Astumbo MS ransacked by vandals

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Today was supposed to be the last day of SAT-10 testing for students at Astumbo Middle School in Dededo, instead they were sent home early after vandals damaged close to one dozen classrooms and a faculty lounge. "It is truly a disruption and it's very disheartening," said assistant principal Kathryn San Nicolas.

Black paint was splattered on the walls, school papers and supplies tossed around classrooms. It was one month ago to the day the school was ransacked, and the fifth or sixth time this school year. San Nicolas added, "Right now we're still assessing the damages, but all we can really say at this point is that the glasses to the windows were broken, the windows of the door, so that's how the vandals got into the classrooms."

Leaving in their path of destruction, the culprits may have damaged SAT-10 testing materials. The administrator noted, "Once CSI is able to do their part in this investigation we are going to go ahead and have our faculty try to assess the damages in regard to whatever SAT-10 documents may have been compromised. We are working together with curriculum and instruction, mainly Mr, Joe Sanchez, who is overseeing SAT-10, from there with his support and guidance we will be able to do what we need to do to prepare for the remaining days of SAT-10."

And while it marks another devastating blow to the students, staff and faculty at Astumbo Middle are left picking up the pieces and moving on. "As a school we try to take a proactive approach in addressing the vandalisms that we've been having. We have assemblies with the children about vandalism and that it's wrong," she said.

It's a lesson our community can only hope will sink in to those responsible for their senseless crimes.