THE Public School System’s new school year started Wednesday with students and school personnel undergoing antigen testing.
Eight of the 20 public schools on Saipan, Tinian and Rota have designated portions of their cafeterias or libraries as testing sites. These schools are GTC Elementary School, Garapan Elementary School, Koblerville Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School, Kagman Elementary School and Hopwood Middle School.
Tinian Elementary School and Rota’s Sinapalo Elementary School also conducted antigen tests on Wednesday.
School principals and vice principals worked with the Governor’s Covid-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. in ensuring a smooth and organized antigen testing.
One of the mask-wearing and socially distanced GTC Elementary School children interviewed by Variety said the antigen testing “wasn’t scary at all.”
Another GTC student said it “kinda tickled.”
“My mom said I can take it (the antigen screening), and so I did because I want to be safe,” said a Garapan Elementary School pupil.
Commissioner of Education Alfred B. Ada, Ed.D, Associate Commissioner Eric Magofna, Board of Education Chairman Andrew L. Orsini, and PSS management team members visited the various campuses Wednesday to welcome students back to school.
At Garapan Elementary School, staff member Laura Matsunaga was among the first in line to take the antigen test.
At Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, special education teacher Hannah Palacios was among the school personnel who was tested.
CHCC Chief of Ancillary Services Jesse Tudela and his team conducted antigen testing at GTC and Garapan Elementary Schools.
At Tanapag Middle School, Principal Hilda Rios said they “opened our school year with blended learning and it was fairly smooth.”
She added, “Our parents were very supportive and our classroom teachers will ensure smooth blended learning for our students.”
Garapan Elementary School Principal Derwin Johnson said their classes reopened smoothly.
At Dandan Middle School, Principal James Sablan said there were last minute student registrations, but “it was smooth as always.”
“Our parents have always followed our directions and protocols in this pandemic-driven learning environment,” he added.
Dandan Middle School began the school year with blended learning, he said. “The parents understand that we cannot hold full face-to-face classes until 80% of the students are vaccinated.”
On Thursday, Aug. 19, antigen screening will be conducted at Tanapag Middle School and Saipan Southern High School (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.); Oleai Elementary School and Dandan Middle School (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.); Francisco M. Sablan Middle School and Chacha Oceanview Middle School (12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.); Tinian Jr. Sr. High School (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.); and Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School on Rota (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.).
On Friday, the screening will be held at Da’ok Academy (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.); Marianas High School (10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.); William S. Reyes Elementary School and Kagman High School (12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
A member of the Governor’s Office Covid-19 Task Force/CHCC performs an antigen test on GTC Elementary School second grader Kaelynn Camacho on Wednesday.
Siah Casil, a fifth grader, says the antigen test didn’t scare him.
Isabella Cabrera, a fifth grader at GTC, receives an antigen test from Jesse Tudela, CHCC’s chief of ancillary services.
Garapan Elementary School staffer Lauran Matsunaga was among the first to get the antigen test on Wednesday.
