Happy Birthday Lois!

SOE Alumni Association Vice President, Lois T. Gumataotao, celebrated her birthday with fellow alumni officers, members, and friends on May 3, 2008 at the Onward Beach Hotel! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOIS!

Pictured above L-R: Alvy Puno; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, SOE Alumni President; Liwanag Dominguez, Alumni Secretary; Gumataotao; Merl San Agustin; Susan Mendiola; and Mae Mendiola, Alumni Treasurer.

SOE Alumni Update: Family Literacy Presentation

Dr. Rivera, SOE Alumni President and Lois Taitano Gumataotao, SOE Alumni Vice President, presented a Family Literacy Workshop during the Professional Leadership Conference 2008 titled, “Silebrasion I Familian Guahan – Celebrating the Families of Guam.” The conference was hosted by the Guam Child Care and Development Association, UOG’s School of Education Early Childhood Program, and the Association for Childhood Education International on April 19 & 20 at the School of Education. Dr. Rivera (left) and Lois (right) received a certificate of appreciation for presenting at the conference.

SOE Alumni Update: Guam English Language Proficiency Standards Participation

Dr. Rivera, SOE Alumni President and Lois Gumataotao, SOE Alumni Vice President, participated in Guam's ESL Standards Project, as part of the course LN494/G – Special Studies: Second Language Acquisition through Standard Development. They, along with other Guam educators are spearheading the development of Guam’s PreK-12 English Language Proficiency Standards. The course was sponsored by the Guam English as a Second Language Certification Plus Project, a federally funded Title III National Professional Development grant by the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), U.S. Dept. of Education. Guam ESL Cert+ Project is administered by the Micronesian Language Institute, University of Guam in consortia with the Guam Public School System. The course was co-taught by Dr. Margo Gottlieb from the Illinois Resource Center and Professor Rosa Salas Palomo, Project Director.
Pictured front row from L-R: Faye Camacho Kaible, Melissa Pablo, Margo Gottlieb, Rufina Mendiola, and Teresita Flores. Second Row, L-R: Jocelyn Santos, Marilyn Perez, Marife Fernandez, Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Lucy Leon Guerrero, June Taitano, and Cecilia Bermudes. Back Row, L-R: Lorena Montague, Roy Leon Guerrero, Dr. Jose Cruz, Lois Taitano Gumataotao, Zander Refilong, Keith Juarez, Professor Rosa Salas Palomo, and Priscilla C.T. Perez. Not pictured are Gene Dydasco, Kirk Drygas, and Dr. Dan Robertson.

SOE Alumni Update: Family Night with the Stars

Dr. Rivera, SOE Alumni President and LBJ Elem. ESL Teacher/Coordinator & UOG Adjunct, assisted with LBJ’s Family Night with the Stars event held on February 21, 2008. LBJ families were treated to Read Alouds conducted by local celebrities. The event was coordinated by members of the school’s Focus Group D in an effort to increase family literacy. Pictured with Dr. Rivera are Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) members and officers who volunteered their time to assist in the event. Pictured front row L-R: Viviann Joy Rivera, Bobbie Arevalo, Lizel Patubo, Jona Abaya, Nakita Bragonza, and Kristy Galindo. Second row L-R: Edelynn Blas; Kimberlie Castro; Sherry Santos; Edna Portin; Jovonne Aguon, ACEI President,and Lehualani Kahele, ACEI PRO. Third row L-R: Eliza Anderson; Myra Jean Aguon; Antoinette Arriola; Melanie Cruz; Jennifer Blas, ACEI Vice President; Myleen Ramos, ACEI Secretary; Anthony Perez; and Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera. Fourth row L-R: Marita Pareja, Jennifer Peralta, Beauty Letewasiyal, and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

SOE Alumni Update: Read Across America

Dr. Rivera, SOE Alumni President, participated in the Read Across America event held at the Hagatna Public Library. The UOG Early Childhood Program in partnership with the Association Childhood Education International (ACEI) and the Guam Public Library System, hosted the event in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ 104th birthday on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at the Hagatna Public Library. Pictured kneeling L-R: Asherdee Rosete, ACEI Advisor and Early Childhood Professor; Beauty Letewaiyal; Suemalee Torres; Viviann Joy Rivera; Bobbie Arevalo; Jona Abaya; and Kimberlie Castro. Standing L-R: Matilda Naputi Rivera, ACEI Advisor and Language & Literacy Professor; Jeannie Chapman; Brianne Naputi; Jovonne Aguon, ACEI President; Myleen Ramos, ACEI Secretary; Mariana Santos; Danielle Bansil; Jennifer Blas, ACEI Vice President; Ewalani Escrupulo; Mayrene Huffer; Vaughn Baisa; Alicia Quintanilla; Antoinette Arriola; Julia Tyquiengco; Marilyn Jackson, ACEI Advisor and Early Childhood Professor; Erika Flores; Marita Pareja; and Kenneth Castro. Not pictured is Lehualani Kahele, ACEI PRO.

Alumni Participation

Dr. Rivera, SOE Alumni President and ACEI Advisor, participated in the UOG hosting of Dr. Kathryn Takara, associate professor from the University of Hawaii-Manoa. Dr. Takara was the keynote speaker in Saipan for the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday celebration. She visited the UOG School of Education, where she was honored with an evening fiesta sponsored by two SOE student organizations, the Association for Childhood Education International and Future Educators of Guam Association. Other guests for the event include Dr. Marilyn Malloy Jackson, ACEI Advisor; Dr. Mary Jane Miller; Dr. Jacqui Cyrus; Dr. Lou Ferrer; Audrey Certeza, FEGA public relations officer; Vanessa Perez, FEGA president; Dr. Patrick Leddy, SOE executive director; Anna Wignarajah, Montessori House of Children in Harmon; Jovonne Aguon, ACEI president; Jennifer Blas, ACEI vice president; Myleen Ramos, ACEI secretary; Melissa Hernandez, ACEI and FEGA member; Veronica Ramirez, ACEI treasurer; Fred Jackson; and Jessica Candaso, FEGA secretary. PDN publication: http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080316/LIFESTYLE02/80315019

Alumni Officers Conduct ESL Presentation

Dr. Rivera, left, and Lois Taitano Gumataotao, right, presented an ESL writing workshop during the Int'l Reading Assoc. Read-A-Thon 2008 “Get Carried Away with Reading” professional development workshop held on Feb. 8 at the Guam Hotel Nikko. They received certificates of appreciation from the organization in recognition of service and valuable contribution. PDN publication: http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080312/LIFESTYLE02/80311030