Beach Road Magazine - August 2014

Learning

by Example Students share their journeys to the top

What’s the deal

Tips for smart schoolsupply shopping

Read all about it

Literacy program helps families

August 2014

About the Cover:

Student athlete Victoria Chentsova.

Photo taken at Lao Lao Golf & Resort.

Photo by Bill Bezzant bill.bezzant@saipan.com

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Cover feature

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Student to Student

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Athlete Student - Victoria Chentsova

Special feature

It’s a calling: Riza Ramos shares her talent Artist feature

DYS Summer Camp

Glimpses Publications include Guam Business Magazine, Marianas Business Journal, Beach Road Magazine and R&R Pacific

Special feature PUBLISHER Maureen N. Maratita

Back to School Tips Back-to-school feature

ASSISTANT EDITOR Joy White PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Rosanna Dacanay SENIOR DESIGNER Vikki Fong

Literacy as a family: Motheread/Fatheread

SALES MANAGER Annie San Nicolas

Special feature

ACCOUNT MANAGER Minda Castro MANAGING DIRECTOR Marcos W. Fong

We’re Online!

www.brmsaipan.com beachroadmagazine

Beach Road Magazine, August 2014. Entire contents copyrighted 2014

by Glimpses of Saipan, Inc. Beach Road Magazine is published monthly

by Glimpses of Saipan, Inc. P.O. Box 502080, Saipan, MP 96950 • 2/F Transpac Business Center Gualo Rai, Saipan • Tel: (670) 235-7645 • Fax: (670) 234-1801 • E-mail: saipan@glimpsesofguam.com. All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.

ONCOVER THE ROAD FEATURE

Things are going swimmingly

By Thomas Johnson • Photo by Bill Bezzant

High school senior Victoria Chentsova has loved swimming for as long as she can remember. And after racking up more medals than most swimmers two or three times her age, it seems like the sport loves her right back.

In her eight years as a professional swimmer, the 16-yearold dynamo has placed first in dozens of swimming competitions, representing Saipan and the NMI in multiple swim meets and triathlons around the world and earning gold all over the Pacific. She has represented the NMI in Barcelona, Istanbul, Australia, Palau, Guam, and China, and is planning to represent yet again in two swim meets in Hawaii and this year’s Micronesian Games in Pohnpei.

In the months to come, Chentsova hopes to represent the NMI in another set of World Championship swim events, and to participate in the 2015 Pacific Games. She isn’t neglecting her education either, however, as she’s already begun looking at which colleges she plans to attend next year. And, of course, she’ll be looking for the ones with the best swimming programs to continue her passion for the sport. “I’m keeping my options as open as possible and trying not to be too picky,” she says, “but I’m definitely looking for schools that offer a variety of water-related sports. I just can’t function without them,” she said.

“We train five or six times a week for two hours or more at a time, it’s definitely not easy,” Chentsova says. “I really have to manage my time to balance swimming and school, and it feels like I never have time to waste. But I’m just so grateful that I can go to so many places and represent our tiny chain of islands. I

“I’m just so grateful that I can go to so many places and represent our tiny chain of islands. I feel so proud, coming from such a small place and being able to compete with our other athletes against some of the best sportsmen in the world.” ~ Victoria Chentsova 4

AUGUST 2014

Victoria Chentsova at the Lao Lao Golf & Resort swimming pool.

feel so proud, coming from such a small place and being able to compete with our other athletes against some of the best sportsmen in the world.”

In spite of all the hard work and effort she has to put in, Chentsova says she wouldn’t trade it for the world. “It’s very rewarding,” she says. “It feels really good to put a lot of effort in and see everything pay off. Swimming has opened up so many doors for me. I get to participate in world-class swim meets, I get to travel, meet new people, and participate in other water sports like water polo, open-water swimming, and triathlons. I have no idea what I’d be doing if I hadn’t started swimming.”

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

From left: Norman del Rosario, Enrico, mom Elizabeth and younger brother Justin.

Enrico Dominic T. del Rosario, walking the talk

By Joy White • Photos courtesy of Norman del Rosario

Enrico Dominic T. del Rosario is a student at Mount Carmel School. He will be graduating in 2015. He is the son of Norman and Elizabeth del Rosario. He plays football for MP United Football Club in Saipan and Agila FC in the Philippines and football has always been his passion. He has been playing since he was young and would like to continue as long as he can. Del Rosario spent June in the Philippines to play for Agila FC. The team has won three games and brought the team to the championship.Unfortunately the team lost on the penalty shootout with one goal apart from the other team. “Everyone played so hard and held the fort for the whole game and twoovertime,” says del Rosario.

