Dulux staff go back to school for extreme makeover

Media release
2 March, 2011

Dulux staff go back to school for extreme makeover

The team at Dulux will be heading back to school on March 5, but instead of wielding pencils and pads, they’ll be armed with paint brushes and rollers, with staff from the New Zealand based paint company joining hundreds of volunteers in a massive working bee to make over Sylvia Park School.

Over just one day, Dulux’s Gary Janmaat and the “Dulux Extreme Team” of helpers will aim to repaint the entire exterior of the 330 student decile two Mt Wellington based primary school, which was selected as the recipient of this year’s Life Centre Trust “Extreme School Makeover” project.

This is the fourth year that Dulux - who is donating over 100 litres paint to the project - has been involved in the trusts’ ambitious makeover programme – an initiative that aims to assist low decile schools get ahead by carrying out vital maintenance work for them.

Janmaat, who has been involved in three of the trust’s previous “Extreme School Makeovers,” said it was a privilege to once again be involved in a project that he said would help make a real difference to the lives of not only of the schools students and teachers, but also the local community.

“These makeovers are about much more than giving these schools a facelift. Having seen the positive impact that they have had on the schools involved and their communities – how they help instill real pride in these people and allow funds that would have been allocated to maintenance to be used on other things such as learning and teaching resources - I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into this year’s project.”.

Janmaat, who in his role at Dulux has provided specification advice to over 45 Auckland schools, said the colour scheme that his colleague, Dulux colour expert Gretchen Flynn, had selected for the school in collaboration with its principal, would “set a trend with colour”.

“We think the students are really going to love the colours we’ve chosen,” said Janmaat of what he describes as being a “totally unconventional” colour scheme.

The new scheme will be a stark contrast to the school’s current one, which Janmaat says is very typical of schemes created in the 1980s.

“The school is currently painted pale blue with a garish bright green used on the fascia boards. The current colours don’t do anything for the school.

“We’ve gone with some very bold colours which we think are going to add a real brightness, helping to lift the school and its students’ spirits.”

In selecting the new colours, Janmaat said the school’s location played a key role.

“The school is based in one of the few green spaces in Sylvia Park. It is quite a spectacle, with lots of greenery and foliage. We had to ensure that the colours we selected were not too overpowering, but would still make an impact.”

Using colours from Dulux’s Colours of New Zealand range – each of which is inspired by a loved and cherished New Zealand location - the main area of the school will be painted in Dulux Te Ngaere (a neutral beige), with vibrant bright hues such Carterton (a bold yellow), Porangahau (a fiery orange), Devil’s Backbone (a deep chilli), Napier (a raspberry pink), Katiki (purple) and Marahau (a vibrant aqua), used as accents around and trims to identify different areas of the school.

“This scheme is going to make people look at it and go ‘wow,’” says Janmaat.

“We just can’t wait to see people’s reactions to it, especially the kids. Dulux staff are very proud that they can make a difference to these communities. A great colour scheme impacts on the people and children who go to these schools and helps to transform their spirits. The whole community is going to be so proud of their school.”

The “Extreme School Makeover” of Sylvia Park School (located in Longford St, Mt Wellington) will take place from 7.00 am on Saturday, March 5, 2011.

ENDS

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