Feilding Intermediate School - Jiselle Rider

Name: Jiselle Rider

School: Feilding Intermediate School

Programme: ‘Whenua Haumanu – exploring the impacts of contemporary and regenerative pasture management on the environment’

Host: Whenua Haumanu - Massey University

Region: Manawatū

Feilding Intermediate’s vision is to create students who are positive, engaged and purposeful. They will attain tools to explain the world and participate within their communities. Science provides students opportunities to challenge their thoughts and views of the way the world works as evidence emerges. Students will learn to think critically about information and make decisions as responsible citizens. These decisions consider kaitiakitanga, kindness and cultural connectedness. 

Jiselle has 15 years of teaching experience across year levels one to eight. As part of the Feilding Intermediate team, she has pursued further proficiency in science and mathematics. Within the school community, Jiselle has facilitated the environmental team, supported public initiatives, formed a skateboarding club, coached a range of sports and provided choreography for competitions, productions and arts showcases. She demonstrates a commitment to culturally responsive practice and is passionate about the wellbeing and rich opportunities for students at Feilding Intermediate.

Jiselle will be hosted by Professor Lucy Burkitt and Massey University’s School of Agriculture and Environment. Jiselle is participating in multidisciplinary research as part of the long-term Regenerative Agriculture farmlet study, Whenua Haumanu. This project involves a dairy and sheep farmlet research platform to explore the impacts of contemporary and regenerative pasture management on soil health, water quality, gas emissions, pasture production and quality, animal production, health and welfare. Through research projects within the university, Jiselle is working alongside scientists to establish and measure the effectiveness of mitigation strategies to reduce agriculture’s impact on water quality through the Catchment Solutions project.

Within her 2024 placement, Jiselle aims to develop her pedagogical practices to further enhance the Feilding Intermediate science programme with the objective of lifting student confidence and engagement in science, raising achievement and promoting science careers.