Management of Agila FC invited him to play for their team after watching him play in the Pilipinas Cup in 2012. “In football it’s different; you have to walk the talk. You have to show that you deserve a spot by playing hard as if it’s your last game. The preparation takes a lot of work, both physically and mentally. You have to give your best all the time because you’ll never know who will be watching the game,” says del Rosario.

As an athlete del Rosario is constantly training and working on his weaknesses to make them strong attributes for the follow6

AUGUST 2014

ing season. “As with all the other players who are passionate with this sport, football is life. We eat, we sleep and breathe football,” says del Rosario. When it comes to balancing school and sports, del Rosario pushes himself to do well at both. Despite the late and sometimes tiring practices, del Rosario says he tries to study harder and focus because he has his responsibility as a student.

To be successful, del Rosario says one must be committed.

“There are a lot of sacrifices that you have to make, lots of pain but if you want to achieve it, pain is nothing,” he says. In addition, one must have the right attitude, because sometime success is not just based on talent. Learning to manage time is also key.

The athlete says he hopes to return to the NMI. “The NMI is my home and MP United FC is my family and after you had an opportunity to play outside the NMI, you are eager to come back and share the things you’ve learned,” he says. While away, he does miss his family, but is thankful for their support. “I am very happy that my parents are very supportive. It’s hard to be away from them but they let me spread my wings and fulfill my dreams in life,” he says. In the future, del Rosario hopes to pursue sports science.

GUIDE TO

August

Sunday

Tuesday

Monday

Wednesday

Sponsored by:

Thursday

1 MOVIES • Guardians of the Galaxy • What If • Get On Up premiere at Regal Cinemas

In 1925, Coca-Cola launched its inaugural billboard, which featured Ritz Boy, a bellhop holding a tray with a single bottle of Coke.

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19th Annual Governor’s Tournament of Champions

Garapan Street Market

Time: 5 am Location: Laolao Bay Golf Resort Visit: www.tocsaipan.com for more details

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14 Garapan Street Market

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20 In 1980s, Coca-Cola saw a whopping eight slogans, including “Coke Is It” (1982), “Catch the Wave” (1987) and “We’ve Got a Taste for You” (1985).

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21 Garapan Street Market

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Saturday

Friday

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2 19th Annual Governor’s Tournament of Champions Time: 5 am Location: Laolao Bay Golf Resort Visit: tocsaipan.com for more details

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MOVIES • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles • Into the Storm • Step Up: All In premiere at Regal Cinemas

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MOVIES • The Expendables 3 • The Giver • Let’s Be Cops premiere at Regal Cinemas

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MOVIES • Sin City: A Dame to Kill For • If I Stay • Are You Here • When the Game Stands Tall premiere at Regal Cinemas

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30 Saipan Swim Club’s Summer Fun Open Water Series Registration - 8:30 am Go time - 9:15 am Location: Pau Pau Beach Price: $5, free for Saipan Swim Club members and certified lifeguards

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The original World of CocaCola, housing more than 1,000 pieces of memorabilia from throughout the Coca-Cola Company’s history, opened on Aug. 3, 1990.

FIND US IN THE DIGITAL WORLD AND STAY IN TOUCH! www.facebook.com/BEACHROADMAGAZINE

Proudly serves refreshing

beverages.

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.BRMSAIPAN.COM

For showtimes: 234-9000 or visit www.regmovies.com

*Event times and dates may change without notice.

“Coca-Cola” is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.

AUGUST 2014

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FEATURE

The Ortizo family, (from left) Ryan Bradley, Brent, Myrna, Michael and Nero. This photo was taken at New York University’s 182nd Commencement Exercises held at Yankee Stadium in New York City on May 21, 2014.

Student to Student

By Joy White

Ryan Bradley Ortizo is a 2010 graduate of Mount Carmel School. He attended New York University and graduated in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, with minor concentration in chemistry and public health and policy.

In March 2014 he was accepted into the Medical School Program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

Choosing the university he would attend was a hard decision for Ortizo.

