Fire hit Glendowie Primary to reopen

Glendowie Primary School. Photo / Steven McNicholl

The Glendowie community and the Ministry of Education have rallied together to make sure 10 temporary classrooms at Glendowie Primary School are ready for the new school year after a fire last month damaged one-third of the grounds.

Board chairman Dawn Garbett said the classrooms were a hive of activity at the moment as workmen put the final touches to the classrooms where 160 students will be taught when the school term begins tomorrow.

"I've just been up there and it is truly amazing. In three and a half weeks the school is just about ready to go.

"I promised on the first day [after the fire] we would be open and be able to welcome our students on the first day, and they have really come through and let me keep my promise."

Dr Garbett said the response from the Ministry Of Education had been extremely supportive and assistance was offered on the night the fire burned through nine classrooms at the rear of the school area on January 7.

She said parents and the Glendowie community also chipped in to help turn the school from a demolition site into a building site during the summer break.

"Over the weekend we put out an urgent text message 'could you come and help please' at 4pm and we had over 100 parents and children turn up to help shift furniture."

Dr Garbett said the police were still treating the fire as suspicious. It took 20 fire appliances and 80 firefighters to put out.

"Certainly these things don't happen by themselves do they? Somebody must be feeling really guilty ... at least you would like to hope so," said Dr Garbett.