
3. Chinatown
4. Beach Road (From Marianas Eye Institute North)
5. North Gualo Rai (From MarPac North)
6. Puerto Rico

Kindergarten & 1st Grade Teachers Get New Materials for Reading

Technology goes to the next level with LeapFrog Products focused on Reading. Each Kindergarten and 1st grade classroom will have enough instructional materials and leap pads for a center of 6 (Kinder) /12 (1st Grade) thanks to an IAP Grant .

That's What I Call Mallard Power!

Today was the first day of school and the first day of the 4th quarter. Since the teachers and kids were on vacation and it was austerity week, our campus was looking a little shabby. So what did we do about it? Ms. Boni rang the bell at 2:00 and everyone did their share to beautify our school. We grabbed our trash bags and cleaned up in front of and behind our classrooms, on the quad, on the playground, and everywhere there was trash. There are over 1,000 of us at GES and there is absolutely no shortage of school pride. Way to go Mallards!

The Mallard Bestseller List

March was Reading Awareness Month at GES and April is Young Author's Month. Kindergarten through 6th grade classes have put together a list of their favorite books. We'd like to share them with you!

Kindergarten:
Fire, Fire Said Mrs. McGuire by Bill Martin
Bunny Cakes by RoseMary Wells
All Smiles Signatures by Roger C. Farr and Dorothy Strickland.

First Grade:
My "K" Sound Book by Jane Belk Moncure
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Second Grade:
The Asteroids by Isaac Asimov
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Curious George Plays Baseball by H.A. Rey
St. Patrick the Peddler by Margaret Hodges

Third Grade:
Anything by Beverly Cleary
The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole
Goosebumps: The Bride of the Living Dummy R. L. Stine
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Mind Your Manners by Peggy Parish

Fourth Grade:
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynn Reid Banks
Magic Tree House: Day with the Dolphins
Harry Potter and the Half-blooded Prince by J. K. Rowling
Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry
My Visible Friend by R.S. Stine
The Mirror by R.S. Stine
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Fifth Grade:
The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merill
Rain Player by David Wisniewski

Sixth Grade:
Holes by Lois Duncan
Anything by Judy Blume
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Making Up Your Mind About Drugs by Gilda Berger

Thank You Congressman Dela Cruz

Congressman Frank Dela Cruz's staff began cleaning around the fenceline last Wednesday and are now helping to make sure that kids come back to a safe campus. Thank you for all your help and support!

Positive Principal Behaviors

Our Commissioner of Education, Dr. Borja has recently completed his one-to-one discussions with public school principals. The Saipan Tribune ran an article describing the efforts to "get to know the principals and administrators better". The one-to-one sessions were likewise, an opportunity for principals to share their needs, concerns, successes and goals for their individual schools. Dialogues such as these are healthy and help to rebuild the disconnects that sometimes occur between the schools and central office. Opportunities like this should also be extended to the stakeholders within each school if they are to be meaningful and purposeful.

The principalship is an ever evolving profession that often entails much more than overseeing the facilities, submitting reports to central office and ensuring the day to day operations. It is complex and when done effectively, highly rewarding.

The January/February 2007 edition of Principal Magazine published the outcome of a survey on principal behaviors (Richards, 2004). It compared the expectations of principals and teachers in terms of what behaviors each thought to be the most important. The results serve to remind us that communication is the key to all relationships. The March/April edition outlines public education's challenges in the face of the NCLB reauthorization, funding and ability to compete with private schools. "Can Public Education Survive?" is the question they ask. My answer is yes. Yes, yes, and again, yes. The question we must now ask ourselves is: What do we expect from one another to be able to do this?


Here are the results of the survey of K-8 teachers and principals by Jan Richards:

Teacher Ranking Order	Principal Ranking Order
1. Respects and values teachers as professionals.	1. Encourages teachers to improve in areas of teaching practice and professional development.
2. Supports teachers in matters of student discipline.	2. Holds consistent, high standards for all members of the school family.
3. Has an open-door policy.	3. Respects and values teachers as professionals.
4. Is fair, honest, and trustworthy.	4. Is fair, hones, and trustworthy.
5. Supports teachers with parents.	5. Has an open-door policy.

I would like to hear from the other members of our community, about what they expect of their school principals. Please help us develop ourselves professionally by sharing your thoughts about what effective administrators should know and be able to do. Everyone's input is valuable if we are to understand how to be effective. We all know that support is needed, but we don't always agree on what that support looks like, sounds like or feels like. It is easy to look at the administrator as the leader, and many administrators take on this role not fully aware of what true leadership entails. How can we, if we are not held by the shoulders and shaken out of our own comfort zones? Here is your chance to be a constructive critic and to help lead our school with me - with us. I look forward to hearing from teachers, students, community members, central office staff, support personnel, everyone who has a stake in how well public education not only survives, but thrives.

Ocean View of Mallards

More "Professional" Shots

These are the PSS timekeepers. They are the guardians
of the timecards and paychecks. Be nice to them and buy them snacks (joke).

If Vin Diesel comes in 48 minutes late during a 40 hour work week,
but works three hours on Saturday, how much will he make on his
next blockbuster movie? Only these people know the answer to that.

CNMI PSS Professional Development Days

Mr. Bermudes, Mrs. Hosono and Mr. Johnson in the Cha Cha
Cafeteria during the opening remarks.

Ms. Manglona and Mr. Buniag dropping everything to read!
Mallards make due, even when there are no more chairs:)

PSS PD w/VTC from CCOVJH

Mrs. Yumul, Mr. Roberts, Ms. Tomokane, Ms. Torres
and Mrs. Demapan deciding what sessions they will attend.

CNMI Football Team

Mr. Roberts, Mr. Roberts, he's our man!
Let's give him a great big hand!
He plays soccer, he's so cool!
This team is proof that Saipan rules!

Okay, I tried. But seriously, the CNMI Team played their hardest
and demonstrated island pride. Way to go CNMI!

Garapan Belongs To Us!

Here's a shot of the GES NJHS at their first Beautify CNMI! clean up. Thank you to all the parents who helped out and to the advisors for spending a Sunday morning with the kids. I found pictures from Congresswoman Cinta Kaipat and Bev.