Wayne Pangelinan, LISS director and principal, said the Russian visitors spent three weeks of schooling with 71 local and other foreign students.
“This is the first time we have a summer session and we’re planning to do it every year,” Pangelinan said. “Our school just recently opened two summer sessions as a way of giving back to the community.”
According to Pangelinan, LISS provided approximately $60,000 in free education to 71 local students enrolled at its summer session.
During the closing ceremony, spectators cheered as the children competed in poetry and dramatic interpretation competitions.
Trophies were awarded to the best contestants and there were also dance and song numbers.
Pangelinan said the second summer session is slated in August and they expect the participation of Japanese, Chinese and Korean students.
Ladera is the only international boarding school on Saipan that recruits students from abroad, he added.
Pangelinan described yesterday’s event, which was also highlighted by the morning open house, as the celebration of the children’s academic achievements.
“Today is the end of our first summer session and we’re celebrating the academic aspect of what they have learned during this session through poetry and drama,” he said, adding that their summer program also includes sessions in math, science and English.
Drama, singing and poetry are part of the English classes.
According to Pangelinan, LISS has 71 local students, 22 dormitory students and 12 Russian students.
He believes that summer sessions are a “win-win” situation for both local and foreign students.
“We’re an international school and most of our students have a hard time speaking English. By having them here, the event leads to better relations with our local students. We build their self-confidence and start a better friendship between them…which is the ultimate goal of LISS,” Pangelinan said, adding they want to provide a fun-learning experience for all their students.
He said LISS is expecting at least over a hundred students in the next semester.
Among the guests during yesterday’s event were Senate President Pete P. Reyes, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, and Russian teachers who offered symbolic gifts as a show of their appreciation to LISS.
