Longburn School - Heather Gatehouse

Name: Heather Gatehouse

School: Longburn School                       

Programme: Exploring biodiversity management and conservation in the Manawatu-Whanganui

Region: Manawatu

Host: Horizons Regional Council              

Longburn School, a year 0-8 kura, believes that great science teaching will enable learners to confidently explore and discover the world around them, gaining an understanding that motivates and enables them to take action to help make the world a better place. The school vision depicts their wish to prepare learners for the world they will inherit with the motto ‘Sow seeds of possibility on a pathway to their potential’.  The School believes that, to achieve their vision, they need to ensure the delivery of this curriculum involves exciting, practical experiences that encourage questioning and curiosity.

Heather has had 10 years of full-primary teaching experience, and prior to that was a research scientist. During her time at Longburn School, Heather has taught science across all levels of the school. She is passionate about science and the environment. Heather shares the lead of Environmental Education within Longburn School. She helps to nurture and spark the school’s gardening, animal and environment teams, as well as guiding teacher planning across the science curriculum.

Heather believes that science teaching should be full of opportunities for hands-on practical learning. It should be collaborative, involve the sharing, trialling and development of ideas, and a reflection on how things went, what was learned, and where to do things differently next time. Science requires creativity. Heather wants to learn how as a school, they can get their ākonga asking questions, thinking up wild explanations for things and having the courage and determination to give things a go.

While Heather naturally brings scientific thinking into her teaching, she wants to learn more about interweaving science with mātauranga Māori, wants to develop a more exciting science programme, and build engagement in science across the school and throughout the community. Heather wants to build teachers' confidence so that they are more comfortable and excited about teaching science.

Heather’s placement will see her working alongside Horizons Regional Council staff on a number of biodiversity management programmes in the Manawatu-Whanganui region. This will enable her to experience the practical use of science in New Zealand conservation. Heather will have the opportunity to participate in practical science-driven surveying of at-risk species and science-informed management plans. This programme aims to give Heather a firm foundation of knowledge and understanding of the Nature of Science and conservation as well as the associated field skills.

During her placement, Heather hopes to be involved in a variety of projects including performing Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA) at sites in the region, habitat assessments of significant biodiversity areas and wetlands, monitoring and control activities with the weeds and pest teams, monitoring for freshwater fish, and community outreach with the Rural games and Field days.