Airmen prep school for new year

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
AGANA, Guam --  Fifty-one Airmen and Air Force dependents from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, helped paint 14 class rooms at Machanano Elementary School Aug. 1 to prepare for the upcoming school year.

"We are extremely short on support staff," said Robert Malay, Machanano Elementary School principal. "We only have 30 percent of staff manning with no relief in sight. It's really appreciated and helpful for these folks to be able to come out and put a fresh coat of paint on these classrooms."

Malay said that the staff is grateful for the Airmen's assistance at the school.

"It's a very humbling process when people like Master Sgt. Lisa Robinson [525th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unitthe first sergeant], organizes a group of people to come out and help," the principal said.

The school will hold a back-to-school carnival and the principal hopes that the Airmen who helped during the summer will be able to come out and enjoy themselves.

"I know our children really appreciate when [the Airmen] who make the time in their schedule and come here," he said. "The Airmen are like celebrities to the children. This is really a great partnership."

The group of volunteers from Andersen was a mixture of units across the installation to include permanently assigned and deployed Airmen.

"It's important to contribute to the community just like with the fence project a couple of months ago," said 2nd Lt. Brian Struyk, 525th EAMU officer in charge. "We want to leave this school in the best shape possible before we leave." 

Struyk, deployed from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, said it's a good opportunity to be able to get the Airmen away from work and assist the community projects like this one, as well as the fence painting landscape projects, which occurred in the last few months.

"The local community is so supportive to Andersen Air Force Base," the lieutenant said. "We just want to give back."

Tech. Sgts. Max and Jennifer Pontenila also assisted with their daughter, Hailey, 2, in painting one of the classrooms.

"We like painting," said Jennifer, 36th Communications Squadron quality assurance NCO in charge. "[Max] just painted our house, and we figured he was on a roll."

Senior Airman Christi Fought, 96th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., enjoyed volunteering in the community as well.

"Before I deployed, a friend of mine said there were a lot of volunteer opportunities here," Airman Fought said. "I just want to help out the community and children."

Since May, Airmen from Andersen AFB have volunteered more than 500 hours improving the school and working with the children.

Machanano Elementary School began the new school year Aug. 11.