SVES parents encouraged to take on leadership roles

San Vicente Elementary School parents, guardians and teachers gathered Tuesday, Feb. 15, at the school cafeteria for their regular Parents-Teachers Association meeting and were exhorted to participate in this month’s islandwide offerings to promote parent leadership.

Felicidad Ogumoro of the Division of Youth Services, under the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, invited the group to join in the all-day Family Fun Day this Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Garapan Fishing Base across from the Kristo Rai Church.

To be held starting at 9am, activities in the event include skits from various schools, Polynesian dance numbers, youth band entertainment, social service providers’ displays, and jumpers for kids. Schools who bring in the most participants will be awarded prizes.

Ogumoro also enjoined parents to register in a free conference to be held on Feb. 24-25, Thursday and Friday, at the Hyatt Regency Saipan under the theme “Family Strengthening through Parent Leadership.”

Janet Villagomez, SVES principal and facilitator for the evening’s meeting, said, “Parenting is the most challenging profession in the world.”

Parents who attended the PTA meeting Tuesday were Northern Marianas College president Tony de leon Guerrero, who chairs the school’s community-based management team, PTA vice-president Ivan Groom, Hopwood High School counselor Patty Mendoza, and Emergency Management Office director Rudolfo Pua,

Bonnie Tudela Royale of NMC’s Family Resource Center also informed the group of the institution’s year-round Family Resource Development Program during the PTA meeting. She said the program touches on such family concerns as parenting, nutrition, food preparation, backyard gardening, child development, youth engagement, and developing relationships.

Courses are offered on site at the village level if requested by local groups such as the PTA, Tudela added.

Polly Omechelang of CREES-NMC spoke on youth programs during the PTA meeting. She said plans are underway to revive the SVES 4-H Club program and strengthen the student’s environmental projects.

Fifth grade teacher and adult literary program coordinator Betty Miller also reiterated the school’s ongoing support to parents and family members in continuing education. She said, for this year, SVES is offering training in technology and English as a second language.

The one-hour PTA meeting that promptly started and finished on time, also elicited commitment from the parents to participate in the accreditation visit to be conducted on March 11, 2005.