KHS to host community pep rally

By Bernard Rivera
MV Teen Reporter

For the first time, a public high school is combining its pep rally and school dance as a fundraiser out of campus tomorrow.
Kagman High School is inviting the community to come watch live performances and enjoy the energy and fun of a pep rally entitled, “The Showdown”, at the Round House at Garapan Central Park near Gold’s Gym Saipan.
For just $3 person, everyone can watch the freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors compete. Afterwards there will be a dance for everybody to enjoy and have fun.
“We will have live entertainment provided by our students, which will include the Cheer, Banner, and Dance competitions. We Ayuyu’s are not ones to disappoint. You all better come if you want some entertainment in your lives, because this night will rock,” said Jay Sanchez, a teacher and STUCO advisor for the school. “This is the first time that any school has ever done anything like this before. We combined our pep rally and our dance into one whole big night.”
“Tomorrow should be a fun night since the exams are over and done with, might as well enjoy the night and be entertained right,” he added.
The idea to hold a pep rally and a school dance for the community to enjoy was the idea of the KHS Student Council

MHS Desk Campaign gets a boost.

MV Teen

A local politician has stepped up to plate to help the islands’ oldest public high school in its bid to get new desk chairs for its growing student population.
Senator Luis Crisostimo recently donated $500 to Marianas High School for the purchase of desk chairs.
Crisostimo also promised to continue to donate more funds out of his own pocket to furnish a whole classroom.
“This is my 20% cut from my salary--I’m giving it to education and I challenge my collegues to do the same,” said Crisostimo, who has been donating to schools since he came into office.
Geri Willis, a staffer at the PREL Center, also made an individual donation for one desk.
“We are grateful for Senator Crisostimo’s donation. MHS is in need of new desk chairs as the last time we got new chairs was over ten years ago and that was only for one building. The rest of the chairs in the school have never been replaced,” said MHS Vice-Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Jessica Barcinas.
MHS English instructor Suaad San Nicolas recently reported a student who got injured from falling off a desk chair that just fell apart.
“Our goal is to get 500 new chairs before the new school year. Each chair costs $114 each. We really need the community’s help,” said Barcinas.
Some fundraising ideas have popped up, such as the MHS Alumni hosting a donation challenge with the different classes.
“We will be meeting with our community council in May and we hope to get more ideas and participation from the community,” said Barcinas.
In other news, the Joeten Kiyu Library also recently donated a “Career” series of books to MHS.

Phat Carz: A Tacoma transformation

By Bernard Rivera
MV Teen Reporter

Feeling your car’s tire rubber grind on the asphalt road for the first time drives many teens into a world of accomplishment.
The time of Barbie dolls and Lego toys has long passed, and young adulthood has begun.
Teens are passionate about their cars. It is not only a rite of independence, but a way to express themselves through customizing or personalizing their cars.
Marianas High School student Marco Castro laughs as he remembers the day when his parents first gave him the keys to his Toyota 96’ Tacoma.
“Oh man, when my parents first gave me the car and I looked at it, all I could think about was how it was going to look like when I finish fixing it up—after the customizing, it will look amazing,” said Castro. “I was so excited to work on it. I made a promise to myself that it will be done.”
The kinds of cars teens fall in love with vary from the incredibly fast and sexy sport cars to the rough and tough SUV’s, depending on their personalities.
“When I drive a nice car myself, I feel so good, it is explosive. I fell in love with these gorgeous machines,” said Joan Santos, a 16 year-old MHS junior. “My dream car is red with a hint black—
a BMW or a Porsche. I am crazy for a sports car. What else can a girl want but a hot sexy red BMW sports car?”
“My first car is no sports car, but I bet it’s better than many other cars here in the island. It’s a 2006 Toyota 4-Runner and it is color white. To tell you truth, I love it. I felt like when got it, I’m not a kid anymore. I’m all grown up, baby. World…here I come!” Santos gleefully shouts.
Castro is proud of the work he has done on his Tacoma truck.
“I feel like when I am driving my car, I’m in my own home. Since I was young, I grew up with cars all around me. My uncles and my godfather are mechanics and even my grandpa is in the business of cars,” said Castro.
“It’s so much better to be involved with cars then instead of doing some bad stuff that will get you into trouble, you know,” he said .
Castro spent almost a thousand dollars customizing his “work of art.”
“I worked hard on it. Sure, it isn’t like other cars that are better than mine, but this is something I did all by myself for once. That kind of feeling makes you proud as a person, as a teenager, and as an adult. It is worth it.”