Principal reveals cause of Sandringham school fire
The devastated Sandringham Primary School community may be facing a long road to recovery, with fears the school may have to be entirely rebuilt after it was gutted by a blaze.
Education
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The damage at Sandringham Primary School gutted by fire may be so severe that a new school needs to be built.
It could be 10 days before construction experts determine the extent of the damage to the existing structure, according to Sandringham MP Brad Rowswell.
In the meantime, the school’s students have to be moved to Sandringham Secondary College and Sandringham East Primary School.
“In the next few weeks, our community will have a better understanding about what Sandringham Primary will look like in the future - whether to refurbish or build a new school,” Mr Rowswell said.
He said the close knit community had come together to support the displaced students and praised principal Louise Neave for her leadership.
He said the community is focused on recovery and rebuilding rather than recriminations and said speculation about alleged assailants was not helpful.
“While emotions are running high, it is our community’s strong sense of unity and inclusion that will see us through this difficult time. Our focus needs to remain on the recovery and rebuild of Sandringham Primary School,” he said.
His comments come after the principal of a private school attended by three teens implicated in the fire asked the community to wrap their arms around the boys.
The private school principal told how the boys snuck out during a sleepover and met friends before lighting a fire on the Sandringham Primary School roof.
The private school head has written to staff, outlining the alleged actions of the trio and asking staff to wrap their support the boys.
A government school, attended by three other children, said it did not want to comment but was “heartened and overwhelmed by the support from our wonderful community”.
“At this time, we have been advised by the Department. of Education not to make any public comment as it is an ongoing police investigation,” the principal said.
“We take the welfare of all young people seriously and we wish to avoid speculating about the incident. Our focus is on ensuring that all of the students in our care are supported, safe and learning.”
The Herald Sun has chosen not to name the schools and the students, some of which are the subject of an investigation by the Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit.
Some of them live locally and have siblings attending the Sandringham Primary Schools. A number come from other suburbs but were in Sandringham for a sleepover.
In writing to staff, the private school principal gives an insight into how the fire started.
“I share this with you with the intention of reducing speculation and hearsay and thereby assisting us all to maintain a healthier environment,” the principal said.
The principal said in the early hours of Saturday morning the boys slipped out from a house where they were having a sleepover to meet three girls from another school.
“After walking around and sharing each other’s company they made their way to Sandringham PS where they decided to climb up on the roof and light a fire that they could sit around, which they did,” the principal said.
“It was, as some will remark, a very hot night so the purpose of the fire was more about connecting.
“They thought because the roof was tiled and the gutters were metal that a small fire would not be an issue.
On Friday Melbourne’s temperature topped 43 degrees.
The principal went on to say that they thought they had stamped the fire out and went on to walk to the beach.
“They walked to the beach and some time later they became aware that there was a fire in the area,” the principal recounted.
“They walked back to the school to find flames and the fire brigade attending to the incident.”
The principal said the teens told their parents what had happened and went to police.
“The reality is that these three teens, and their siblings are feeling increasingly distraught as the reality of their actions becomes clear,” the principal said.
The principal said the story had been shared with the year level.
“I shared with them that they were a special group and that it was my belief that they would respect that information and better understand the need for them to (metaphorically) embrace their peers on their return tomorrow and help them to create the normality that existed prior to this devastating incident,” the principal said.
“Without overdoing it, I am sure they, like all of us, will seek to support these young men to develop much needed wisdom and a deeper appreciation of that we need to think before one acts.”
The principal said, most importantly, the teens might discover the importance of forgiveness and understanding.
“I have no doubt that their actions were not intentional.” the principal said.
Bayside City Council has had to make changes to traffic to accommodate additional traffic.
Holloway Road will be temporarily opened up to one way through traffic to George St during school periods from 8am to 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm.
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A drop off zone and parent parking has been established on the oval at Sandringham Secondary College.
The council has employed more crossing supervisors for Bluff, Bay and Holloway roads and traffic controllers on Holloway Road.
A new 5 minute parking zone has been established on Holloway Rd adjacent to the secondary school oval.