ROTA (PSS) — Forty-two Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior High School eighth graders were promoted to high school during a special drive-thru ceremony on Thursday, May 27.
The class valedictorian is Sayera Sidur who is also the Board of Education awardee. She received the award from BOE Chairman Andrew Orsini, Vice Chairman Herman Atalig, member Antonio Bora and school principal D. Tanya King.
The salutatorian and recipient of the Commissioner of Education Award is Ashley Cayabyab. Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred B. Ada and school principal King presented the award to Cayabyab.
Three other eighth graders were promoted with top honors: Star Mendiola, Wynette Ogo and Al Valentine Taitano Jr.
To make the day extra-special for the promoted students, their school set up a photo booth where they posed for photos after receiving their certificates of promotion.
Sidur, in her valedictory address, thanked her family, her RHI school leaders and teachers.
“I began my schooling back in Bangladesh until I was in the third grade,” she said. “I was very sad when I had to leave all my friends and family behind to move here to Rota and start a new journey…. I struggled a lot because I wasn’t good at speaking or writing English. This made it difficult for me to do well in my class. But I didn’t give up. With the help of my teachers, my classmates, and my family, I was able to overcome the challenges I went through.”
She added, “Now, I can’t believe that I am the valedictorian of my class. I have definitely come a long way.”
Salutatorian Cayabyab honored her parents for their support. “This is the day when we can make our parents proud. To succeed…we need skills, talent, grit and adaptability, not just intelligence.”
She told her classmates: “We have formed friendships that will never be broken and memories that will last a lifetime. We’ve all come a long way.”
Among the elected leaders who joined education officials, school principal King, vice principal Annette Calvo and the rest of RHI family during the promotion ceremony were Sen. Paul A. Manglona, Sen. Teresita Santos, Rep. Donald Mendiola, Mayor Efraim Atalig, and Rota Municipal Council Chairman Jim Atalig.
Valedictorian and Board of Education awardee Sayera Sidur poses for a photo with Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior High School principal D. Tanya King, vice principal Annette Calvo, Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, Associate Commissioner Eric Magofna, Board of Education Chairman Andrew L. Orsini, Vice Chairman Herman Atalig, board member Antonio L. Borja, Rota Mayor Efraim Atalig, Sen. Paul Manglona, Sen. Teresita Santos, Rep. Donald Manglona, Rota Council Chairman Jim Atalig and Public School System Special Education Director Donna Flores.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada presents the Commissioner of Education Award to Ashley Cayabyab.
Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School principal D. Tanya King presents a traditional necklace and the certificate of promotion to a student.
School principal D. Tanya King puts a traditional necklace on a promoted student as BOE member Antonio Borja and Vice Chairman Atalig, partly hidden, look on.
A promoted student receives her honor cord from school principal D. Tanya King
Rep. Donald Manglona, a former educator, and Sen. Paul A. Manglona were among the Rota leaders who participated in the Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior High School promotion ceremony.
Rota and education officials congratulate a promoted student during the drive-thru ceremony.
The drive-thru promotion ceremony was held on the Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School campus.
The newly promoted students’ advisers Bernie Fujihira, Charlene Manglona-Ogo and Chanelle Manglona with BOE Chairman Andrew L. Orsini, Vice Chairman Herman Atalig and board member Antonio L. Borja.
A newly promoted eighth grader poses for a photo with his family.
A student receives his certificate of promotion from education officials.
PSS and BOE officials led by Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, Chairman Andrew L. Orsini and Vice Chairman Herman Atalig join the Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School family led by principal D. Tanya King and vice principal Annette Calvo.
Commissioner of Education Alfred B. Ada assists school principal D. Tanya King in handing out certificates of promotion.
Rain clouds did not dampen the celebratory mood of the drive-thru promotion.
School principal D. Tanya King presents a traditional necklace to a promoted student.
A promoted student with his family members at the photo booth.
BOE Vice Chairman Herman Atalig, who is from Rota, and Tinian board member Antonio L. Borja with school principal D. Tanya King.
