Lynmore Primary School - Aimee Aislabie

School: Lynmore Primary School

Host: National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, Rainbow Springs

Region: Rotorua

Lynmore Primary School is passionate about a local curriculum and utilising the beautiful surroundings of Rotorua with the lakes, forestry and the biodiversity that is found within. They already have one teacher, Andrew Doyle, who is currently leading phase two of the Science Teaching Leadership Programme. Having a second teacher with the same opportunity to develop science leadership skills will be highly advantageous for a school of their size and for implementing science across the school with greater impact. It will also strengthen the science leadership team in providing sustaining professional development aimed at growing the Nature of Science strand capabilities.  

Aimee has had 4 years primary teaching experience. During this time, she has taught years 2-3 and 5-6 students from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds and abilities, including ESOL and dyslexia. She has been a part of the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) team, Literacy team and led the Science team. She is passionate about students and teachers understanding and using the Nature of Science strand capabilities in authentic ways.

Aimee’s placement will involve her participation in the daily care for kiwis at Rainbow Springs National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa. The programme will include opportunities to work with the kiwi team staff, volunteers and post-graduate students conducting research into kiwis. Aimee will observe the candling of kiwi eggs, assist with the newly-hatched chicks in the brooder room, prepare runs and food for the kiwi chicks on site and help maintain the nocturnal house for the adult kiwi. She will also understand the data kept in monitoring the health of all kiwi at Rainbow Springs.

Aimee’s placement involved her participation in the daily care for kiwi at Rainbow Springs National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa. The programme included opportunities to work with the kiwi team staff, volunteers and post-graduate students conducting research into kiwi. Aimee observed the candling of kiwi eggs, assisted with the newly-hatched chicks in the brooder room, prepared runs and food for the kiwi chicks on-site and helped maintain the nocturnal house for the adult kiwi. She developed an understanding of the data kept in monitoring the health of all kiwi at Rainbow Springs. She also reflected upon many different academic readings and books, and completed science tasks to deepen her understanding of the Nature of Science. 

Aimee looks forward to taking her knowledge of what the Nature of Science strand looks like in a scientist’s day to day life back to Lynmore Primary School. She has developed a philosophy as a leader and a clear vision about science which she is keen to explore with Lynmore staff.

She would like to thank the Royal Society Te Apārangi, Emma Bean, Helen McCormick, the Rainbow Springs National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa and Lynmore Primary School for investing in her.