Grimbergen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – After a protest and graffiti, the school in Grimbergen reopened. Eddy Van de Velde made sure it was clean and safe. Parents received a letter of support. The school focuses on the kids’ safety.
The school in Grimbergen opened again this morning, February 10, 2025, after the recent issues. According to officials, many parents were happy to see their children return to class. Some parents still felt worried. To help, the school sent out a letter with contact details for support services.
General Manager Eddy Van de Velde was at the school to explain the need for a short closure. He said it was important to keep the school closed for cleaning and repairs. A company was hired to remove the graffiti, and they worked hard until Friday, February 7, 2025.
Van de Velde noted that it would not have been right to let students back in or hold classes during that time. He emphasized that the school is focused on keeping a safe place for learning. General Manager Eddy Van de Velde was also on-site.
He said,
“The school needed to remain closed for a while to get everything in order. A specialist company removed the graffiti and was busy with it until Friday. In those circumstances, you cannot admit children or teach them.”
Why did the school close and just reopen?
According to General Manager Eddy Van de Velde, it was important to remove graffiti and get the school ready for the students. The staff wanted to create a friendly environment for the children. He mentioned that some teachers were sick with the flu, but classes started as planned. The school aimed to bring back a sense of normal and provide a safe place for everyone.
The teachers are listening to the kids and helping them with their feelings. The director said they cannot share details about the incident because there is an investigation. It is important to know that the kids did not know about what happened.
He mentioned that the school is focused on taking care of the children’s emotions and making sure they feel safe. They want to keep a stable environment where students can feel heard. At the same time, they respect the legal processes behind the scenes.
“The teachers will take the time to listen to the children’s feelings and to respond to them. Of course, with respect to the ongoing investigation, nothing can be said about that. The children are not aware of the incident,”
The director concludes.
Last Friday, January 31, 2025, the parents of a 5-year-old filed a police report. They suspected their child was a victim of bad behaviour at school. When details spread on social media, many people became angry.
On Monday, February 3, 2025, about 100 people protested outside the school. The protest turned messy, and some people spray-painted the school walls. This caused damage. The school closed temporarily to keep everyone safe.
According to officials, the protest happened because many parents felt it was unfair. They were worried about how the school handled the situation. They mentioned that the protestors wanted the school to be responsible and clear about what was going on. The story got a lot of attention from the community and beyond. This led to more investigations into the claims and how the school acted.
