Enjoy a refreshing morning run/walk and help raise funds for cancer awareness and patient support programs too.
Registration starts at 5:30 a.m., and a $5 donation fee is requested. All proceeds go to the Commonwealth Cancer Association.
Participants who complete the run/walk will delight in tasty sample giveaways from Micronesian Brokers, and coupons for delicious fat-free frozen yogurt from Scoops.
Second Saturday Strides is made possible through the support of Micronesian Brokers (CNMI) Inc., Foremost Foods, Scoops, the Department of Public Health Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, and volunteers of the Commonwealth Cancer Association. For more information, call 682-0050 or email cca@ccamarianas.org.
Public hearing on CNMI scholarship
(Office of Sen. Pete P. Reyes) — The Senate Committee on Education chaired by Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 14, starting at 10 a.m. in the Senate chamber.
The committee will hear and review public comments regarding CNMI scholarships.
The following witnesses are requested to be present for this public hearing:
• Asuncion S. Agulto, Acting Secretary of Finance
• Merissa S. Rasa, CNMI Scholarship Administrator
• Carol Honoso, CNMI Scholarship Advisory Board Chairwoman
• Antonio Tiples IV, Associated Students of NMC President
• Members, CNMI Scholarship Advisory Board
Members of the general public are also encouraged to attend. Oral testimony will be received during the public hearing.
NMC introduces LinC Initiative to campus community
(NMC) — Northern Marianas College recently introduced the new Learning in Communities initiative, or LinC, to the college community.
The mission of the NMC Learning in Communities initiative is to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that promotes the highest educational, intellectual, and social development of students.
The learning communities give students the opportunity to take linked courses developed around integrated and engaging assignments. It has been found that students are more likely to succeed if they take an integrated class and learn to be more responsible in taking courses while they develop a supportive network of friends.
In addition, the Learning in Communities initiative helps students and faculty members connect and share topics, ideas, and assignments between classes.
Learning communities are not new in the field of higher education as they are found in many colleges and universities in the mainland.
Starting this spring semester, NMC will offer courses with an “LC” designation, such as TS 103 LC1, integrating a tourism course with developmental English.
This will allow students to make important connections within the two programs and ensure a transition to a four-year institute because of the designation.
According to Barbara Merfalen, dean of academic programs and services, learning communities do exist in other schools because research shows that students who participate in these initiatives have higher academic achievement, enjoy more useful interactions with the faculty, and get more involved with the campus life.
Creating the learning communities is creating the “bridge between the academic side of college and the student services side” said NMC interim President Lorraine Cabrera during the general assembly. “We also want to demonstrate to the students that we do value them and their success. NMC wants to make sure that student experiences are positive.”
Development and partnership in education
TINIAN (PSS) — “What we have here today will help us to be better parents and better providers for our children especially their education,” says Augusta Famaw of the Tinian Head Start Policy Council during yesterday’s opening of the day-long Joint Parent Teacher Student Association’s summit.
Close to about 50 parents of students participated in this event that was sponsored by the Public School System.
Participants discussed the goals of PSS: that 50 percent of all public schools students will be a percentile higher in meeting the SAT 10 by this year; and that 90 percent of students should be proficient in the Standard-Based Assessment by 2014.
Tinian Elementary and Jr. Sr High Schools said they are on target of meeting the goals in academic achievement.
They have developed “intervention programs” that include after-school programs to help improve student performance, said Dionne Santos, Tinian Elementary School principal.
Also discussed was Title I, a federal government initiative that benefits PSS.
Jack Diaz, PSS federal program coordinator, said a strong partnership between schools and parents will result in more federal financial assistance through Title I.
Rachel Fusco, CIP coordinator for PSS, told parents that her office is on track at meeting and completing the multi-phased repair, renovation and modernization of all public schools here.
The capital improvement projects are aimed at improving student performance by providing better facilities that are conducive to learning, Associate Education Commissioner for Administrative Services Peter Le’au told parents.
For Byron Dela Cruz, a father of two children, “providing children with a good learning experience and with parents actively involved in our children’s education will result in better parents and high-achieving students.”
While he lauded these developments and advancements, Dela Cruz admitted that parents still need to “do more” for their children.
Tinian PTSA vice president Sherlyn Palacios agrees. “We can be the best parents we can be, but we must acknowledge that we still have a lot to learn and have to do more for our kids’ education.”
Book sale
THE Library Friends will be holding another book sale this Saturday, Dec. 11, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
For more information, call Rose Ada-Hocog at 287-0818 or Janice Sablan at 234-5459.
Tanapag Elementary School scout meeting and registration
(TES) — There will be an important meeting and registration of Tanapag Elementary School Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts on Monday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Registration starts at 5 p.m.
Boys from 7 to 17 years old who are interested in joining the Boy Scouts of America are asked to attend the meeting. Parents are kindly requested to be present during the registration.
For more information regarding the meeting and the registration, call Oscar C. Camacho at 234-6346 or Calistro I. Reyes at 285-9709.
NMI Teacher of the Year on Marianas Agupa
(Marianas Agupa) —This Saturday, Dec. 11, Marianas Agupa will feature Raena S. Bermudes, a third grade teacher from Gregorio Camacho Elementary School and a recipient of the prestigious 2010 CNMI Teacher of the Year Award.
The show starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 10:30 a.m. on Magic 100.3 FM.
The topic of discussion will be Bermudes’ selection as the Public School System’s most outstanding educator this year.
The Chamorro talk show program is hosted by Glenn H. Manglon.
It includes a world report by former Rota Mayor Joseph S. Inos, a special report from Rota correspondent and commentator Thomas D. Mendiola and a report from Tinian correspondent and commentator former Sen. David M. Cing.
The program can also be heard on the Internet via www.magic100radio.com.
