ROTA (PSS) — Classrooms freshly repainted, hallways gleaming, and the buzz of eager students returning from summer break — this was the scene as Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho visited Sinapalo Elementary School and Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior Senior High School last week.
Beyond the warm greetings and stories of summer adventures, the visit underscored the critical importance of funding — both local and federal — that makes such a school environment possible.
At Sinapalo Elementary, students eagerly shared their summer experiences.
“I went to Guam, and I finally went swimming at the dock,” said one student in the class of teacher Lorna Calvo King.
“I traveled with my parents to Saipan and enjoyed beautiful places,” said another.
Their stories sparked laughter and connection but also reflected how they returned to classrooms that had clearly been cared for and prepared.
Through sustained support from local funds and vital federal assistance, schools in Rota — along with those in Tinian and Saipan — reopened without interruption: fully staffed, fully cleaned, and fully ready. Local funds cover operations such as facilities, staff salaries, and essential maintenance, while federal dollars are invested in classroom resources, student-centered programs, and professional development for teachers.
“It’s this partnership in funding that allows our schools not just to open — but to thrive,” said Commissioner Camacho. “When we show students that their classrooms are ready, safe, and welcoming, it tells them: your education matters.”
With refurbished classrooms, renovated restrooms, committed staff, and students brimming with stories and dreams, the start of the school year in Rota was more than a return to routine. Camacho said it was a reminder of what can be achieved when community, leadership, and investment come together to put students first.
Students echoed that feeling. “It’s fun. It’s different,” one said when asked why they love coming to school.
“Continue to love learning. Love it every day,” Camacho told them, reminding students that success grows from joy and curiosity.
On the second day of the school year, Aug. 20, Sinapalo Elementary School Principal Daisy Quitugua described the atmosphere as “the usual organized chaos.” Camacho had already visited schools on Saipan the day before.
From summer adventures to classroom aspirations, students shared their joy.
“You guys are awesome,” Camacho said. “Why? Because you love to come to school. And the more you come, the more you grow. The more you grow, the more you become successful.”
He also reminded them to appreciate how their education is supported: “We all work together — your parents, your school, us, and our leaders who support our passion to give you every opportunity to learn and to have fun while doing it.”
In another classroom — that of the only male teacher, Levi Balaan — Camacho shared a quiet but powerful message: “Have fun learning. Be smart. Graduate. Go to college. We at PSS are doing everything we can to give you the support and resources you need to succeed.”
He thanked teachers as well: “Thank you for your commitment and hard work, and thank you for making our children learn and grow.”
At Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School, Principal Annette Calvo welcomed Camacho to the cafeteria, where student leaders from each grade level were waiting. In a dialogue, he urged them to aim high:
“No matter where you are in the world, don’t let the place you came from pull you down.”
One student shared how his cousin stepped in to support him when his father left for medical treatment. “I told my cousin my dream — to join the military. He believed in me.”
Another said: “I want to go to a good university after graduating here at RHI. I’ve already begun exploring through my online AP classes.”
These honest exchanges highlighted not just student aspirations but also the support systems — teachers, counselors, administrators, and families — that help carry them forward.
Because of the combination of local and federal funding, Camacho said, PSS can help students realize their dreams. “Please do what you are expected to do as students: study, and study hard.”
He also shared the story of Utah Valley University President Astrid S. Tuminez, who rose from humble beginnings to lead a major university. “Your background is your strength, not your setback,” he told students. “No matter where you are in the world or what you’re faced with, don’t let coming from Rota, Tinian, or Saipan make you feel less than anyone else.”
Camacho closed by emphasizing unity across the islands. “We are different communities of learning,” he said, “but we are one — PSS — and something good is happening.”
Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School students returned last week to freshly repainted classrooms and a clean campus. Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho said local and federal funding, along with community partnerships, helped ensure that public schools opened with well-maintained facilities and a learning environment ready for the new school year.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho gestures as he meets with Rota student leaders representing every middle school and high school grade level.
In the Career and Technical Education class at Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior Senior High School, educator Deseriee Pendergrass, standing at right, welcomes students back to a classroom equipped with technology-based tools, instructional materials, and newly prepared facilities. The effort is supported by federal programs, local funds, and school-community partnerships. Also pictured are Principal Annette Calvo and PSS Federal Programs Officer Jacqueline P. Che.
Facilities at Sinapalo Elementary School were cleaned and prepared for the new school year, including the water fountain pictured in the foreground.
Sinapalo Elementary School Principal Daisy Quitugua shows Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho the indoor hydroponic farming pod set up on campus. The innovative pod is one of four pioneered by PSS’s Child Nutrition Program on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.
On their second day of classes, students at Sinapalo Elementary School began learning through the Immersion Program in Chamorro and Carolinian Language and Heritage Studies.
A student corner at Sinapalo Elementary School features a creative mix of cutout classroom resources, Lego blocks, and modern headphones to support technology-based learning.
Students at Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School put away book-based and technology-driven materials at the end of their first period.
Freshly cleaned, Sinapalo Elementary School’s cafeteria is ready to welcome students.
Students in Lorna Calvo King’s class at Sinapalo Elementary School participate in an “A Letter to Myself” activity as Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho looks on.
