Newly-Elected SOE Alumni Officers Take Oath

Congratulations to the newly-elected SOE Alumni Officers who were officially sworn in August 25, 2012 at the Alize Restaurant in Tumon, Guam!

Pictured above L-R front row:  Graziella "Grace" Griffin, President; Margaret Beem, Vice President; and Martha Sudo, Secretary.  Back row L-R:  Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Webmaster and Immediate Past President; Lois Taitano Gumataotao, Public Information Officer; Rose Marie Cruz Castro, Treasurer; and Dr. Lourdes Klitzkie, Advisor.

Conference Paper Presentation in Iloilo, Philippines

Mabuhay! My colleagues and I had a resourceful week, as we had the opportunity to present our papers at the West Visayas State University Research Conference on Globalization and Sustainability held Aug. 14-16, 2012 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center in Iloilo, Philippines. Salamat! Enjoy the following snapshots taken during the conference!

 

 

 

 

 

UOG/COM-FSM Partnership Classes

Kaselehlia!  This summer I had the opportunity to teach ED486 and ED489, as part of the UOG/COM-FSM partnership in Pohnpei. Dr. Ferrer taught the Fine Arts classes.  I was also able to train Karen Simion, so that she can teach our Reading practicum courses, ED643 and ED644. This was important for our Online Reading Master's Program. Additionally, my students and I were able to participate in the 31st Annual International Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association (PIBBA) Conference that was held at Nett Elementary School, Pohnpei.  Kalangan! 

ED486 Students at COM-FSM

ED489 Students at COM-FSM

PPEC Training for Faculty

I conducted ESL/second language acquisition skills professional development training for faculty from regional post-secondary instiutions on April 3, 4 and 5. Our focus was on Scaffolding Academic Literacy Skills for Pacific Islanders at the Post-Secondary Level. Participants included professors from the Guam Community College, College of Micronesia-Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Marianas College, and Palau Community College. They are an amazing group of dedicated professors! Kudos to them all!

PPEC professors participate in the training, Scaffolding Academic Literacy Skills for Pacific Islanders at the Post-Secondary Level.

Guam ICC Holds Quarterly Meeting

The Guam Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) held its quarterly meeting on August 9, 2012 at the Guam Marriott Hotel and Resort.  Various topics were discussed, including the budget, goals, objectives, state plan changes, ICC advertorial, parent awareness, interagency memorandum of agreement, Part C, Part B, and other important announcements.

Members of the Guam Interagency Coordinating Council during their quarterly meeting held August 9, 2012.

Happy Birthday Feefee!

My 'lil Sis, Feefee, celebrated her 21st (wishful thinking) birthday on August 6 at the World Cafe at the Fiesta Resort with family!

Happy Birthday Feefee!

Washington D.C. Visit/Snapshots

While in Washington D.C. for the OSEP IDEA Leadership Conference, we were able to network with other ICC state chairs, parents, service providers, and more. It was held July 29 to August 1, and its theme was Leading Together to Achieve Success from Cradle to Career.  I was able to increase my schema, including the following: awareness of support for better outcomes for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities and their families; enhancement of leadership roles by being able to hear from experts in the field and to learn about evidence-based practices that will support participants' ability to improve results for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. I also had the opportunity to participate in the White House and Capitol tours. This included paying a courtesy visit to Guam Congresswoman Bordallo. This provided additional insight on D.C. legislation that impact OSEP/ICC and other funding, laws, closing the gap, etc. that impact our children with special needs, service providers, their families, and more. Thankfully, my nephew, Manny Naputi, was able to drop me off at the White House. Enjoy the following snapshots taken during my D.C. trip!

OSEP Conference: Representatives from Guam attended the 2012 OSEP IDEA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference provided participants with additional knowledge of special education priorities and initiatives within the U.S. Department of Education and efforts to align requirements, foster achievement, and increase collaboration among States, constituencies, and agencies.

Pictured L-R:  Charles Kniseley; OSEP TA; Yolanda Gabriel: Assistant Superintendent, Special Education; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Vice-Chair. Guam Interagency Coordinating Council; Patricia Mantanona, GEIS Program Coordinator; June Quitugua, Guam CEDDERS; Laura Taisipic, Special Education SPC, SpEd Parent Services Coordinator; June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS; Evelyn Claros, GAPSD representative; Catherine Tydingco, SpEd,SPC, GEIS/PreSch Programs Coordinator; Terese Crisostomo, SpEd, Special Projects Coordinator; and Jonas Dorego, DOE SpEd Compliance Officer.

Visit with Guam's Congresswoman.  Pictured L-R:  Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo and
Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera.

My nephew Manny Naputi took the time to drop me off at the White House.

The above are a couple of pictures of me in front of the White House.

Guam Delegation Attends OSEP Conference in Washington, D.C.

OSEP Conference: Representatives from Guam attended the 2012 OSEP IDEA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference provided participants with additional knowledge of special education priorities and initiatives within the U.S. Department of Education and efforts to align requirements, foster achievement, and increase collaboration among States, constituencies, and agencies.

