Title: 2010 Art Auction
Location: ORAKEI School Hall
Start Date: 2010-10-29
Start Time: TBA
End Date: 2010-10-31
End Time: TBA

2010 Art Auction-October 30th
Calls for Expression of Interest

In 2009 we had a successful art fair for our students and we wish to build on this success by convening an Art Auction in 2010. This time round we are expanding the event to include the wider art community who may wish to submit art work in whatever medium they work with. This is a fund raising event for the school.

The Art Auction will be held over Friday and Saturday in the last weekend of Oct with work displayed in our school hall over previous nights and the event will culminate with an auction on Sat Oct 30

Artists are able to donate their work or receive funds based on an agreed commission. All of the proceeds received will go toward our school library and resources.

Expressions of interest are to be submitted to Orakei School by June 25th and viewing of the actual art work will be required by September 20

If you are interested in being part of this Art fundraiser for Orakei School, please contact the school on: 521 0657 / email office@orakei.school.nz or

Myana McLeod, Art Committee Coordinator on 021 057 9726 / email  mya_mac@hotmail.com
 

We anticipate strong support from our business partners, local business and the wider community and currently have a focused action team who are putting this exciting event together  in order to create a catalogue.

Download as PDF: letter to artists request 

New principal centre of attention

Original article by Michelle Cooke, from the East & Bays Courier

Michael Maher is like a rock star when he walks through the Orakei Primary School playground during lunch.The school’s new principal catches the attention of students, who flock to him in droves, itching to be noticed. And he does notice them. He acknowledges every one of them – and is happy to oblige when asked for a hug. In fact, hugs are one of the best parts of the job, he says.

   Photo by Fioana Goodall  

Mr Maher replaced former principal Thomas Benjamin at the start of the year. A former teacher and acting principal at Glen Eden Intermediate, the Pt Chevalier resident is ecstatic about his new role. “I feel lucky to be here because there’s a real excitement and the people are lovely,” he says.

“The atmosphere is just fantastic. All students know each other and teachers know the students by first name.” Although the school is only a short distance away from Auckland’s CBD the environment could easily be compared to that of a rural school, he says. The grounds are spacious, there is a forest where the students do their environmental studies and the classes are small.

Mr Maher says the parents are also really passionate about the school and thedirection it is heading. “We have good cross relationships with the whole community and we’re building on these. I really believe communities build themselves around schools.”

Mr Maher came to New Zealand from Ireland 23 years ago. The father of two says his fascination with New Zealand was sparked as a youngster after reading about Sir Edmund Hillary. The outdoorsman has worked at a number of Auckland schools, with special needs students. He has firm ideas about how he wants to lead the school. “Our building was built in 1938 but we want our classrooms to reflect 21st century learning,” he says. E-learning and mobile learning, using mobile phones, are being pushed at the school. There is also a new mentoring programme, a homework centre two evenings a week, an afterschool programme and a preschool on site. The board of trustees has plans to redevelop the swimming pool and Mr Maher says the school might open its tennis courts to the community.
Apart from feeling like a rural school, Orakei Primary also has another distinct characteristic – at least 50 percent of the staff are men, something that Mr Maher says enhances the general feeling at school.”It’s a natural balance,” he
says. “The children relate to it and the parents love it,” Mr Maher says.