In the end he chose NYU because he wanted a college experience that would be a life experience that would help him grow into a strong and independent individual. “I felt that living in such a large and diverse city would expose me to the different cultures, schools of thought, and experiences that could challenge and shape my personal understanding of life,” says Ortizo.

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Ortizo describes ties his experience at NYU with his experiences of living in the city of New York itself. The campus of NYU does not have a campus got or campus wall, instead the buildings blend into the rest of the city. “You could get lost in the city in one day and learn so much about yourself in those 24 hours than you ever had in your entire life. Living in the city really changes you as a person.

You learn to live in a tough environment, and you learn to be self-sufficient and independent. You are exposed to so many ideas and so many people. Everyday life becomes a source of wonder, creativity, and social engagement. The fast-paced, competitive lifestyle of the city made me appreciate the laid back and familiar lifestyle of Saipan, but it tested my resolve and determination to succeed in such a challenging environment,” Ortizo says.

Photo by Island Photography

As the school year draws near these model students share their life experiences as a way to inspire other students to succeed.

FEATURE

rigor and pressure I will experience in medical school will push me to my limits and challenge my resolve. But I know that it can be done and I will have a lot of help along the way,” he says.

Ortizo hopes to return to Saipan to work as a physician. In fact, attending college off island and returning to share his knowledge has always been his goal.

“I recognize that Saipan is in need of medical professionals and that a stable, functioning health system is necessary to ensure that the people of Saipan are getting the proper care they need, especially in the long run,” says Ortizo. The main theme of my admission letters to the medical schools I applied to focused on my desire

“The fast-paced, competitive lifestyle of the city made me appreciate the laid back and familiar lifestyle of Saipan...” ~ Ryan Bradley Ortizo He says there are still more challenges to face in medical school. “The academic

Jace Allyson Tellei Pineda.

Jace Allyson Tellei Pineda is a 2014 graduate of Kagman High School. She will be attending Northern Marianas College and majoring in nursing to prepare herself for the medical field. She one day hopes to be a pediatrician. She was also accepted to the University of California, Davis and the University of San Francisco. “Although I was accepted into great schools, I chose to start smart at NMC. After NMC, I will further my education off island,” says Pineda. After her education she hopes to return to Saipan and use her knowledge and skills to help the community.

Some of her special awards and recognition include the Golden President’s Award for Educational Excellence; commissioner of Education Academic Excel-

AUGUST 2014

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FEATURE

Jimaela Ham

lence Award/Salutatorian; Kagman High School Class of 2014 Outstanding Female Graduate Questbridge finalist/ scholar; Honor Roll; Principal’s List; and she was nominated for and attended a National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in New York City. She was also very active in other student organizations: she served as president of the Kagman High School National Honor Society, president of her school’s first MYWAVE club, and sophomore class president.

“I have also...restrained from applying for jobs just yet as I do not want to get attached to the work life and lose focus on my priority: education.” ~ Jace Allyson Tellei Pineda Pineda is preparing for college by applying for scholarships.

She intends to make her education her main priority. “I have also, in a way, restrained from applying for jobs just yet as I do not want to get attached to the work life and lose focus on my priority: education,” she says.

Balancing the different aspects of her school life and her family life has been a challenge, but she has made it all work by setting her priorities. Challenges in her academic life included keeping up with her studies, participating in many extracurricular activities, and the student’s worst enemy, procrastination. “I overcame these challenges by setting my priorities straight. I kept in mind all those I would end up making proud if I came out as one of the top students. This kept me focused and wanting to work harder in my academics no matter what got in the way,” says Pineda.

Jimaela Ham is a 2013 graduate of Grace Christian Academy. She is currently a sophomore at Chaminade University with plans to major in accounting and to minor in business

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The Vergara-Ham family, (from left) Jimmy, Michael, Jimaela and Armela, in front of Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York in July 2014.

administration. “I chose Chaminade University because I’ve heard many great stories on how the people who attend that university become successful entrepreneurs,” she says. Her experience at the university has been great, as the university is helping her achieve her life goals and strive to become a better and successful person in the future.

“Try and try till you succeed is what I always tell myself. Without pain there is no gain. Never give up when challenges go your way, because it is what makes you a stronger and better person in the end.” ~ Jimaela Ham Although she has faced some challenges in her academic life, such as adjusting to a new environment and her dorm room in her freshman year, and maintaining good grades, she feels they will all be worth it. “Those are just some minor challenges, but in the end when you surpass all those bigger ones you’ll have a feeling of completion and success,” she says.

