Oleai’s performance of “Mulan” garnered a total of 146 points. Oleai also got the Best Choreography Award, which is an overnight stay for two at the Pacific Islands Club.
Koblerville Elementary School got 139 points and won $750 for performing the Russian tale of hope, faith and love, “Anastasia.”
The defending champion, Garapan Elementary School, finished third with a total of 135 points, winning $500 for its presentation of “Pocahontas.”
Dandan Elementary School’s interpretation of “I Wish I Were a Butterfly” got the Best in Spirit Award and won 30 water park passes at PIC.
The six other schools that were awarded $100 each for participating were Golden Harvest International School, which performed “The Little Mermaid”; GTC Elementary School, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”; Tinian Elementary School, “The Chinese Mirror”; Green Meadow School, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”; and Kagman Elementary School, “Cinderella.”
Oleai acting principal James Sablan said that they did not expect to win but they did their best.
“Each year, the competition just gets better. What is important is the children enjoyed it, and their weeks of practice paid off,” Sablan said.
Oleai’s Glen Muna said the money they won will fund classroom projects, especially the reading programs which they started this year.
“The money can go a long way to help the reading program. The students deserved it. They worked very hard,” Muna said.
He also thanked the Chinese Association of Saipan for helping the students in their presentation.
Choreographer Jasylene Parico said the Oleai team, consisting of 47 students, practiced for a month and it took them two weeks to prepare their costumes and props.
“We did our best, and we are very happy. This is everybody’s victory,” Parico said. Working with Parico were Tina Tenorio and Charlene Valle.
Each team was given 5 minutes to perform. Criteria for judging included closeness to time frame, costume depiction, enthusiasm of participants, vocal clarity, and overall adherence to the theme.
Rotarian Jeff Boyer was this year’s coordinator of the Parade of Books, an annual Saipan Rotary Club literacy program for CNMI elementary schools.
Sponsors this year were Delta Airlines, Kishiwada North Rotary Club, Pacific Islands Club, DFS Galleria and the Marianas Variety.
