Porirua Harbour Trust Education Programme: Catchment-Wide Annual Report 2020
The Education Programme evolved in 2020 to include a pilot project in Western Porirua (Our PLACE), with a focus on working more deeply with schools and early childhood centres in one part of the catchment. Please refer to the separate Our PLACE annual report for more details about the activities and outcomes of this project.
The Education Coordinator continued to provide support and teacher professional learning (PLD) opportunities for all schools in the catchment area of Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour. Despite the challenges faced this year, we have been successful in engaging some of the less engaged schools, particularly in the Wellington City part of the catchment. Teacher Nature Walks, education resources and planning meetings with teachers have continued to provide essential support and connections with those teachers who remain engaged with our programme. The allocation of around five hours per week for the Coordinator to undertake the catchment-wide role has worked well and Rebecca has engaged with a total of 29 schools (see table at the end of this report for full list of schools).
The Porirua Harbour Trust Catchment-wide Education Programme aims to: · Increase knowledge and understanding about Porirua Harbour and catchment for school children who live in the catchment area. · Support positive attitudes and expressions of kaitiakitanga for the harbour and promote its importance for wellbeing. · Increase participation in and support for harbour protection and restoration initiatives by communities within the catchment.
Above: Teacher Nature Walks at Bothamley Park (left) and Glenside historic gardens (near Porirua Stream tributary). 2020 Activities Participation and Outcomes Plans for 2021
Teacher Professional Learning Nature Walks were attended by 30 teachers from eight Teacher Nature Walks: different schools or ECE centres. Aim for one each term in different parts of Teacher Nature Walks These provide an easy way for teachers to connect with the catchment and continue to encourage Bothamley Park (March) each other, check in with Rebecca, receive resources and engagement from a range of teachers. Rangituhi (June) learn about an area in the catchment (near a stream or the Glenside Historic Gardens (October) harbour). Teacher feedback continues to be positive and Camp Elsdon Conservation Centre: Trial
there is evidence that ideas and resources are used the use of this space as a ‘drop in’ meeting Staff Meetings place for teachers to access support, with students. Support and advice for field trips resources and connect with each other. and projects Engagement from Wellington City schools was higher than normal this year (10 schools), with two new schools Collaborate with other organisations, such Our PLACE teacher PLD added to the engagement list. Four schools attended the as Enviroschools, Sustainable Coastlines – see separate report teacher walk in October and seven schools attended a and Greater Wellington Regional Council meeting co-facilitated by Rebecca at Hampton Hill School. to provide catchment-wide PLD.
Provide resources for teachers 51/ 53 schools in the catchment now have copies of Continue to use Nature Walks and other resouces to support learning about Te Awarua o Porirua workshops as an opportunity to distribute - Porirua Harbour teaching resource Harbour. Rebecca will prioritise engaging with the remaining resources to all schools. - Documentaries schools (Tawa School, Whitby Collegiate) in December. - Catchment maps (digital/printed) Print more hard copies of the catchment - Books and student journals (sets) Hard copies of the catchment maps and sets of The Current maps (only a few left). - Loaning stream/marine kits journals are used regularly by teachers, both in the (GWRC) Continue to provide books and other classroom and during field work. They are engaging and relevant resources. Books and stream/marine kits also printed resources, based on teacher continue to be useful for schools who cannot afford to requests and interests. purchase their own.
Student leaders from Our PLACE visited Mayor Anita Baker Continue to support schools and students Support advocacy in young to discuss their plans and ask her questions about her to contribute to council planning and people priorities for cleaning our waterways and making Porirua a submission processes, when the healthy place for people to live. They also presented their opportunities arise. - Local/central government processes ideas to three Porirua City Councillors and one Greater - Educating the community and peers Wellington Regional Councillor at the community event in Support students to plan and facilitate November. community education events. 2020 Activities Participation and Outcomes Plans for 2021
Creative projects Sets of The Current journals continue to be distributed to Prioritise creative projects, connecting schools (this process was disrupted by COVID restrictions). students with local artists, writers, Eg: The Current student journal, signs, photographers, as part of the murals, drain art, exhibitions. We have not completed a big creative project this year, Our PLACE programme. since we decided to focus on these every two years and have been setting up key elements of the project in Western Projects are likely to include: Porirua. Some planning has already begun for creative Student artwork on signs and murals projects next year. Design, video and photography work
Worked with Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves to help Continue to provide planning and Action projects make connections between their restoration group and local facilitation support for student and and Restoration work schools. This has resulted in multiple projects and community projects, based on need. Support for students, teachers and strengthened the long-term planning in that area. They are whānau for projects within schools and working with Wellington City Council to discuss the Focus will be on our projects in Western near waterways. establishment of a CCEM pilot, similar to Our PLACE. Porirua, but Rebecca will continue to work collaboratively with other educators and Part of a collaborative planning group, with PCC, Ngāti Toa stakeholders to support projects across the *See also: Our PLACE annual and other environmental educators to ensure planting catchment. Priorities include riparian and report for further projects across the catchment is offered to schools and that ongoing tree planting, stormwater management and support is provided. reducing litter.
Key member of Porirua Harbour education network, Facilitate collaboration between including helping facilitate meetings and collaborative stakeholders documents (particularly during COVID levels 3 and 4) Continue to work closely with Porirua and
- Porirua Harbour Education wider Wellington region education Network Co-facilitated WREEF hui in October at Zealandia networks, to ensure our programme is effective and working towards similar long- - Wellington Regional Environmental These actions have contributed to: term goals for the health of the catchment. Ed Forum (WREEF) Improved collaboration amongst stakeholders leading to increased connections with schools and young people.
Raising the profile of harbour and catchment education amongst stakeholders in Wellington City.
Summary of Coordinator Engagement with Catchment Schools and ECE Centres in 2020 Total: 29
Northern Porirua 5 Eastern Porirua 3 Western Porirua 11 Wellington City 10 (2 new)
Whitby, Pāuatahanui, Papakowhai, Rānui, Cannons Creek, Elsdon, Takapūwāhia, Tawa, Churton Park, Johnsonville, Paremata, Pukerua Bay Waitangirua, Ascot Park, Titahi Bay Newlands, Paparangi Aotea
Staff meetings: Nature walk: Our PLACE PLD/support: Teacher meeting: Pāuatahanui School Corinna Porirua School Hampton Hill School (+ nature walk) Postgate School Ngāti Toa School Linden School Teacher meeting: Titahi Bay School Redwood School Nature Walk: Windley School Titahi Bay Intermediate Greenacres School Papakowhai School Mana College St Francis Xavier Student talk: Titahi Bay Kindergarten Tawa College Marine kits: Aotea College Katoa Kindergarten Tawa Intermediate Paremata School Ko Aroha Tuatahi Te Puna Reo o Ngāti Toa Nature Walk: Stream kits: All About Children St Brigid’s School Discovery School Johnsonville School Teacher support: Amesbury Outside catchment Bishop Viard College Teacher meeting: Paekakariki School
Priority Areas for 2021:
Our PLACE project: Same schools and ECE centres as 2020 (see above)
Eastern Porirua: Aim to connect schools through Nature Walks in Belmont, Bothamley Park and/or Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve