Children, parents, teachers and keen locals worked all day on Saturday, 5th September for Papatoetoe North School’s Treemendous School Makeover, the final makeover for 2009.

Around 100 people turned up to lend a hand and dig in.

“It was a fantastic community day, all the kids and their families were out in force, says Papatoetoe North School teacher Maureen Douglas.

The school’s new outdoor classroom features a walkway through native flora and fauna leading to an open glade with a seating area.

Papatoetoe North School teacher Maureen Douglas said the area already has several mature native trees and backs onto a creek, however over the years it had been neglected and had become a place to dump gardening and building waste.

The 800-pupil school was chosen from 158 nationwide applications for the second annual Treemendous School Makeover programme.

The three other schools selected for a Treemendous School Makeover this year were Glenavon School (West Auckland), Malfroy School (Rotorua) and Hedgehope Primary School (Invercargill).