Garapan garnered a total of 231.8 points.
Lori Tere, Claire dela Cruz and Lorraine Ariola, teachers of GES, directed the play.Tere said that they did not expect to win.
“It is our first time to win and we are very happy. We did not expect to win because all the other schools gave excellent performances,” Tere said.
They will be using the prize money for classroom improvements and repairs.
In second place and three points behind GES was Koblerville Elementary School with 228.5 points for its “Aladdin” presentation. KoES won $750.
Golden Harvest School grabbed third place with 228 points, winning $500 for its “Beauty and the Beast” presentation.
San Vicente Elementary School’s “Alice in Wonderland” finished fourth, garnering 226 points and winning $300.
Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School’s “Hemplon Nana Siha,” a collection of Chamorro legends, garnered 224.5 points and won the fifth prize of $200.
San Vicente Elementary School also won the Best Spirit Award and the Best Director Award, which entitled the students to 30 water passes and an overnight stay for two at the Pacific Islands Club.
All the participating schools were given consolation prizes of $100.
Rotary Club of Saipan president Kim Forrester said it was the biggest crowd the event had drawn so far in the last six years.
“The participating schools and the number of audience this year doubled. We would like to thank everybody for supporting us, and we look forward to another colorful presentation next year,” Forrester said.
The annual Parade of Books is designed to promote literacy and reading among students in CNMI schools.
The other schools that participated this year were San Antonio, Mount Carmel, Tinian, Chacha Oceanview, Sinapalo, Oleai, Kagman, Green Meadow and Grace Christian Academy.
Last year’s event was won by Oleai.
The presentations were judged based on proximity to time frame, costume depiction, enthusiasm of participants, vocal clarity, and over-all adherence to theme. Sponsors for the event were Delta Airlines, DFS Galleria, Pacific Islands Club, Kishiwada North Rotary Club, Marianas Variety, and Freedom Air.
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