Hopwood Junior High School

The United States of America

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Public School System

Hopwood Junior High School

Chalan Piao, Saipan, Mp 96950

Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Home of the Hilitai

Founded 1962

Principal: Christine Tudela-Masga

Vice Principal (Curriculum): Nariatini Pedro

Vice Principal (Discipline): John Pialur

Guidance Counselor: Patty Mendoza

Guidance Counselor: Betty Blau

Enrollment: 985

Hopwood Junior High School is the largest and one of the only two institutions of junior high education on the island of Saipan. Hopwood Junior High School (HJHS) was founded in 1949 as the Saipan Intermediate Schhol and then renamed in 1962 after four-star Admiral Herbert Gladstone Hopwood of the United States Navy. [Koki (1995) p.1] Admiral Hopwood served as Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1958 to 1960. He was also the Commanding Officer for the Northern Marianas in the 1950s.

During World War II, the location of the school was a cemetery for the Fourth Marine Division. [Petty, Bruce M. (2001) p.39]

Mascot

HJHS's school mascot is the Hilitai, and its school color are dark blue and gold.

CoHort Teams

Hopwood Junior High School is divided into six major and two minor "CoHort Teams": Teams A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. Each team of seventh and eighth graders has seven teachers assigned.

Teams A, B, and C are seventh-grade Teams; Teams D, E, and F are eighth-grade Teams; Team G is for Special Education students; and finally, Team H is for the students attending HJHS's Lina'la Malawasch Academy (LMA). LMA is an academy in the school for those students who worked hard to earn the privilege of going to the academy.

The Teachers in Teams A to F are as follows:

Promotion Ceremony

Every School Year, Hopwood Junior High School has a Promotion Ceremnoy for its eighth graders. On this day, they award the Top Ten, the Honorable Mentions, the Principal's Award (Leadership Award), the Commissioner's Award (Salutatorian), and the Board of Education Award (Valedictorian). This year's awards went out to:

Top Ten:

1. Joy Aira Candaza and Ageline Sahagun (tie)

2. Edu Mari Banaag

3. Lallane Guiao

4. Genevieve Gottwald

5. Grace Enriquez

6. Rachel Renee Palacios Cabrera

7. Lyvette Maei Lacsina

8. Kimberly Vitug

9. Mark Echaure

10. Deveney Dela Cruz

Principal's Award: Deveney Dela Cruz

Commissioner's Award (Salutatiorian): Edu Mari Banaag

Board of Education Award (Valedictorians): Joy Aira Candaza and Ageline Sahagun (tie)

Last year's awards went out to:

Top Ten:

1. Holley Melchor

2. Ann Mariel Flores

3. Jan Kimberly Alcantara

4. Crystal Mae Garcia

5. Megan Ito

6. Alvijane Jay Manabat

7. Ira Marie Palero

8. Jaynine Parico

9. Mary Ruth Quiatchon

10. Joy Samonte

Principal's Award: Evangelina Manalili

Commissioner's Award (Salutatiorian): Ann Mariel Flores

Board of Education Award (Valedictorian): Holley Melchor

Academic Challenge Bowl

For the first time in CNMI Academic Bowl Challenge history, a public school beat out other public and private schools to capture the crown.

Hopwood Junior High School bested nine other schools in this year's challenge.

Hopwood Jr. High's coach Sharleen Crisostimo said that she was more nervous than her own students during the event. She added that she wanted to cry when she learned her school came in first.

The Hopwood team included Lallane Guiao, eighth grade; Jessie Santos, seventh grade; Rachel Cabrera, eighth grade; Edu Banaag, eighth grade; and Marjorie Cuerdo, seventh grade.

Crisostimo said the Hopwood team prepared for three weeks. For next year's challenge, the team will stick to its usual practice but for a much longer period.

“I think that for any team who wins first place, there is an expectation to win again next year. .We will try our best and have fun in the process [next year] ,” said Crisostimo.

The school received a trophy and each participating student received a smaller one to take home, along with waterpark passes.

As coach, Crisostimo received lunch buffet gift certificates to the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

In the past years, the Hopwood team placed second and third.

“This is the first time that a public school won first place. And we are very proud of all our students,” Crisostimo said.

Acting principal Christine Tudela-Masga said Crisostimo, who is the adviser for Hopwood's school and community events, worked hard with the students “as she always does every year.”

“We are very proud of our students and Ms. Sharleen. Our students this year showed dedication and enthusiasm for learning and preparing for this event,” Tudela-Masga said.

The Saipan Southern High School Chapter of the National Honor Society hosted the sixth annual academic challenge bowl for the junior high school division.

The purpose of the competition is to promote scholastic achievement and to provide a venue for junior high school students to compete amongst their peers.

References

* [http://schools.publicschoolsreport.com/NorthernMarianaIslands/Saipan/HopwoodJuniorHighSchool.html Publicschoolsreport web site entry for the junior high school]
* Koki, Stan (1995) "Hopwood: A Pearl of a Junior High School in the Pacific" Educational Innovations in the Pacific, v2 n2 Oct 1995 [http://www.prel.org/products/Products/hopwood.htm web link]
* House Committee on Appropriations (1978) "Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1978 By U.S. Congress" p.1335
* Petty, Bruce M. (2001) "Saipan: Oral Histories of the Pacific War By Bruce M. Petty" ISBN 0-78640-991-6

External links

* [http://members.tripod.com/~SaipanPublicSchools/#Hopwood%20Sign Web page for the school]