Blackheath Public School has had a makeover from the inside out with a health-conscious canteen menu and an environmental program involving the school community.

The programs are part of the school’s push to refigure itself as a central hub for its small Blue Mountains community.

Projects over the past year have included the removal of hard surfaces in the school grounds and the establishment of a kitchen garden, which is used by the canteen for its additive- and preservative-free menu.

The principal, Anne Bahnisch, said the students love the new menu and more children now buy lunch from the canteen.

“All the food is made on the premises with produce from locally sourced businesses,” she said.

The menu includes freshly cut sandwiches with gourmet salad and homemade pies made by the canteen proprietor, Jackie Haley, with chicken fillets, mushroom, cream and garlic.

Mrs Haley even makes her own iceblocks and meals are served in recyclable containers with salad or steamed vegetables.

“The smells that come out of there are amazing,” Ms Bahnisch said.

“We were [once] a school that made a lot of money out of iced donuts and sour lollies, but we’ve completely won the parents over.” Ms Bahnisch said the staff had also noticed the “fabulous impact” the new menu has had on student behaviour.

“There’s definitely been an impact, on the younger ones in particular.” The canteen waste is composted, which in turn is used on the kitchen and native gardens in the school grounds.

Green Corps volunteers brought to life a plan drawn up by parents for the kitchen garden and the gecko-shaped path leading to it.

Parents have been vital to the collaboration and Ms Bahnisch praised the involvement of P&C president Charlotte Smith, garden committee coordinator Liz Riley and school council president Michael Brogan.

“The long-term goal is to have every garden space that is currently wasted space utilised either as a kitchen garden or a sensory garden,” Ms Bahnisch said.

The school has planted native trees for endangered species and is considering installing solar panels.

Ms Bahnisch said Blackheath Public was encouraging “kids to live in an environmentally sustainable way” as it also targets the wider community.

“The vision is that one day the school will be the centre of the whole community.

You’ll come and have your baby weighed here and pick a lettuce on the way out,” she said.