Over 1,700 Learning Packets distributed across Saipan to keep students academically engaged

In a major push to maintain academic momentum following the recent impact of Typhoon Sinlaku, the CNMI Public School System Office of Instructional Technology & Distance Education, the Office of Curriculum and Instruction, and the Teachers and Leaders of the Title I Program successfully distributed 1,736 grab-and-learn literacy enrichment packets to students across Saipan on Wednesday, May 13. The distribution, which took place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., alongside the Grab and Go meal program, targeted six strategic locations to ensure regional accessibility for all families.



​The distribution saw high turnout, particularly at Garapan and Oleai Elementary schools. The breakdown of packets by grade level and site is as follows:


Grade Level: K-2 (521 packets); Grades 3-5 (613), and Middle and High School (602)


The Site Breakdown distribution - Garapan Elementary: 467, ​Oleai Elementary: 417, Dandan Middle School: 312, FMS Middle School: 209, ​Tanapag Middle School: 174, and Kagman Elementary: 157


According to CJ Houston, ELL Program Manager for the Office of Curriculum and Instruction, the initiative was born out of a proposal by Math Program Manager Augustus Loste shortly after weather conditions improved. Houston noted that the entire office spent several days prepping the materials to ensure students could continue their education despite the loss of classroom time.


​"Our entire office spent the last few days prepping, discussing, and getting everything ready for dispersal," Houston said. He emphasized that the goal is to gauge student response and quality of work to formulate future instructional plans.


​Houston explained that the packets are designed to be grade-level specific, with difficulty increasing as students progress through the "rungs of the ladder." While the packets are uniform in their grade-level sorting, they are divided by subject matter to provide a comprehensive review: ​K-2 Levels: Focused on fundamental skills such as spelling, ​Grades 3-5: Transitioning into sentence construction and reading comprehension, the Middle & High School is challenging students with essay writing and complex subject analysis.


​To encourage participation, an incentive program has been established for students who complete their packets and submit them during the next scheduled pickup session on May 20 and next week’s learning packets.


​With the academic year facing significant hurdles, including the loss of capstone projects and portfolio development, Houston offered words of encouragement to the student body.

"The best thing I can say to my students... is you can do it, I would like to see everybody just try your best, put forth as much effort as you can. I’d like to get through it together,” said Houston.
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While the distribution successfully reached hundreds of households, some parents experienced difficulties securing the materials.

​Irene Lumanlan, a parent of a 2nd-grade student at Oleai Elementary, missed the morning window because she was unaware the packet pick-up coincided with the grab-and-go food distribution.

​"I went there after lunch in the school office, but they said it was the district who's been giving out," Lumanlan explained. "I was expecting to get a school learning packet so that my son will not always be using gadgets."

​Transportation proved to be another significant barrier. Mitch Olita, a mother of five Public School System (PSS) students—ranging from a 2nd-grader at William S. Reyes Elementary to graduating seniors at Marianas High School, as well as middle schoolers at Hopwood—was unable to make the trip.

​"I was not able to pick up the school packets because I do not have a car for now," said Olita.

Olita added that unlike other assistance that requires a car to line up, they are not always able to get them because the car can only be used for limited trips since they are trying to save gas.

​Olita noted that it would be highly appreciated if the district offered an option for online access alongside the physical pick-up, specifically to accommodate families facing transportation hardships.