Three break-ins in three weeks at Ocean Shores Public School has shocked staff who say the vandalism of its disability-support units has had a big impact on 17 of the school’s most needy students.
Teachers were upset this morning when they discovered the school, in an isolated area at the end of Shara Boulevard, had again been targeted by vandals over the weekend, with windows smashed and graffiti daubed in many places.
Broken glass littered the support unit, where windows and furnishings had been broken, and students had to be relocated to another class without their normal facilities and equipment.
The support units are used extensively by the school’s 17 students with special needs (autism, physical and mental challenges).
Principal Chris Hauritz said the break-ins and damage to the school’s support units three times this month was ‘making it tough for these kids’.
‘It is has a big impact on learning for some of our most needy students,’ Mr Hauritz told Echonetdaily.
‘These break and enters have targeted a classroom that caters for students from our school that have high-level disabilities.
‘Their learning has been disrupted by these incidents and these students can become very distressed by these events. Such vandalism is pointless and only causes anxiety for students and staff,’ he said.
Police this morning took fingerprints and a glazier has been called. Extra police patrols are set to be put in place to deter further vandalism.
Mr Hauritz said the culprits lit fires and broke into sheds and stole equipment from the support units.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact local police on 6685 9499 or the school on 6680 2766.
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