TEENAGERS who damaged Grove Primary have come under fire from the school principal who has blasted their vandalism “thoughtless” and “dangerous”.Throughout the summer Robina Bell (pictured above) was called back and forward to the North Queen Street school to see ongoing damage to the property.
To date vandals have already deprived children attending the school resources and day trips after causing nearly a thousand pounds worth of damage.
Paint bombs were lobbed at playground walls, windows smashed, outside play equipment belonging to the nursery wrecked and even the children’s park bench was stolen and broken.
Speaking to The Road newspaper just hours after arriving at the school to review damage principal Bell said: “September should be about being excited about coming back to a new year in school.
“The worst thing for me is when the care-taker calls and tells me there has been even more damage. The cleaners worked so hard this year to make sure the school was spotless and then after windows were smashed we had to start all over again in those classrooms because of the broken glass.
“For every window they break it costs us £140 to replace it, that could buy the kids a trip out, buy much-needed books, play equipment or something nice for the children’s science garden.
“And to put grills on the windows to protect them costs us in and around £400 for each one”.
DAMAGE TO LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOL
AMONG the items damaged at Grove Primary this summer was an outside wendyhouse belonging to the school’s nursery.
Even the Parent’s Room was damaged after a window was smashed.
All of this comes just a year after the school was set on fire by vandals who have no regard for their local community.
Ironically, since her arrival at the school principal Robina Bell has spent a lot of time instilling a “sense of community” into her pupils helping them to “give back” through street clean-ups and fundraising events.
Now the school, which has been rebuilding it’s reputation after receiving excellent inspections, is begging the community to help them stop the vandalism.
Robina said: “The fire had a big affect on everyone here because things that could never be replaced such as the old gas masks, money, coupons and washboards that Mrs Stewart used to teach history were ruined.
“I’m in my fourth year now and I have been trying to get the children involved in the community and also getting the parents involved in the community of the school.
“We have a breakfast club, a parent’s room and other activities in which we can interact with the whole community as well as the teachers, pupils and parents who have a direct relationship with the school.
“We want children to take pride in their community, it doesn’t help when they arrive into school and see that someone from their community has upset their class by smashing the window overnight.
“One of the P7 classes collected money and donated a bench to the school with their names on it.
“Over the summer vandals came in, stole the bench, broke it and we actually recovered it from someone’s front garden in the area after they found it in pieces.
“I just hope that now people know about the damage they will help, they will tell us if they see someone on the roof, most of all we want to make sure noone gets hurt.
“If people could just have a look when they drive past it would be really appreciated”.
SMASHED: Principal Robina Bell discovers second attack within a week on the school
FIX: School caretaker Jim sets about repairing the nursery’s wendyhouse – AGAIN !
DISAPPOINTMENT: Robina shows how the pupil’s donated bench was broken.
Words By Tina Calder
Pictures By Fabrizio Belluschi
© FAME Inc