In the future, she hopes to open up her own business, and extend her success to Saipan. She views Saipan as her home and misses it. “If I get lucky and build my own business someday, I

FEATURE

(Left) Hazel Doctor at Susupe Beach; (right) Hazel Doctor during graduation day, May 12, 2014, at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

might put up a branch of my own in Saipan and work my way from there,” she says.

Her advice to incoming college students is to remember they are in charge of what they want to be in the future and that there are challenges. “Try and try till you succeed is what I always tell myself. Without pain there is no gain. Never give up when challenges go your way, because it is what makes you a stronger and better person in the end,” says Ham. Hazel Marie B. Doctor is a 2010 graduate of Mount Carmel School. She attended the Northern Marianas College for a year, before transferring to Emory University in Atlanta, where she graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology. She is currently a laboratory researcher for the Emory Mental Health and Development Program. Her goal is to ultimately become a clinical psychologist with a focus on underserved minorities in the Pacific.

Doctor chose Emory because of its great academics, faculty, research opportunities, and diverse student body. She plans to return to Saipan to work. “It has always been a goal to work with people with mental disabilities in Saipan and in the rest of the Pacific,’ she says.

For Doctor, the first month as a transfer student was tough.

She had feelings of homesickness and culture shock. In addition she found keeping up with her advanced classes that had newer, more elaborate teaching styles and followed a rigorous course load. “Eventually I began studying with classmates and working with them outside of class. We were supportive of each other and did better in class,” she says.

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She joined several clubs and made friends in the Filipino Student Association, where she found a home away from home.

She was inducted into an honor society and was very excited to study German abroad and make new friends. “Overall, my experiences at Emory were exciting, enriching, and empowering.

I felt I gained the skills necessary to navigate me through my post-college years and beyond,” She says.

“After discussing this with friends, professors, and alumni, I learned that in the end, one should do what he loves because it will pay off in the long run.” ~ Hazel Marie B. Doctor One of the challenges Doctor faced was contemplating the question of practicality versus passion. Although she was passionate about working in the mental health field, she also knew pursing a higher education required funding. “After discussing this with friends, professors, and alumni, I learned that in the end, one should do what he loves because it will pay off in the long run. The concerns about financial practicality will work itself out later. In the end, I chose to the graduate program track in clinical psychology. I liked the idea of doing research, teaching, and working with patients. So far, I’ve been gaining those experiences in my internship at the lab,” she says.

ON THE ROAD

AUGUST 2014

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Shop smart for school supplies this year

By Joy White

Back-to-school shopping can be both stressful and fun.

With each school year, new challenges and opportunities open for kids, but parents are also faced with paying for all the school supplies children needed on a tight budget. Linda Lam, manager of Modern Office Supply, shares some tips on how to shop successfully this year. shares some tips on how to shop successfully this year.

First, although buying new items is exciting, it is recommended to sort through your materials before hand to determine what can be reused or recycled, and what new items need to be purchased.

After you’ve done your supply inventory, it’s time to hit the stores. First, refer to the supplies list and shop for school supplies as early as possible. Many schools provide a list of the supplies students will need during the school year, so make sure you have that list before you start shopping. Make sure you have the essentials and must-haves. Basic supplies like pens, pencils, notebook, eraser, sharpeners, binders, backpacks are all back to school necessities. In this day and age, students also need a USB flash drive for saving type written

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homework and online assignments, especially if they need to print them out later.

Another important thing is to have a good backpack to carry all the supplies. Good quality backpacks can be expensive but spending a little extra on quality will save you in the long run. When buying a backpack, it is important to purchase one that will be comfortable to carry. Carrying a backpack that is either too heavy or used inappropriately is one of the leading causes of back injuries in students.

Lastly, know where the good deals are. Modern Office Supply is offering 30% discount on regular priced items, an extra 10% on sale priced items for school bags, and more than 30% on selected items. The store has really good prices on all sorts of brands of supplies. You can choose from a variety of supplies like Mead for notebooks & filler papers, Crayola for markers & crayons, Elmer’s school glue, Staedtler for pencils & erasers, Cardinal binders, Texas Instrument for calculators, Kingston flash drive, Jansport backpacks, Sargent’s art & craft supplies, Trend for teaching and classroom supplies, and many more products when you shop at Modern Office supply.

