Friday, December 3, 2010

From wasteland to outdoor classroom

Rapaura School has won a Treemendous Makeover which will transform an out-of-bounds area into an outdoor classroom.

The school was one of four selected throughout New Zealand to receive the makeover, which is run by the Mazda Foundation and the Project Crimson Trust.

Principal Helen Williams said the area would turn over a new leaf and be transformed into an area pupils could use for both leisure and learning.

Although plans for the area were not finalised, it would include a path and flax planting, and it was hoped that native birds such as tui would be attracted.

Work on the "blank canvas" would require little construction but much recycled material, Mrs Williams said.

It was expected the area would be completed in June or July next year.

Mrs Williams said the makeover fitted in well with the vision of the school, which already had a vegetable garden, citrus and feijoa trees and this year was accredited as an Enviroschool.

The school's focus on the environment and sustainability was important partly because it taught children where their food came from.

"Some kids don't know what some vegetables are. You give them seeds and they don't know what to do with them."

The school would have undertaken the project regardless, she said, but the makeover was the "icing on the cake".

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:08 02/12/2010


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