Mosaic tiles vandalised at school

FILE

More than 20 mosaic tiles painted by Year 4 pupils at Kawaha Point Primary School were smashed in a "malicious" attack on Queen's Birthday weekend.

The tiles were part of the native area, a vegetable and native plant garden where pupils are taught about sustainability and the environment.

The tiles had only been displayed since April, when the garden was officially opened, before the vandals destroyed them.

Kawaha Point Primary School principal Andrew Sinclair said the vandalism was "out of the blue and very disappointing".

"It was devastating for the kids who had worked so hard on the tiles. The attack was purely of malicious nature with no personal gain other than to ruin some kids' work so it was really disappointing."

Mr Sinclair said a witness had told the school the vandals were a group of five teenage boys, one of which was carrying a hammer.

"We are a close-knit community so I would be very surprised if we didn't find the vandals in the next week. When we do, they will be handed over to the police who can take it from there."

Mr Sinclair said this attack would not change the school's stance on being open to the community.

"We love having the community use our grounds and we are not put off by this incident. We are reasonably confident it was a one-off."