HJHS launches Hopwood Hope
Saipan’s lone public junior high school has devised a program that would provide support for its high risk students inside the campus.
Hopwood Junior High School administrators recently unveiled a pilot project called “Hopwood Hope,” a program which promotes close collaboration between agencies in the CNMI.
The Public School System and the Community Guidance Center, in a report, said the program has potential in counteracting behavioral problems among students at HJHS.
“The first goal is to provide assistance to students who might be considered with high risk behavior problems in campus.
“They’ll have a chance to learn to change their behavior and avoid detention or suspension,” said CGC head Josephine Sablan.
Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos said the related goal of the program is to foster a close working relationship between the Division of Youth Services, CGC, and PSS.
Further, the program also aims to help students deal with emotional and social problems in the school.
It is foreseen to provide special classes on anger management, substance abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, feelings, and grief recovery with a team approach.
“We want to help provide a positive approach to problem solving for the students. In most cases, no one benefits from suspension,” she Dr. Inos.
Though reviews on the said the program have mostly been positive, Dr. Inos said it still needs some fine-tuning.
“I have nothing but praise for those agencies and their representatives that are participating. However, it is clear we need to improve the administrative management,” she added.
The newly organized program is also seen to serve as a model for similar undertakings for schools all over CNMI in the future. (MM)