Little Day Out gets big support

JASON OXENHAM/Auckland City Harbour News

BIG FUN: Westmere School students from left: Leo Drake-Rogers, Josh Hickey and Isaac Ah Kuoi-Atmore, all 10, warm up for Westmere Idol at the Little Day Out.

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Westmere School is drumming up support from Kiwi music legends for the Little Day Out this Saturday.

The event, now in its third year, features Jordan Luck, Don McGlashan and The Darlings, among other local acts.

Dancing with the Stars celebrities Peter Urlich and Haley Holt will also entertain crowds at the event, which will be hosted by television presenter Mike McRoberts.

A new second stage on the school’s back field will host activities organised by a committee of senior students.

Year 6 student Isaac Ah Kuoi-Atmore, 10, has organised a dance competition, a Weet-Bix-eating competition, Westmere Idol and a cream-the-teacher stall.

But fellow organiser Josh Hickey, 10, says the most popular event by far will be wet-the-teacher.

For $2 spectators can throw balls and try and soak their favourite, or least favourite, teachers.

Event organiser and school parent Sheryl Hickey says there’s a huge range of activities on offer this year.

"There’s so much talent in this community and this is a way of tapping into a whole range of skills."

The festival, which runs every two years, will raise money for a new school hall.

School principal Carolyn Marino says the school has grown enormously in the last year and the little hall no longer fits them all in.

She hopes the day will raise about $50,000 this year for the hall, which will cost around $1 million.

But the day is also about families coming together.

"The school is only as successful as the relationships within our community," she says.

"The money’s great but at the end of the day we need to be building a strong school that’s got to be fun."

Ms Marino hopes the new hall will be used by a wide range of Westmere groups.

"We have no local hall and we really need a gathering place for the community," she says.

The Little Day Out is on Saturday, April 5 and runs from noon to 6pm.

- © Fairfax NZ News