To understand Park Slopers and the way they feel about their local public elementary school, one has only to attend the school’s Spring Auction and Dance.
Hundreds of parents and teachers paid from $30-$40 a ticket to attend the affair,which was held in the elegant Beaux Arts Court of the Brooklyn Museum of Art. People came dressed in fancy fun clothes and lots of style was on display: contrary to popular belief, Park Slopers can dress well when calld upon to do so.
Last night, there was palpable feeling of partnership and friendship between the parents, teachers, and administration of the school. More teachers than ever attended, which added a fun, young element to the party. As always, Principal Liz Phillips, the school’s masterful and fearless leader, attended the event; it’s always nice to see her in a relaxed setting enjoying herself.
The money raised at the Spring Dance and Auction goes toward the kind of enhancements the PTA is allowed to provide. It’s all the value-added stuff that really makes the school tick. PS 321 parents know they’ve got a great thing and they do what they can to make it even better.
Everyone came prepared to spend some money on a host of silent and live auction items. The attitude among the crowd was: it’s for the children, so let’s bid, bid, bid. In keeping with the inclusionary philosophy of the school, there was a range of items at a range of prices. In other words, the auction is not just for those who can afford to spend upwards of $1,000 for a weekend at someone’s country house or $800 on a state of the art television set.
Gift certificates for local services are popular: haircuts, interior design, construction, plumbing, pilates, art classes, yoga and portraiture are a few examples. One of the most popular items is always legal services for the preparation of a will. It’s amazing how many people don’t have one.
Other silent auction items included: artwork by parents, a basket of books by live American poets, lunch with the school principal, artwork by a beloved first
grade teacher, a satchel of books by physicist Richard Feynemann, jewelry from the
Clay Pot, a mosaic table made by a second grade class and a fleece PS 321 jacket for an American Girl Doll.
The live auction was for the big ticket items: the wine tasting party, the country house, the cocktail party served by former PTA presidents, a catered dinner party. This year the school procured a real auctioneer from Christies complete with an English accent: a real pro. From what I understand, bidding, with real Christies’ paddles, was lively and lots of money was made.
The party went off without a hitch. Gorgeous flower arrangements, Asian food from Rice Restaurant served in Chinese take-out containers, Cosmopolitans, Mojitas and Stella Artois beer at the bar, a cool DJ and lots of dancing. It was a classy event for a great cause.