56 sixth grade Tottots fly out of their DES nest

The Dandan Elementary School campus was swarming with parents, relatives, friends and school officials last Friday to honor the school’s sixth grade graduates who earned certificates of completion and promotion to the junior high school level.

A total of 56 students were greeted with thunderous applause as they marched onto the DES stage for their farewell ceremony.

Outgoing sixth graders Marielle Kapileo and Joann Reyes saw the fruit of all their hard work after Kapileo was awarded the Commissioner’s Award while Reyes earned the Principal’s Award.

Upon receiving her plaque, Kapileo said “This would not have been possible without the individuals who taught and instilled the knowledge and skills per grade level.”

Kapileo was a student of DES since Kindergarten and recognized each teacher she had in each grade level in her speech, as well as school officials.

She said it was their “outstanding leadership” that made the school the “best learning environment, peaceful and safe campus.”

Also earning individual awards were Michael Santos, Cindy Benavente, Chelsea Yangirelfil, Beatrice Cruz, Andy John Hambros, Peter Borja, Joni Francesca C. Castro, and Yuri Cepeda, who were recipients of the presidential award for educational excellence.

Other awards were also presented such as the service award to Castro and Hambros; most athletic award to Kapileo and Alex Mongkeya; most active student council representative to Castro; and the top three school-end essay contest winners were Reyes, Santos, and Yangirelfil.

Other awards were also presented, such as reading to Guiao and Babauta; language arts and writing to Agulto and Lea C. Guiao; math to Valenzuela and Pineda; social studies to Babauta and Lallane Guiao; science to Lea Guiao and Agulto; Chamorro bilingual to Lallane Guiao and Reyes; and sportsmanship to Zerah Castro and Babauta.

DES principal Jonas M. Barcinas said that in his eight years as principal, “This has been, by far, the most energetic batch of sixth graders Dandan has ever had.”

He said the students have endured so much throughout the past 180 days. And although the promotion ceremony usually constitutes a time to say farewell, “it also gives us a chance to think back on the year that was. A year, which although was marked by financial setbacks and uncertainty, was a successful one for our school which further motivated these young minds that sit atop this beautiful stage.”

After a sensational singing performance of the song Friends Forever, the students were able to unite with their close friends and families.