Saipan SDA School Cuts Ribbon of ARPA-Funded Playground

The Saipan Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) School marked a major campus milestone at 9:30 a.m. on October 16, 2026, with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Child Development Center (CDC) playground. Spanning more than 2,800 square meters, the expansive outdoor space is the result of more than five years of dedicated planning, preparation, hard work, and patience. Welcomed by bright morning weather that held off threatened rain, students, parents, and special guests watched as excited toddlers immediately took to the play structures following the ceremony to inaugurate the grounds.

​SDA School Board Chair Jocelyn Sonsona opened the morning ceremony with a prayer of gratitude, thanking God for the sunny weather, the supportive community team, and the dedicated teachers and staff committed to helping the students grow and prepare for the future. Following the opening prayer, Principal James Song, who joined the school in 2023, welcomed the guests—including Esther Wabol of Quality Activities and representatives from general contractor Mountain LLC—and shared the extensive history behind the long-awaited project.

​The journey to build the playground began on August 31, 2021, when the school started planning its grant application with the assistance of grants manager Ms. Nadia Camacho. After officially submitting the application on September 28, 2021, the school waited nearly a year before signing the Memorandum of Agreement for the project on August 11, 2022. The funding was made possible through the generous support of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant, with the agreement signed under the leadership of Director Lytton Powell.

​Securing the grant, however, was only the beginning of the process. The design phase officially launched on February 27, 2024, yielding schematic drawings on May 6, 2024, and final construction drawings on January 13, 2025. By March 3, 2025, school leadership began searching for a qualified contractor to bring the blueprints to life. After several months of review, Mountain LLC was verified and approved as the contractor on August 29, 2025, and the official construction contract between Mountain LLC and the school was signed on September 17, 2025. The physical transformation of the grounds concluded on October 14, 2026, when the final safety inspection was completed just two days ahead of the grand opening ceremony.

​Looking back over the five-year endeavor, Principal Song reflected on the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:6–8, quoting, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase". He noted that the passage serves as a reminder that great things are accomplished when many people work together, each doing their part while God brings everything to completion.

​"Some people planted the seeds of this project more than five years ago," Song told the audience. "Others came along and watered those seeds through their dedication, support, and hard work. Some began the journey, others continued the work, and still others helped bring it to completion. Today, we are enjoying the fruits of their labor." He extended the school's sincere appreciation to the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, the Child Care Program, the school's grant partners, Mountain LLC, the school board, and the staff who contributed to making the playground a reality.

​Following his remarks, Principal Song invited Gordon Salas, the new Interim Director of the Child Care Program, to address the crowd. Greeting the enthusiastic students with a lively "Hafa Adai," Salas emphasized the lasting value of the facility, which was funded through the ARPA Stabilization Fund to provide children with a safe, welcoming environment to explore, learn, and develop their social and physical skills.

​"It is an investment in you that you will see, and it is also an investment in the future of our economy," Salas told the students, commending Principal Song, the grant management team, and the contractors for working together to foster an environment where young children can learn and thrive.

​To close the formal program before moving to the play area, Saipan SDA Church Senior Pastor Paulo Restauro led a dedicatory prayer over the facility. He thanked the local agencies and partners who supported the endeavor and asked for blessings upon the CDC playground so that it remains a safe haven of fun, learning, and friendship. With the prayers concluded and the ribbon officially cut, the toddlers wasted no time claiming their new playground—fulfilling the school's hope that the grounds will serve as a place where children can grow, learn, play, and experience the joy of childhood for many years to come.