Embedded Files
09/23/2025 - “Cut it! Cut it! Cut it!” was the joyful chant of children at the Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School in Chalan Kiya last Friday, moments before school officials and special guests cut the ribbon to officially open the campus’s brand-new playground.
The full playground set—complete with a jungle gym, slides, swings, monkey bars, and spinners—replaces the school’s smaller, outdated structure. According to the school, the project was made possible through an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant, as well as partnerships with local businesses and community organizations.
Before the ribbon cutting, students gathered for a brief ceremony to thank those who contributed to the project. “I want to thank you for all the hard work so that we can have a safer playground that’s better than our last one,” said Student Association president Enoch Song. “This new playground will give us a space where we can have fun and let our imaginations grow. Thank you for helping us turn something old into something even better so that everyone can have fun again.”
Among the special guests was Public School System Commissioner Lawrence Camacho, who praised the school’s environment and the role of play in children’s growth. “...as soon as I stepped off the parking lot, I could tell this place is thriving,” he said. “You can see it through the eyes of our students, you can see through the smiles that they have, that they enjoy being in a safe environment such as this,” He added that he was excited to have the children enjoying the new playground. “...When kids play, they are happy. When kids are happy, they learn better. When they learn better because they're happy and they're motivated, it sparks their growth. And when they grow better and become citizens that are responsible after leaving this institute and further on to go in life, they become an investment that we have had for the future of our CNMI, right? And when they come and they grow to become the officials that really kind of run this place, design the future, and really solve the problems, and lead the way, we as an institution here would have done our job, right? For each and every one of these.”
Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Blas Camacho, whose office provided the sand for the playground, also emphasized the importance of supporting youth. “We always say, ‘students first. Youth are the future leaders.’ But the question is—are we sincere in that word?” he said. “As your mayor, I want to embrace everybody. If we all work together, nothing is impossible. We can promote a safe community, safe villages, and a clean island.”
School principal Yeon Ho Song expressed deep gratitude for the support of PSS, the Mayor’s Office, building contractors, and special guest Melissa SanNicolas, who first brought the grant opportunity to the school’s attention and helped draft the proposal.
Song reflected on his thoughts on the project, describing it as a “circulation of grace and love.” He explained, “I will focus on this with our students too, we are the ones this time, we received. And as a school and as students, what can we do? This time we have to give. How can we give? They can study very hard and we can have great businessmen, we can have great politicians, we can have great educators, and that is how these kids can give back to this community.”
He added, “Once again, we’re grateful to all the community leaders, PSS leaders, including the Saipan Mayor, without their help it was impossible. So from now on as a principal of our school and as an educator we’re going to keep teaching about this circulation of love so that everybody, all these students can be the amazing citizens of the CNMI and the United States of America.”
Report by Chrystal Marino
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