AS the Public School System celebrates the 34th anniversary of its creation as an autonomous government entity, education officials commended the resiliency of PSS employees during difficult times.
Today, Wednesday, Nov. 23, is Education Day. At Saipan Southern High School, close to 1,500 teaching and non-teaching employees of PSS will gather to celebrate the founding of the school system.
The last time PSS held a similar celebration was in 2018.
This year’s theme is “The Heart of Education Beats with Resiliency, Flexibility, and Unity.”
Several CNMI-wide awards will be announced during the celebration at SSHS. The student winners in the essay, theme and logo contests will also be honored.
“Education Day is a PSS tradition during which we celebrate our accomplishments as a system and recognize those who have gone above and beyond their duties in their particular roles,” Board of Education Chairman Gregory Pat Borja said in a statement.
“This, the 34th celebration of Education Day and our theme… mark the changes in the way we as educators have stood against obstacles and challenges that affected our students’ learning in the past few years in order to ensure their success as members of our island community,” Borja added.
“I encourage you to take this opportunity of being with your peers today, to celebrate the resiliency you all have shown during difficult times in order to bring your best to our students, the flexibility you have demonstrated throughout the tough times we have recently faced, and the unity we all have as being a part of the PSS family,” he said.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, for his part, said this year’s Education Day is “about the great strides, and successes and challenges of PSS.”
“The history of public education in the Commonwealth is about the hard work, resiliency, commitment and sacrifices of our leaders, advocates and supporters,” he added. “Pioneering men and women who came before us diligently pushed for an education system solely dedicated to providing quality, free education to our children.”
“Let our Education Day celebration be a reminder of PSS’s major transformation,” he said. “And Happy Thanksgiving to all of you — our stakeholders and partners in public education.”
