"We don't want you in Wanaka," they said.
"Stay away from our school."
About 50 6-year-olds had the first day of their third term ruined when they returned to school yesterday to discover their classrooms had been trashed by the vandals and a computer stolen.
Principal Wendy Bamford and teachers Claire Kane and Claire Haskins sat down with their pupils to talk about the vandalism.
The pupils then walked through their classroom to see the damage.
Six-year-old Avi Spiegel said he was angry and upset about it.
"I think they should be made to do all our work again."
He was backed up by many of his classmates, who said they felt sad, disgusted and cross.
Wanaka Primary School board of trustees chairman Pete Bullen condemned the actions of those responsible for the school invasion and burglary.
"I am absolutely appalled at the mentality of these people who would invade the space of primary school children."
Senior Constable Dave George, of Alexandra, said the attack on the school was one of the worst he had seen in Central Otago.
Snr Const George spent most of Sunday afternoon gathering evidence left behind by the offenders.
Wanaka police are still appealing for any information about the burglary and vandalism and were talking to neighbours of the school yesterday.
Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said incidents of burglary and vandalism in Wanaka were on the rise.
The school burglary was a timely reminder that Wanaka was not a small rural town where nothing much happened.
When acts of theft and vandalism happened at a school it affected everyone personally and outraged "a caring community", Sgt Nicholson said.