ARTIST FEATURE

It’s a calling: Riza Ramos shares her talent

By Joy White

Riza Ramos balances her duties as a nurse and her skills as a writer. In fact she says, the two “blend together like coffee and cream.” Ramos is the author of “The Boy Who Dreamed to Be with His Parents on Saipan,” available at Bestseller Bookstore and on Amazon.com. Told from a child’s point of view, the book conveys the pain and separation felt when a parent chooses to work overseas and emphasizes the message about family first. Ramos is originally from Cabucgayan Biliran Province in the Philippines, and graduated with a bachelor’s of science in nursing from Martinez Memorial Colleges in Caloocan City, Philippines.

For her, nursing is her job and writing is a hobby, but both are her passions. “Being a writer and a nurse at the same time is not a decision at all but rather a calling. It’s like finding a purpose and answering the question, “What am I on earth for?” says Ramos.

When asked how she can write when her job can be draining both emotionally and physically, she says, “It is undeniable that my job is heartbreaking and muscle aching but writing is my elixir, and my pain reliever.“ I am a born writer since my profession/vocation is too far from the writing world,” says Ramos. She began writing in high school for her school paper, where she and her teachers realized her skills. She was sent to regional and national writing competitions, bringing home numerous awards. Reading may have also influenced her she says.

The author describes the feeling when she her first work was published as being magical. “The feeling that I created something out of a blank sheet of paper is totally awesome. I also felt 20

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that I got something to be proud of; this is my contribution to the world – a book. And dreams could come true too as long as we work on it and believe it will,” she says.

Ramos is currently working on her memoir, which is under the working title “Beyond Dreams,” with author Walt Goodridge. She is also working on a children’s book entitled “The Germ Stopper.” Illustrations for this book are currently being completed by artist Rodante Guarda. She is also attempting her first novel, “Saipan Blues: The Rainwater.” She has been working on her novel for about a year, but is finding happiness in seeing her character come alive.

As a writer, keeping up the creativity level and habit of writing can be a challenge. Generally she strives to write at least 50 to 60 words, at a time, which allows her to be consistent to exercise her writing muscles. However, she says there are days where inspiration seems elusive and she finds other ways to express her creativity. “I’m also into photography, when my writer’s cup seems empty, my husband and I go around the Island and take pictures,” she says. She showcases her photos of the views of Saipan on her Facebook page, “Paradise Saipan.” She also finds it a challenge when opening a conversation about writing. During these time she feels no one can relate to her.

As for the future, Ramos keeps an open mind. “I don’t really have big plans just dreams. For now, it’s the writing that counts; it’s the creative process that matters. But I’m hoping someday somehow somebody will discover my talent,” she says.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Campers during the last day of the 2014 DYS-DCCA Summer Youth Enhancement camp held at Minachom Atdao, Susupe on July 11. Also shown are arts, crafts and sand paintings created by the participants.

Youths complete camps

By Joy White

The 2014 Summer Youth Empowerment Camp kept kids busy this summer with sports and arts. The theme for the camp was Promoting Health & Cultural Awareness in Our Youth. The Sports & Wellness Camp was held from June 23 through July 3 at the Adam Gym Complex. And the Arts & Crafts Camp from July 7 through July 11 held at Minachom Atdao, Susupe located right across Ada Gym. There were a lot of art volunteers who taught the campers how to make flowers out of plastic and other materials, bead necklaces and bracelets, weave hats and made portraits using sand and many more, coordinated through the CNMI Council for Arts and Culture.On June 27, 2014, Governor Eloy Inos proclaimed July 2014 as Youth Leadership Month.

On the last day of camp, the kids were presented certificates of participation signed by Vivian T. Sablan, DYS Administrator, and Laura T. Ogumoro, Secretary, Department of Com-

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munity & Cultural Affairs.

There were 179 camp participants, 35 high school student volunteers, staff from DYS and DCCA. Rota camp had 52 campers, 9 parent volunteers, 2 AmeriCorps high school volunteers, 2 municipal council volunteers, astaff member from the Rota Mayor’s office and other divisions staff from DCCA. Tinian had an equally successful camp. It was a well-attended program and the kids are all happy and looking forward to next year’s camp. The 2014 Summer Youth Empowerment Camp is an annual program by the Division of Youth Services (DYS) and CNMI Department of Community and Cultural Affairs (DCCA).

