By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

ALL 40 classroom teachers, teacher aides and support staffers at Garapan Elementary School were treated to a massage by the students and school administrators during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Dale Roberts, the vice principal, said they prepare “different surprises” for the annual celebration each year.
On Monday, the school administration, in coordination with the students, provided free snacks and refreshments to their teachers and held the weekly staff meeting at Micro Beach which became a “mini-party” for the educators.
“We brought a lot of food, much of it coming from our supportive sponsors in the business sector,” Roberts said. “We usually hold our meeting in the cafeteria but this time we held it at the beach to give them a chance to get away from the school for a while.”
He said the party was held after classes on Wednesday.
According to Roberts, a special massage treat was provided to the teachers during their breaks.
“We’ve been doing this for several years and, each year, we make sure that we have different little surprises for our teachers,” the vice principal said, adding that, in the past, a grand raffle drawing highlighted the occasion.
Today, the celebration will conclude with a special breakfast on campus provided by Java Joe which will bring coffee, muffins and other items.
Gift certificates from businesses will also be given today in recognition of the teachers’ valuable contributions to the children’s education.
“I don’t want to say that teachers are not appreciated…but sometimes the amount of work they put in (must be considered),” Roberts said. “Teaching is not a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. type of job because it involves a lot of planning, record keeping, lessons, testing and grades of students. This is a week when we can do little things to let them know that we care about them,” Roberts said.
During yesterday’s lunch break, teachers were seen visiting the administration office for their massage treat.
“It’s fun,” said 3rd grade teacher Mary Grace Mendoza while enjoying her massage, along with second grade teacher Lori Terre. “We had a gathering at the beach after school and we enjoyed the food. The massage is great and it was really good to relax. Each year we receive surprises and we’re thankful for their efforts.”
The teachers said, since Monday special messages have been coming to them from their students.
“Every day they give us hugs and kisses and thank us for all the lessons that we teach them,” Mendoza said.
In other schools, like Dandan Elementary, students celebrate the occasion by holding special activities every day for their teachers.
Yesterday, DES honked their car horns on the streets to express support for the teachers. The school will conclude the celebration with a trip to Managaha on Saturday.