School year recap: A million thanks to those who make a difference

Yes & Know By Aline Yamashita

Dear school communities: public, private, charter, homeschoolers and higher education.

Incredibly, another year is history. How quickly time zooms when important matters are in our hands.

“Thank you” to each teacher, assistant, aide, counselor, nurse, maintenance person, assistant principal, principal, faculty member, staff member, grant directors, and leadership team members.

It was a rocky start, particularly for our public schools, but you got things moving. Your dedication to our students propelled success.

Congratulations to all those who are graduating.

Congratulations to the families. Best of everything in your next steps.

Imagine this.: Schools are passing health standards. A milestone, indeed.

Thank you, Sen. Barnett for insisting that the standards be upheld.

We thank the families for their patience. Communication is challenging at times, especially when decisions are sudden. Or, when there is no power to transmit electronic messages.

Thank you, bus drivers. Especially with campuses sharing property, the dual and triple runs are challenging. DPW bus drivers get it done.

Thank you, Sodexo for feeding our students. Food has become more culturally competent and that’s a good thing.

This year, we saw many award-winning performances. From ROTC to art to music to robotics to culinary arts to theatre to poetry to dance and more. The Guam genius is remarkable.

We also thank the non-profit organizations that feed our children, collect shoes for them, celebrate their birthdays, and find homes for them. God bless each of you.

Thank you, Todu Guam, the Rodriguez family and DPHSS and the clinics that help with our children’s health.

Can we do better? Of course, we can always improve. That is the beauty of learning. There is always something more to explore, to discover, to understand, to decipher.

There are a couple of practices in place that could be reconsidered.

Technology, I know, is the way of the world. However, in my day, student planners worked just fine. Given fragile power systems and multiple family dwellings, it might be wise to return to the hard-copy way of connecting and communicating. It could be as basic as a composition notebook that goes back and forth from teacher to family and back to teacher. 

A great concern is the lack of people interested in teaching. The number of School of Education graduates in teaching has dwindled. 

Outside of families, we all know everything starts with teachers, at all levels and in all areas. We need to develop an overall, comprehensive media campaign for all levels.  Teachers of the Year can drive this effort. Share the stories. Speak of the challenges and the triumphs. Honor teachers through displays and discounts.

Recruitment at every corner of our island, at every shop, at every faith place, at every school needs to be appealing and compelling. Build our future – be a teacher. The world needs you to teach. Life needs you. Guam Community College and the University of Guam can convene this drive.

As federal funds are siphoned away, it is time for us to determine our priorities. It is time to develop public-private partnerships to replace the funds that have been stopped. It is time to collaborate, communicate and connect. It is time for all agencies, businesses and organizations to welcome all generations to help bridge gaps. It’s time for all agencies to find common threads and consolidate resources. 

Learning loss, resulting from the pandemic and Mawar, continues to be a concern. The online strategy, particularly for the beginning grades and middle schoolers, exacerbates the learning loss. Learning needs to take place face-to-face, especially at the start. Machines cannot detect emotions, which are a real cornerstone of effective teaching and learning.

While there may be ample summer programs, home activities like writing poems and stories can help reinforce reading and language. Cooking together can reinforce math and science.  Singing and dancing can nurture creativity and the spirit of belonging. 

Enjoy!  Before you know it, school year 2026 will welcome you back to school.

Aline Yamashita is a mom, a teacher and former senator. She served in the 31st and 32nd Guam Legislatures. Send feedback to aline4families@gmail.com.

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