THE Public School System will mark the 34th year of its founding this month with several activities involving its stakeholders.
It was in 1988 when the CNMI Department of Education, which was under the executive branch, became the autonomous PSS governed by an elected, non-partisan Board of Education.
For the past two weeks, PSS has been conducting activities, such as “Dress up As Your Favorite Superhero,” “High Five Wednesday,” “Show Your School Spirit by Wearing Your School Color,” “Zumba in Place,” “Future Me Day (dress as your future self),” “Hats Off to Educators,” and “Give Thanks on Social Media and Tag Us @cnmipss on Facebook and Instagram.”
In the lead-up to PSS’ founding day, Nov. 23, the Office of the Commissioner of Education, through its Education Day Committee, prepared several other daily activities. These included “Blast from the Past (wear clothing from your favorite decade)” on Oct. 15; “Rainbow Day Celebration (wear as many colors this day)” on Nov. 16; and Fictional Character Day on Nov. 17.
On Friday, Nov. 18, there will be an Education Month roadside waving at the Garapan Fishing Base on Saipan; at Broadway on Tinian; and at Pinatang Park on Rota.
It will be “Wear Brown and Orange (fall colors)” on Nov. 21 and “Everything Pumpkin” on Nov. 22.
Education Day
On the founding day anniversary, Nov. 23, there will be a centralized 34th Education Day celebration at Saipan Southern High School from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with close to 1,500 PSS employees from various schools, programs and divisions in attendance.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, along with the Education Day Committee and the Board of Education members, will also present awards for various teaching and non-teaching categories.
The 2023-2024 Education Month theme, logo and essay contest winners will be honored.
In addition, there will be a school tent decorating contest.
Nov. 24, Thursday, is Thanksgiving Day, while Friday, Nov. 25, will be a student holiday.
To wrap up the monthlong celebration, PSS will observe “Blended Wear Day (formal wear/uniform on top, casual bottom)” on Nov. 28.; “Keep Calm Day (take a breather and have an easy day)” on Nov. 29; and “Give a Compliment to an Individual Who Has Inspired You” on Nov. 30.
This year’s Education Day Committee members are Associate Commissioner for Administrative Services Eric Magofna, Human Resources Director Lucretia Deleon Guerrero, Communications and Media Coordinator Randee-Jo Barcinas-Manglona, PSS Teacher of the Year Coordinator Frankie Camacho, and Paulette Tomokane, James Sablan and Vince Dela Cruz, the principal representatives for elementary, middle and high schools, respectively.