SPECIAL FEATURE

DYS Camp Youth volunteers.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Tips for a successful school year

By Joy White

As the new school year comes closer, it is time for the whole family to get involved. Here are some tips for parents to help their children have a successful year.

1. Get involved. Parents today work and have many responsibilities.

It may not be possible to attend every event or be with the child on the hour, every hour, or to join a school organization. However, taking a few minutes a day to ask how a child’s day went or what they are learning in school; reading notes and announcements sent home from the school or letting them know you support them can make a big difference.

2. Give kids a pep talk before the start of the school year. Open up avenues of communication between parent and child. During this time parents may want to just get a feel of how their child feels about the new school year, go over what to expect in a new grade level, set up some goals, and help their child feel excited for the new school year.

6. Provide a proper homework environment. This includes all the necessary supplies, such as a desk, pencils, paper, etc. A proper homework environment should also be quiet with little distractions.

4. Get to know teachers. It is good to build a teacher and parent relationship. Too often, parents only talk to teachers when something is wrong.

Building a teacher and parent relationship will help cultivate good feelings between the home and school life for the student and will give parents a clearer picture of teacher’s expectations.

5. Prioritize study time. There is a time for play and a time for studying and learning. However, studying should take precedent. Developing this habit early on will help children develop a good work ethic that will be useful later in life.

7. Encourage children to participate in school spirit events or extracurricular events and activities.

School can be fun and not just about studying. Encouraging participation in fun events can help avoid negative feelings toward school. Extracurricular activities will also help students develop their personal interests.

3. Get kids started on a school routine. Routines during the school year might be different from break routines, such as different bedtimes and wake up times or curfews. Set up times for homework.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

It’s Lunch time!

By Joy White

The mind needs fuel and what better way to fuel the mind at school than with a good lunch. Purchasing premade lunches or going with meals provided in the school are good plans, but nothing beats a healthy, homemade lunch. Here are some tips for packing a school lunch.

1. Plan ahead. School-day mornings can be hectic with getting dressed and getting out of the house. If you are planning to pack a lunch for school, be sure to allot an extra fifteen or twenty minutes. Or, even better, pack the night before.

4. Choose easy-to-eat foods. At school, lunch is about socializing almost as much as it about eating. Choosing foods that can be easily snacked on, such as sandwiches or carrot sticks, can accomplish both goals.

2. Work smarter, not harder. Bringing a school lunch does not necessarily mean preparing a whole new meal. Leftovers from dinner the night before will be just as tasty. Adding a new ingredient can make it a whole new meal.

5. Create smaller portions out of bulk goods. This will help save money, because items in bulk are often less expensive than buying individually. In addition, this will provide you with snack-sized items mentioned in the previous tip.

3. For parents: involve your children. Give them options or allow them to help prepare the meal.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

6. Recreate popular foods. If there is a food item you like, but is too expensive or is inaccessible during lunchtime, a homemade version can be just as delicious, or even more so.

7. Don’t forget to be healthy. This can be as easy as packing water instead of soda or using whole grain bread in your sandwich.

8. Use the food pyramid as a guideline. By using the food pyramid as a guideline, you can pack a balanced lunch that is not only healthy, but will also satisfy you longer.

9. Pack a treat. Pack something that will make you look forward to eating your lunch.

10. Be creative. Try new recipes or ideas to avoiding becoming bored with eating the same lunch every day.

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FEATURE

Literacy as a family: Motheread/Fatheread

By Joy White

With school right around the corner, parents looking to enroll their children in programs to assist in learning. One such program is the Motheread/Fatheread Program. First officially administered by the Northern Marianas Humanities council in October 1998, the program is a literacy outreach service, to include parents, children, and educators. To date, the local cadre of volunteer trainers for the program consists of 11 active Parent Trainers and nine Story Exploring Instructors of the CNMI who attended six to 20 hour training sessions conducted by Motheread/Fatheread Institute held on Saipan.

The local trainers are composed of retired teachers, educators, private business persons, and Public School System teachers, administrators, and specialists.

Motheread/Fatheread uses the method of “non-deficit perspective, social context, and learner-centered instruction” which makes the program different from other literacy programs.

The diversity of each student is recognized. Participants in classes include parents and expectant parents, English language learners, aspiring citizens, Basic Skills students, those with

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developmental disabilities, families at risk for domestic violence, incarcerated women, and child-care teachers.

