(PSS) — In a show of unity and commitment to protect every child’s right to learn without fear, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho and Board of Education Chairman Aschumar Kodep Ogumuro-Uludong led the proclamation signing ceremony for School Year 2025–2026 Bullying Prevention Month and Safe Schools Week held Friday at Tinian Middle and High School.
Before an audience of students, teachers, and advocates, Camacho and Ogumuro-Uludong urged all public school students to “work with us to end school bullying and violence” and ensure that every CNMI classroom remains a safe, respectful, and caring learning space.
“It is always our goal to make sure that our schools are safe and healthy,” said Camacho, reminding students that their well-being is central to the Public School System’s mission.
“You come to school every day to learn and be in a safe environment. And if you don’t feel that, we are not doing our job,” he said.
Camacho emphasized that preventing bullying requires everyone’s participation — students, parents, teachers, and administrators — to speak up and hold one another accountable.
He also encouraged students to take an active role in protecting their peers. “If you don’t fight bullying with us, we defeat the purpose of serving you. You come here with a purpose: to thrive, to learn, and to be safe.”
‘A safe community’
Echoing the commissioner’s message, Ogumuro-Uludong expressed gratitude that public schools remain among the safest in the nation, with near-zero reported cases of school bullying and violence across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
“In the U.S., the number one reason students don’t show up to school is because they don’t feel safe,” he noted, citing national data showing that one in five students in the United States report being bullied each year, while CNMI schools have virtually no recorded incidents.
“I feel so fortunate where we live and in a community where our students generally feel safe,” Ogumuro-Uludong said.
He credited the collaboration between PSS, the Board of Education, the Division of Youth Services, and the Department of Corrections for strengthening safety efforts — including the production of a student awareness video that arose from a real-life incident of bullying shared by a concerned parent.
“Here we are to provide a safe learning environment and also an environment that is free of that kind of behavior,” the BOE chairman added.
Following a video presentation, Camacho shared a sobering reminder about the importance of vigilance, recalling a recent incident in which a bus driver discovered a .22-caliber bullet on a school bus.
“That is very troubling,” he said. “We had to search students’ bags and shut down the school for the day. These are things that don’t need to be happening. We want to work with you students — we are empowering you to help us fix these problems.”
Safe learning space
The proclamation was read in three languages — English by Alicia Wen Teope, Chamorro by Joseph Kiyoshi, and Carolinian by Aunika Lizama.
Acting Principal Edward Hofschneider of Tinian Middle and High School reminded the audience of the purpose of the event.
“It is the very students we gather for — to ensure that we have a safe learning space for all of us.”
Tinian Elementary’s Principal Lou Connie Manglona and Vice Principal April Manglona joined their students and staff for the proclamation signing.
Words of inspiration
Former Youth Congress Sen. Jireh Cruz of Tinian urged students to look beyond the weeklong proclamation and embrace its values every day.
“This proclamation may only mark a week,” Cruz said, “but what it stands for is something that should guide us every single day.”
She reminded her fellow youth that bullying is not limited to physical harm — it also lives in “the small moments we see and sometimes experience ourselves — a harsh word, a shove in the hallway, or a post online meant to embarrass a peer.”
Cruz reflected on her personal experience after leaving Tinian to study in Colorado, where school safety was a daily concern. “Back home, my biggest worry was whether I studied enough for a test,” she said. “But in Colorado, I had to adjust to active shooter drills, safety checks, and even a real lockdown when a student brought a gun to school. Sitting there in silence, unsure of what might happen, I realized how real the issue of violence is for so many students across the nation.”
She urged everyone never to take for granted the safety and sense of community in the CNMI. “We should never take for granted how blessed we are to be home safe in our islands,” Cruz said, encouraging students to be proactive in building a culture of kindness and courage.
“It doesn’t take a grand gesture to make a difference,” she said. “Sometimes it’s as simple as checking in on someone who looks like they’re having a rough day, or choosing to speak up instead of looking away. Where hate divides, kindness unites; where silence hides, courage ignites.”
Closing the event, Elfriede D. Suda, Personal Responsibility Education Program state coordinator, said:
“This proclamation is more than just a ceremony. It’s a promise — to be kind, to speak up, to look out for one another. Let’s carry this message beyond today. Let’s keep our schools safe, respectful, and full of care — not just in October, but every day.”