Pictured L-R: Charles Kniseley; OSEP TA; Yolanda Gabriel: Assistant Superintendent, Special Education; Matilda Naputi Rivera, Vice-Chair. Guam Interagency Coordinating Council; Patricia Mantanona, GEIS Program Coordinator; June Quitugua, Guam CEDDERS; Laura Taisipic, Special Education SPC, SpEd Parent Services Coordinator; June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS; Evelyn Claros, GAPSD representative; Catherine Tydingco, SpEd,SPC, GEIS/PreSch Programs Coordinator; Terese Crisostomo, SpEd, Special Projects Coordinator; and Jonas Dorego, DOE SpEd Compliance Officer.

PIBBA Gathering

Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association (PIBBA) members gathered together for a banana split treat upon the arrival of Senator Shelten G. Neth, PIBBA Immediate Past President, at the Haagen Dazs parlor at the Fiesta Resort in Tumon, Guam.

ED481G ESL Service Learning Presentation

Presentation: UOG students enrolled in the ED481G Second Language Teaching Methodology course completed the semester on May 10, 2012 with a presentation of their ESL Service Learning and Final Reflection. The course focuses on the large and growing field of second language pedagogy, theoretical bases, research, and practical application within the second language classroom. Pictured L-R: Mark Pacheco; Lorna Gonzalez; Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; MarieJoy Guiking; Hannah Galura; Donna Ada; Bennett Lizama; and Jackie Guzman.

ED642 LiveText and Final Literature Project Presentation

Presentation: Master of Education students enrolled in the ED642 Seminar in Literature for Children and Young Adults course completed the semester on May 5, 2012 with a presentation of their online LiveText Portfolio and Final Literature Project. The course focuses on reading and critically evaluating a wide range of books for pre-schoolers to young adults, considering such issues as developmental needs, linguistic complexity, genre, aesthetics, interest and cultural diversity. Pictured L-R: Jose Cruz; Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; and Geraldine Sablan.

ED662 Presentation

Presentation: Master of Education students enrolled in the ED662 Second Language Testing and Evaluation course completed the semester on May 11, 2012 with a presentation of their Literature Review and Final Reflection at the University of Guam’s SBPA 261. The course examines all techniques of teaching a second language united and related to their effectiveness according to parameters derived from language acquisition theory and statistical quantification. Pictured L-R: Daniele Gualtieri; Valene Salas; Marvin Linder; Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; Lucille Linder; and Heidi Thedwall.

San Diego 2012 Liberation Queen – Julia Naputi Rivera

San Diego Liberation Queen: Julia Naputi Rivera was crowned the Sons and Daughters of Guam Club (SDGC) San Diego 2012 Liberation Queen on July 7, 2012. She is the daughter of Fausto and Matilda Naputi Rivera of Yona, granddaughter of Joaquin and Julia Naputi of Merizo, and Fausto Sr. and Juanita Rivera (both deceased) of Tamuning. She is also the great granddaughter of Matilde Castro Santos of National City, California and Francisco Santos of San Diego, and Juan Acfalle Naputi and Maria Nangauta Naputi (both deceased) of Merizo. Pictured L-R: Julia Santos Naputi, grandmother; Julia Naputi Rivera, SDGC 2012 Liberation Queen; and Joaquin Nangauta Naputi, grandfather.

EN100 Presentation

Presentation: Undergraduate students enrolled in the EN100 Fundamentals of College English course completed the semester on July 27, 2012 with a presentation of their creative writing projects. The course is an integrated reading and writing course that prepares students for further English courses and further study at the University. Pictured L-R front row sitting: Rosa Salas Palomo, co-instructor; and Matilda Naputi Rivera, co-instructor. Back row L-R: Jeff Oderiong, Maria Duenas, Leilani Pangilinan, Jose Castro, Francais Mendiola, Jacqueline Cosby, and Edward Nonaka.

Family Literacy Celebration

Family Literacy Celebration: The University of Guam School of Education's Literacy Center held a Family Literacy Celebration for its students enrolled from Fall 2011 to Spring 2012. The celebration highlighted the improvement in reading levels and the ED643/644: Literacy Instructional Lab tutoring for both semesters. Pictured L-R: Lorna Gonzalez, TESOL graduate candidate; Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; Katrina Macasaquit; Christina Macasaquit; Axl bono Macasaquit; Brett Macasaquit, student; Geneveve Cruz; and Jose Cruz, tutor.

Newly-Elected PIBBA Officers

Congratulations newly-elected PIBBA International Officers! Front row L-R: Dr. Jose Q. Cruz, Historian; Rosa Salas Palomo, Treasurer; and Shelten G. Neth, Immediate Past President. Back row L-R: Illuminanda "Lumi" Bermudes, Secretary; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Webmaster; and Masa-Aki Emesiochl, President-Elect. Not pictured is Peter Onedera, PIBBA International President.