HJHS principal Jonas Barcinas, one of the advisors of the panel, said he always encourages his student leaders to stay active in the program to not only make a difference in the lives of others but also to make a difference in their lives as well.
The panel was established by Commissioner of Education Rita Sablan to advise PSS on issues that affect students.
The panel serves as a communication link for students to the government, businesses and the rest of the community on a variety of subjects.
It aims to identify and carry out events and activities important to students and create and foster relations among the PSS communities on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
The panel’s other goals are the following:
1. Strengthen relationships among youth and between youth and adults through youth mentoring.
2. Provide positive activities involving youth through service learning and volunteerism.
3. Organize constructive projects through festive events, energy conservation and fundraisers to benefit the youth.
Barcinas said the program is very important for the youth because times are getting tough and it is imperative to guide students to the right path.
“We need to provide our students with the right tools in order for them to succeed,” Barcinas said in an interview.
“This is the generation that will lead our islands into the future.”
The youth panel provides a pathway to strengthen and improve family relationships so that a better environment is created for learning, Barcinas added.
He commends the panel’s goal to create positive activities for the youth.
“It is better to know that our children are out of the house helping the community become a better place instead of doing drugs or other negative activities,” said Barcinas.
The youth panel is composed of student representatives from elementary, junior, and senior high schools of PSS who are elected by various school organizations.
The meetings for individual school-level panels are held every month. The PSS-wide panel meeting is held on a quarterly basis.
