by Jolene Toves

Guam - As Guam remains in Threat Level Condition Yellow, the message of preparedness continues to be pushed out from the Joint Information Center. It's a lesson being spread through island campuses.

Aside from reading, writing and arithmetic, as a consequence of rhetoric from North Korea campuses across the island are teaching students the valuable lesson of being prepared for an emergency. 'We are ready as a school and as staff and our students to ready to react to any warning given by the island for a pending disaster," said Pastor William Maunsel principal for Temple Christian School. According to an advisory sent home to island school children from JIC, it recommends that if an emergency occurs when your child is at school: stay calm and listen to the news.

Teacher and staff have detailed plans and will carry them out before, during and after an emergency. Maunsel said, "This island has suffered typhoon and as the governor said we are already ready for a disaster such as that children here have been talk to by parents about disasters that strike this island."

But with this ongoing threat from North Korea, JIC advises that you answer your children's questions as truthfully as possible and discuss the situation as a family. "You want to keep everything in perspective you want to be balanced," the pastor stated, "not to go overboard although there was a parent that was very emotional very fretful and we just assured her that we're ready as a school."

For Mansuel and his school, students are paying attention to the developments on the Korean Peninsula but at the same time are carrying on with their daily lessons. "The older students the high school students are discussing it, but you know knowledge is power and most of them know the nuclear capabilities of North Korea and it's really not frightening when you know what our capabilities are," he shared.

Meanwhile, JIC advises island resident to be vigilant and know what to do in the event of any emergency and practice with your family to ensure you know how to respond correctly. A family safety plan should address different types of situations, identify how to contact each other, but most importantly allow your children to be involved in putting the plan together.

For more information residents can contact JIC at 475-9600.