The curricula are developed based on quality multicultural children’s books and adult poems and narratives to build connections on the local, state, and national levels with thousands of instructors and students each year by teaching, or training others to teach, literacy development classes.

Parents and children learn to use the power of children’s literature to improve their own reading skills, to explore challenging family issues, and to foster empowerment in their daily lives. Parents, regardless of their educational background or experiences become a reading role model for children by developing their children’s reading, critical, and problem-solving skills. Grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and other family members are also welcome in the program.

Parents attend the Adult Course; their children (Ages 3-11) are invited to participate in a Story Exploring Class. All Motheread/ Fatheread books are written in English, with some translations in Chamorro, Carolinian, and Spanish.

FEATURE

The goals of the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy Program are as follows: • Recognize that their own stories and stories in books are a good way to communicate with their children.

• Understand the messages in children’s stories • Become familiar with the many ways to use stories as a way to improve children’s academic skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, comprehension, and critical thinking.

• Discuss important parenting skills and challenges with other adults in a supportive environment.

Some of the Expected Outcomes of the Program: • Improves children’s academic skills such as listening, speaking, reading, writing, comprehension, and critical thinking; • Increases children’s interest in asking questions; • Creates early positive experiences with books; • Strengthens family bonds, communication, and relationships • Helps parents become reading role models for their children; • Helps parents value and establish reading as a family activity; and • Enhances parents’ own reading skills.

The CNMI Motheread/Fatheread comprehensive program components include the following: • Motheread/Fatheread, designed for adults, uses children’s books and adult poems and narratives to teach literacy skills to adults, with an emphasis on developing skills in all four areas of literacy: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

• Teacheread is a locally developed program modeled on Motheread’s Story Sharing training. It is designed to provide teachers with the skills necessary to build children’s reading and critical thinking skills. Classes address the literacy needs of students and teach workplace skills that immediately enhance their work or support their further education • Story Exploring, designed for use with children from birth through age 11, uses more than 100 multicultural children’s books to build reading and critical thinking skills. This curriculum uses targeted reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities to foster problem solving, increase comprehension, and nurture a love of books.

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ON THE ROAD

2014 Liberation Day along Beach Road Garapan on July 6, 2014 Photos by Minda Castro, BRM

Roque and Christine Pulido with their pup, Hershey.

(From left) Nicolas, Daniel, Jose and Darrell from As Terlaje Hill.

The Cepeda and Fujihira family from Koblerville and San Antonio.

Shown from left are Rudy Cepeda, Serenity Fujihira, Anita Jim, Jaden and mom Jaki Fujihira.

The Deleon Guerreros from San Vicente. (Front) Ruben, Joe and Teresa; (back) Christian, Rita and Tony.

The Sablan Rasiang-Tadao family from Dandan.

(From left) Mayor Marian De Leon Guerrero Tudela; Cecilia Flores, wife of late Mayor Donald G. Flores; NMI Representative to Congressman Gregorio Kilili Sablan and Governor Eloy Inos.

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AUGUST 2014

ON THE ROAD

The reigning Miss Idaho U.S.A. Yvette Bennett graced the Liberation parade on July 6.

(From left) Media friends Jayson Camacho from Saipan Tribune and Junhan Todino from Marianas Variety.

2014 CNMI Liberation Queen Pressel Jean Cepeda Camacho waves to the spectators while standing in front of the grandstand with her royal guards.

AUGUST 2014

31

ON THE ROAD

The last day of the Summer Reading Program at Joeten Kiyu Public Library/NMI State Library in Susupe, was held on July 15, 2014. Shown in photo with the children are coordinators Edita Naputi (3rd from left), Celina Foreman (2nd from right) and at center is volunteer reader Matthew Lopez. Photo by BRM.

Melissa Camacho and her six year old son Santino during a family gettogether at Sugar Dock Beach on June 1.

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AUGUST 2014

Congratulations to Maria Victoria SandmeierSalem and Marine Lt.Corp. Nicko Santos Salem on your wedding on July 3, 2014, from friends and family in Corpus Christi, Texas. Contributed photo.

Local artists shown clockwise are Flowerpot Salas, Norman Rasiang and Aofia Tufolosega. Photo taken last day of DYS/DCCA Summer Camp on July 11 at Minachom Atdao in Susupe.