Both an end and a beginning were celebrated at Waikouaiti School at the weekend.
The school held a working bee to put the finishing touches to its outdoor area, planting trees and shrubs to complement the vegetable garden and rejuvenated outdoor area, following an input of funds last year for a Treemendous School Makeover.
Waikouaiti School was one of four schools nationwide last year to win a $10,000 for the makeover, a joint initiative between the Mazda Foundation and Project Crimson Trust.
Principal Trudy Pankhurst said the project's genesis was feedback from parents, who wanted children to learn about gardening, the environment and sustainability.
One parent, Joey Smeaton, had taken on the job of applying for the makeover funds, and had succeeded.
Since then, ''Bugman'' Ruud Kleinpaste had visited the school to motivate pupils, and a regular teaching programme had begun.
The makeover included developing an ''edible forest'' of fruit trees, and a herb garden.
The school community had done plenty of work, and an event on Saturday, with Mr Kleinpaste back as master of ceremonies, celebrated what had been done.
The work completed, a new era begins for the 82 pupil school, making the most of its new surroundings and what it can grow.
