COMMUNITY BRIEFS

BICOL PAVILION RESERVED TODAY

This is to inform the public that the Bicol Pavilion is reserved for a Bicol Association activity today, Jan. 22, for the whole day in preparation for the annual election of officers for the year 2006.

PRAXIS SEMINAR ON FEB. 1

A Praxis seminar for high school language arts teachers preparing for the Praxis II English Language and Literature Content Knowledge exam will begin on Feb. 1 at 5pm at Saipan Southern High School Room A-102.

Those who have not attended a previous Praxis seminar are eligible for compensation. Those who previously attended a seminar are still eligible to attend for free. For more information contact Jeff at turbittj@yahoo.com. (PR)

PSS SESAP ON JAN. 27

The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands Public School System Special Education Program will be conducting a Special Education State Advisory Panel meeting on Jan. 27 from 8am to 10am at Hyatt Regency Saipan.

The meeting is open to the public. The agenda for the meeting will be passed out during the event. (PR)

SMALL CLAIMS MATTERS RESET

All small claims matters originally scheduled for Jan. 5, 2006, in Courtroom 220A of the CNMI Superior Court are rescheduled to Feb. 16, 2006. The notice was issued on Dec. 22 by Clerk of Court Bernadita A. Sablan.

TAX AMNESTY DEADLINE COMING UP

The Division of Revenue and Taxation, Department of Finance, encourages all delinquent taxpayers with outstanding tax obligations to visit the division to avail themselves of the tax amnesty program. The deadline for applying for tax amnesty is March 27, 2006.

The special tax returns for the Tax Amnesty Program, under Public Law 14-90 were made available on Saipan beginning Oct. 17, 2005, on Tinian beginning Oct. 18, 2005, and Rota, beginning Oct. 20, 2005.

The division wishes to inform the public that it will use its full authority after the amnesty filing deadline to enforce collection on all outstanding tax obligations from taxpayers.

KAGES SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Jan. 31, 2006: Student-of-the-month/Peacebuilder Assembly, K-3 at 9am and 4-5 at 9:45am cafeteria. For more information, contact the school’s new phone numbers: 237-3965/66/67.

HOPWOOD SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Feb. 6-10 No school. Professional Development Days for staff. (Change in calendar)
Feb. 15 Progress Reports will be issued
Feb. 20 Holiday President’s Day
Feb. 21-22 Regular school days (change in calendar)

Students, beginning 3rd. quarter, Home Room will be your first period teacher everyday. Day B is still your first period teacher from 8:00-8:15. Attendance will be taken, the bulletin will be read, and virtues will be discussed. 1st and 5th periods will begin at 8:20am.

WSR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JANUARY EVENTS

Tuesday, Jan. 24 Spelling Bee Final Competition
Wednesday, Jan. 25 December/January Diners Club
Friday, Jan. 27 NJHS Induction Ceremony
Sunday, Jan. 29 Chinese New Year!
Monday, Jan. 30 Leadership Meeting

SUMMER SEMINARS, INSTITUTES OPEN TO TEACHERS

Are you a teacher who would like to increase your teaching skills in the humanities? If so the National Endowment for the Humanities 2006 Summer Seminars and Institutes are for you.

According to Paz C Younis, executive director of the NMI Council for the Humanities, seminars allow for small groups to explore a humanities topic with a scholar having expertise in the field. Institutes serve larger groups and are led by a core faculty and visiting scholars who present quality scholarship on important humanities issues.

Seminars and institutes are intended for K-12 teachers in both public and private schools. Selection committees will give first consideration to applicants who have not participated in an NEH-supported seminar or institute in the last three years.

All teachers selected to participate in a seminar or institute will be awarded a fixed stipend based on the length of the seminar or institute to help cover travel costs, books, and living expenses: $1,800 for two weeks; $2,400 for three weeks; $3,000 for four weeks, $3,600 for five weeks, and $4,200 for six weeks.

Interested teachers are invited to contact NEH via e-mail at sem-inst@neh.gov to acquire application materials and information about specific seminars and institutes being offered. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2006, to be considered.